The 21st Century Council serves as a primary advisory organization for the President of SMU. Council members are appointed by the President for the purpose of providing the President with advice on contemporary issues, challenges, and opportunities facing America’s colleges and universities. The Council provides an opportunity for its members and the President to address these matters in a frank, confidential, and collegial format. Input from Council members is especially important in providing the President with an off-campus perspective of Dallas and other communities as well as perceptions about SMU held by constituencies and individuals important to the future of SMU.
2023-24 21st Century Council Directory
William Ware, Chair
Council Members
Connie Kleinert Babikian
President
The Pillow Bar
Rob Bennett
Senior Managing Director
Thackeray Fund Series
Wood Brookshire
CEO
Vendera Resources
Courtney Caldwell
Cofounder & CEO
ShearShare
Kristina Carbonneau
SVP, Change Management
Santander Consumer USA
Brad E. Cheves
Vice President for Development and External Affairs
SMU
Chase Cooley
General Counsel
Clay Cooley Automotive
Justin Cox
Partner
Cox Partners, Inc.
Christopher T. Crum
Principal
Aylstone Capital Management
Travis Goff
President
Goff Capital, Inc.
Catalina (Cata) Gonzalez Jorba
Founder
Dondolo
Lauren Leahy
Chief Customer and Legal Officer
Pizza Hut
Noah Mitchell
Director and Partner
The Mitchell Group
Hill Perot
Vice President
Hillwood
Artie Starrs
CEO
Topgolf Entertainment Group
James (Jim) Templeton
Product Engineer
Amenities Health
R. Gerald Turner
President
SMU
William Ware
President
Amarillo National Bank
Leigh Young
Director
Epoch Estate Wines