August 29, 2002

SMU BOARD CHAIR GERALD FORD GIVES $1 MILLION FOR FACULTY RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS

DALLAS (SMU) -- A $1 million pledge from Gerald J. Ford of Dallas, chair of Southern Methodist University's Board of Trustees, will establish a research fellowship program that will help SMU continue to attract and retain outstanding faculty members. SMU President R. Gerald Turner announced the gift August 28 at a general faculty meeting.

"As a graduate of SMU and as a member of the Board of Trustees, I am well aware of the importance of faculty research, enabling professors to add new perspectives to their teaching and contribute new knowledge and solutions to the challenges of our society," Ford said. "I am pleased to make this gift to help enhance the university's competitiveness in the recruitment and retention of outstanding faculty by supporting their research efforts."

In expressing appreciation to Ford, President Turner said, "The faculty is the heart of the university and the most important asset in its advancement. The Gerald J. Ford Research Fellowship Program will enhance SMU's continued progress as an outstanding teaching and research university through the support of research by exceptional scholars in diverse disciplines."

The new research awards will have two components: The Gerald J. Ford Early Career Research Fellowships and the Gerald J. Ford Research Fellowships.

The Ford Early Career Research Fellowships will allow SMU to offer young scholars the extra incentive of summer research grants or regular semester research support to help establish their research programs. Up to four newly appointed faculty members at a time will hold these fellowships, which will provide each recipient at least $10,000 per year for two years.

The Ford Research Fellowships will be available to continuing faculty members on a competitive basis. They will help the university retain and reward outstanding research scholars by providing summer stipends of $15,000 each for up to four faculty members each year. The first Ford Research Fellows will be appointed in summer 2003.

"These fellowships will enhance the quality of academic programs at SMU by helping faculty members to advance knowledge in their respective fields," said Ross Murfin, SMU provost and vice president for academic affairs. "Resources and opportunities that foster faculty research of the highest caliber are important elements in SMU's rise in national stature."

Ford is chair of the board and chief executive officer of Golden State Bancorp Inc., a holding company headquartered in San Francisco. He also is board chair and chief executive officer of Liberté Investors Inc., an investment firm. He previously led several other major financial institutions.

Ford was elected to the SMU Board of Trustees in 1992 and became chair of the board this summer. He served as co-chair of the Dedman College Campaign Committee and member of the Executive Committee of The Campaign for SMU, which concluded in May and raised more than $540 million in gifts and pledges. He previously served as chair of the Board of Trustees' Finance Committee and as a member of its Executive Committee, Trusteeship Committee and Committee on Athletics. He is a current member of the Executive Board of Dedman School of Law and former member of the boards of Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Cox School of Business, John Goodwin Tower Center for Political Studies and Willis M. Tate Distinguished Lecture Series. He served on the SMU Presidential Search Committee that selected Turner in 1995 as the university's 10th president.

Ford earned two degrees from SMU -- a Bachelor of Arts in economics in 1966 and a Juris Doctor from the School of Law in 1969. In 1995 he received the SMU Distinguished Alumni Award, and in 1997 he received SMU's Mustang Award honoring those whose longtime service and philanthropy have had a lasting impact on the university.

The Gerald J. Ford Stadium, which opened in September 2000, is named in his honor. Ford provided the lead gift of $20 million for the new football stadium. He also has supported the SMU Annual Fund, President's Scholars Program and Dedman College.

Ford is engaged in diverse civic activities, which have included service as a trustee of the Children's Medical Foundation and Southwestern Medical Foundation, member of the Dallas Citizens Council and director of the Dallas Boys and Girls Clubs, Inc. He is a past member of the boards of Texas Tech University, Texas Tech Health Sciences Center and the Texas A&M University System.