SMU President R. Gerald Turner recently announced his decision to step down from the leadership position on May 31, 2025, which will mark 30 years of distinguished service as SMU’s 10th president.
This website includes information about the SMU Board of Trustees’ search for the 11th president of SMU.
The presidential search committee was appointed in accordance with SMU’s bylaws.
Board of Trustees Chairman David B. Miller ’72, ’73, and Vice Chairman Richard K. Templeton will co-chair the committee.
The other members of the committee from the Board of Trustees are:
The following non-trustee representatives are:
Issacson, Miller, an executive search firm with extensive experience in the higher education sector, has been hired by the Board of Trustees to assist in the search.
We want to hear from you! The SMU Community is encouraged to participate in a brief online survey on Issacson, Miller’s site.
SMU and the search firm will also host a series of Zoom and in-person sessions for students, faculty, staff and alumni to offer input and learn more about the search process.
This input will help inform the search committee as it considers candidates for the presidency.
Nominations and questions about the search can be sent to Issacson, Miller at smupresident@imsearch.com.
SMU is a private university located near the heart of Dallas. A distinguished center for global research and teaching, SMU serves approximately 7,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students through eight degree-granting schools – the Cox School of Business, Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Dedman School of Law, Lyle School of Engineering, Meadows School of the Arts, Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies, Perkins School of Theology, and Simmons School of Education and Human Development.
SMU’s high-achieving students come from all 50 states and more than 85 countries, with incoming first-year students consistently boasting at least a 32 ACT average and 3.7 high school grade point average. The University consistently ranks in the top 20% of universities by U.S. News and World Report, and its graduates regularly report high employment outcomes after graduation. U.S. News & World Report ranks SMU’s business (34), law (44) and education (48) schools among the top 50 graduate programs in the nation.
Since 2017, all 17 Mustang sports have advanced to the postseason and 15 have won conference championships. In 2023-24 alone, an SMU-record eight teams won titles with seven claiming a conference championship and one team earning a national championship. SMU is now a proud member of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
SMU is also home to the George W. Bush Presidential Center, which includes former President George W. Bush’s presidential library and museum, the George W. Bush Institute and the offices of the George W. Bush Foundation. The University also has a campus in Taos, New Mexico. It is located on 423 acres within the Carson National Forest, surrounded by the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.