The Hart Global Leaders Forum brings national and world leaders in government, business, science and the media to the SMU campus for lectures and interaction with students at the high school and college levels. The outreach program, made possible through the generosity of Mitch and Linda W. Hart, is committed to the development of young people into ethical and responsible leaders and citizens.
Hart Global Leaders Forum Regional High School Series
The Regional High School Seminar Series offers selected high school students an opportunity to interact with national and international leaders in government, business, science and the media. Students participate in faculty-led seminars focusing on the guest leader's area of expertise.
Linda and Mitch Hart
Individuals like Linda and Mitch Hart exemplify effective leadership. Active in professional and civic endeavors, the Harts have founded, supported and enhanced many business and educational ventures, including: Hart Group, Inc.; RMAX, Inc.; Hart Global Leaders Forum at SMU; SMU Hart eCenter; and SMU’s Hart Center for Engineering Leadership. Both Linda Hart and Mitch Hart are former Board Chairs of SMU’s Tate Distinguished Lecture Series and serve on the Board of Directors of that Series. They recently jointly received the prestigious 2021 Folsom Award in recognition of their many acts of community leadership.
Linda Hart, a graduate of the SMU School of Law, is Vice Chairman, President and CEO of Hart Group, Inc. Ms. Hart is a Trustee of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C.; is a member of the Board, Executive Committee and Chair of the Finance Committee of the New York Philharmonic; is Past Chairman of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra Association; and has also been an active leader in The Dallas Citizens Council, International Women’s Forum – Dallas (IWF – Dallas), The Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce, the Texas National Research Laboratory Commission, the International Women’s Forum Leadership Foundation and the Dallas Women’s Foundation. Ms. Hart is former Chairman and current ex officio member of the Legal Advisory Committee to the New York Stock Exchange and serves on a variety of corporate and civic boards, including Executive Boards of SMU’s Dedman School of Law and Cox School of Business and the Lyle School of Engineering Campaign Steering Committee.
Mitch Hart, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, served as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, is SMU Trustee Emeritus, was Co-Chair of the SMU Dedman College Capital Campaign Committee during SMU’s A Time to Lead Campaign and served on the Campaign Leadership Council for SMU’s Second Century Campaign. In 2017, Mr. Hart received the USNA’s Distinguished Graduate Award, the highest honor given by the Naval Academy to its graduates and was also inducted into the Dallas Business Hall of Fame. Mr. Hart is Chairman of Hart Group, Inc., founding Director and former Chairman of Episcopal School of Dallas, and a former Trustee and Trustee Emeritus of Duke University. In 1985, he endowed the Hart Leadership Program at Duke University’s Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy, and he and Ms. Hart served on the Institute’s Board. A member of World Presidents’ Organization, Chief Executives Organization and the Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America, he serves on numerous business and civic boards, including the SMU Lyle School of Engineering Executive Board and its Campaign Steering Committee.