Business and Finance

Kelli D. Shomaker is senior vice president for Business and Finance and chief financial officer. She is a veteran higher education finance and administrative leader who brings extensive experience in strategic financial leadership, institutional growth and university operations.

She leads SMU’s business and financial operations, aligning investments with the University's strategic priorities and supporting its academic ambitions and long-term success.

Before joining SMU, Shomaker was senior vice president for business and administration and chief financial officer at Auburn University, where she oversaw a broad portfolio of financial and administrative functions. During her tenure, she helped lead significant initiatives supporting the university’s growth and modernization, including a 10-year strategic capital investment plan and more than $1 billion across 37 capital projects.

Prior to joining Auburn in 2016, Shomaker served as senior vice president for finance and administration and chief financial officer at Blinn College. She previously spent more than a decade at Texas A&M University in several leadership roles, including associate vice president for operations and assistant dean for finance and administration at the Mays Business School. Earlier in her career, Shomaker held financial leadership positions in the private sector, including roles at W.H. Mobley Group International and U.S. Global Investors.

A certified public accountant in Texas and Alabama, Shomaker holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from Texas A&M University and a master's degree in higher education administration from Auburn University. She has also served on several corporate and public boards and held leadership roles in professional organizations.