Featured News
SMU names Nader Jalili Dean of Lyle School of Engineering
SMU has named Nader Jalili dean of Lyle School of Engineering. Currently professor and head of mechanical engineering at the University of Alabama, Jalili is an innovative leader and researcher, known for bringing the resources of engineering education and research to undergraduate and graduate students, industry partners and community outreach programs.
On December 2, SMU celebrated the groundbreaking of the Garry Weber End Zone Complex, the expansion and renovation project for Gerald J. Ford Stadium.
SMU mourns Pierce M. Allman ’54, beloved alumnus and Dallas leader
SMU is deeply saddened by the loss of beloved alumnus and celebrated Dallas leader Pierce M. Allman ’54, who died on November 25, 2022, at the age of 88. A recipient of SMU’s 2018 Distinguished Alumni Award, Allman is remembered across Dallas for his years of work in media relations, including being the first reporter to broadcast an on-scene report of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. At SMU, Allman is remembered for his years of spirited dedication and his generous contributions to supporting the University’s students and research.
SMU Research Coverage Circled the Globe in 2022
The indoor ceremony, scheduled for 9 a.m. at Moody Coliseum, will be streamed live.
SMU professors and students were “frequent flyers” in the news in 2022 for everything from helping hospitals design a more patient-friendly way of doing “compassionate dialysis” to identifying clear evidence of gerrymandering in Texas.
The indoor ceremony, scheduled for 9 a.m. at Moody Coliseum, will be streamed live.
“Clark Hunt’s tireless devotion to philanthropy and his dedication to uniting communities through sports is exemplary,” said SMU President R. Gerald Turner. “As our students prepare to launch their careers, I hope that Clark’s remarks encourage them to foster a heart for giving and community involvement wherever they go.”
Engineering Leader Suku Nair named SMU Vice Provost for Research and Chief Innovation Officer
Position is key to University’s commitment to achieving R1 research status
“Clark Hunt’s tireless devotion to philanthropy and his dedication to uniting communities through sports is exemplary,” said SMU President R. Gerald Turner. “As our students prepare to launch their careers, I hope that Clark’s remarks encourage them to foster a heart for giving and community involvement wherever they go.”
A $5 million gift from SMU alumni Jennifer Gelety Flanagan ’82 and Martin (Marty) L. Flanagan ’82 will strengthen SMU Athletics by supporting the Garry Weber End Zone Complex to expand and improve Gerald J. Ford Stadium. The University is scheduled to break ground on the new complex on December 2, 2022.
SMU biotech research moving into Pegasus Park
SMU will have space in the Pegasus Park Tower, the centerpiece of a 23-acre mixed-use office campus for biotech firms and nonprofit organizations. Pegasus Park is within minutes of downtown Dallas and the UT Southwestern Medical District.
Empowering the future of Dedman College
Armstrongs commit $5 million to endow Dedman College dean position
A $5 million gift from entrepreneurs Elisabeth Martin Armstrong ’82 and William D. Armstrong ’82 will further the academic and research excellence of the SMU Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences by endowing the school’s dean position, renaming it the Elisabeth Martin Armstrong Dean. Through their gift, the Armstrongs will support Dedman College’s future-focused leadership and strategic vision in perpetuity.
The Darwin Deason Institute for Cyber Security at Southern Methodist University (SMU) is partnering with global financial services company Goldman Sachs, with support from Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU), for research designed to detect and defend against cyber threats related to employees working remotely.
SMU LAUNCHES LAB FOCUSED ON REDUCING BIAS IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SYSTEMS
Intelligent Systems and Bias Examination Lab ‘ISaBEL’ will pair industry and academic research to equalize impact in automated systems.
ISaBEL’s mission is to understand how Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems, such as facial recognition algorithms, perform on diverse populations of users. The Lab will examine how existing bias can be mitigated in these systems using the latest research, standards, and other peer reviewed scientific studies.
A $15 million commitment from entrepreneurs Bill Armstrong ’82 and Liz Martin Armstrong ’82 will enable SMU to break ground in early December for the Garry Weber End Zone Complex, the expansion and improvement project at SMU’s Gerald J. Ford Stadium, home to Mustang football.
New gifts from the Deason Foundation and the Charles Koch Foundation will further the mission of SMU’s Deason Criminal Justice Reform Center within the Dedman School of Law. The foundations previously contributed the initial funds to establish the center in 2016.
Transforming visual arts education
Meadows School of the Arts celebrates renovated facilities
Paving the way to the future of visual arts education on the Hilltop, the SMU Meadows School of the Arts celebrated the dedication of its enhanced visual arts facilities on September 16, 2022. Donors led by The Meadows Foundation, Gene and Jerry Jones, Nancy C. and Richard R. Rogers, and G. Marlyne Sexton and family will fuel creative discovery by future generations of artists, visionaries and scholars from across the world.
$5 million anonymous gift to enhance residence life
A $5 million anonymous gift will support residential programs and help SMU further an enduring tradition of vibrant campus life that sparks growth, discovery and community both inside and out-side the classroom. In recognition of this gift, SMU will rename Daniel House, the upper-division residence completed in 2020, to Thomas House.
SMU remembers global energy entrepreneur Jerome M. Fullinwider ’51
DALLAS (SMU) – SMU mourns the loss of Jerome “Jerry” M. Fullinwider who passed away on July 21, 2022, at the age of 93. Fullinwider is remembered for his passion for economic freedom, long and distinguished career in the global oil and gas industry, civic leadership and philanthropy.
SMU Students Earn Prestigious Fulbright, Boren Awards
Eight SMU students have accepted Fulbright and Boren awards for international study, research and teaching in Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Kazakhstan, Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea. Five will be headed across the world as Fulbright finalists to conduct research and teach abroad for the 2022-2023 academic year, while three will travel as Boren fellows and scholars.
SMU Forum Focused on Opportunities for U.S. and Taiwanese Semiconductor Industry Development
Dominant North Texas chipmakers have ‘skin in the game’
A roundtable discussion at SMU focused on semiconductor development in the southern United States gathered U.S. and Taiwanese government leaders as well as academic and industry experts to discuss innovation, competition, and productivity for global semiconductor industries.
SMU has a strong case for a major college athletic conference
Dallas is a city full of sports fans who can boost any roster of teams.
Southern Methodist University is primed to ascend to a major athletics conference.
AT&T, SMU Collaboration Merges Summer Boot Camp and Internships to Grow Data Science Workforce
Nine SMU students are spending the summer together in the classroom and then on-site with AT&T mentors to learn how data science is delivering answers to big-picture questions.
SMU Perkins School of Theology Dean Craig Hill announces retirement
Craig C. Hill, dean of SMU’s Perkins School of Theology, will retire as dean December 31, 2022 due to medical reasons. Hill, the Leighton K. Farrell Endowed Dean and Professor of New Testament, will remain a member of the Perkins faculty until December 31, 2023.
Aramis Watson named SMU Dean of Residence Life and Student Housing
Watson was selected after a competitive national search, which was coordinated by a campus committee chaired by Mindy Sutton, associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students.
Education policy and law scholar Jason Nance named new dean of SMU Dedman School of Law
Jason P. Nance, an education policy and law scholar who studies inequalities in public education, has been named the Judge James Noel Dean at SMU’s Dedman School of Law.
Academic Leader Robin Poston to Join SMU as Dean of Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies
Robin Suzanne Poston, vice provost and dean of the Graduate School at the University of Memphis, has been named dean of SMU’s Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies and associate provost for graduate education. She will assume her position at SMU on Monday, Aug. 15.
On the second anniversary of the death of George Floyd
Maria Dixon Hall, Chief Diversity Officer and Special Advisor to the President for Campus Cultural Intelligence Initiatives, looks at changes, challenges and new sorrows two years after the death of George Floyd rocked our country.
SMU Student Senate to Fund Scholarships for West Dallas STEM School Attendees, Rotunda Scholars
Austin Hickle, student body president, leaves ‘legacy of opportunity’
The 2021-2022 Student Senate has created two need-based scholarships –one to help students from the SMU-supported Dallas ISD West Dallas STEM school, who will begin applying to college in four years, and one to help students in SMU’s Rotunda Scholars Program. As president of the SMU student body, Austin Hickle was determined to inspire other student leaders to leave a legacy of opportunity for future SMU students faced with economic challenges.
Professor, World-Renowned Singer Barbara Hill Moore Receives SMU Faculty Career Achievement Award
With an SMU career spanning nearly five decades in the Meadows School of the Arts, Barbara Hill Moore has been named the recipient of the 2022 Faculty Career Achievement Award for her contributions to the teaching, scholarship, and service missions of the University.
SMU Presents Honorary Degree to Pioneering Dallas Civic and Arts Leader Anita N. Martinez
SMU presented the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree to longtime Dallas leader Anita N. Martinez at SMU’s May 14 commencement ceremonies, honoring her dedication to enriching the civic and cultural life of the city.
Longtime Music Educator Charles Aguillon Appointed Director of Mustang Band and Spirit Squads
SMU welcomes a new director of the Mustang Band with the selection of Charles Aguillon. Currently the director of Fine Arts and Academic Enrichment for the Lake Travis Independent School District in Austin, Aguillon will on July 1 take the helm of SMU’s band while also overseeing the cheer and pom teams, SMU’s live mascot, Peruna, and the Peruna Handlers.
SMU remembers renowned SMU alumnus Chester John “Don” Donnally, Jr. ’67, ’68
SMU mourns the loss of Chester John “Don” Donnally, Jr. ’67, ’68, who passed away at his home on May 15, 2022. Donnally is remembered as a longtime supporter of SMU, a leader in the financial services industry for more than four decades and a nationally recognized member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) fraternity, which he served through active fundraising and mentorship efforts for over 50 years. His contributions and dedication to SAE led to the construction and ongoing success of the SAE House on SMU’s campus.
SMU Breaks Ground on Extensive Expansion And Renovation of Cox School of Business
The two-year project will expand the school’s footprint by more than 30 percent, with the construction of four new buildings connecting the existing facilities into cohesive space that supports collaboration within the Cox School and across the campus, as well as with the Dallas business community.
AT AGE 85, THIS 2022 SMU GRADUATE IS READY TO AIM HER DIPLOMA AT A NEW CAREER AS A SCREENWRITER
Sixty-eight years later, she is fulfilling her dream to go to college, earning a B.A. in film and media arts from SMU with plans to write screenplays.
Longtime Faculty Member Paul Krueger to Serve as Interim Dean of SMU's Lyle School of Engineering
Paul Krueger, department chair and professor of mechanical engineering, has been named interim dean of SMU’s Lyle School of Engineering. He begins his duties June 1 following the departure of current Dean Marc P. Christensen, who is leaving SMU to become the 17th president of Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York.
Thomas Mayo to Serve as Interim Dean of SMU Dedman School of Law
Thomas Mayo will serve in that capacity while a University committee conducts a national search to replace current Dean Jennifer Collins, who is leaving SMU to become president of Rhodes College in Memphis on July 1.
William S. Spears is strengthening entrepreneurial leadership through new Cox School institute
Celebrated energy expert and philanthropist William S. Spears has made the largest gift by a non-alumnus in the history of SMU, a commitment that will establish the William S. Spears Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership in the SMU Cox School of Business.
SMU Program to close financial gaps for academically gifted Pell Grant recipients
Access SMU will break financial barriers to college entry and graduation – first for academically talented Texas students, with the goal to later expand the investment in more students who need help paying for college.
Making new strides with Washburne Soccer and Track Stadium
Ushering in an exciting new addition to the Hilltop and Mustang Athletics, SMU celebrated the dedication of the new Washburne Soccer and Track Stadium on April 8, 2022. Led by a principal gift from Ray W. Washburne ’84 and Heather H. Washburne, the stadium was made possible by the University’s Mustang fans, generous donors and spirited alumni.
Dallas Morning News Publisher Grant Moise to Deliver SMU's Commencement Address
The outdoor ceremony, scheduled for 9 a.m. at Gerald J. Ford Stadium, will be streamed live.
Grant Moise, publisher and president of the Dallas Morning News, will be the featured speaker at SMU’s May Commencement Convocation on Saturday, May 14.
SMU Lyle School of Engineering Dean Marc P. Christensen named President of Clarkson University
Marc P. Christensen, dean of SMU’s Lyle School of Engineering and Bobby B. Lyle Professor of Engineering Innovation, has been named the 17th president of Clarkson University, a private research institution with more than 4,600 students based in Potsdam, New York.
SMU Cox School of Business Dean Matthew Myers Reappointed to Five-Year Term Announcement
Myers joined SMU as dean in August 2017. He also holds the Tolleson Chair of Business Leadership and is the David B. Miller Endowed Professor in Business.
Leading the future of SMU data science
A $2 million gift from the O’Donnell Foundation will name and endow the Peter O’Donnell, Jr. Director of the Data Science Institute at SMU. The gift will support the University's strategic vision to expand research in this rapidly growing discipline by building on previous SMU investments in data science.
Advancing Baptist ministry training at SMU
The Baugh Foundation grants $2.7 million to Perkins Baptist House of Studies
The Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation awarded a $2.7 million, three-year grant to the Baptist House of Studies at the SMU Perkins School of Theology. The contribution will support approximately 10 full-time Baugh Scholars enrolled in Perkins master’s, Doctor of Ministry and Doctor of Pastoral Music degree programs.
SMU President R. Gerald Turner honored by Spain for promotion of country's arts and culture
Decoration granted by King Felipe VI
SMU President R. Gerald Turner received the Encomienda de la Orden de Isabel la Católica, a decoration granted by King Felipe VI of Spain, at a February 18 ceremony at SMU’s Meadows Museum. The decoration recognized Turner for his extraordinary civil character and accomplishments that have benefited Spain.
This February, let us remember, celebrate and make forever visible the contributions of all Black Americans.
Diving into a new era of champions
The addition of the Holt Hickman Outdoor Pool supports the SMU Ignited campaign goal of enhancing campus infrastructure and strengthening the North Texas community through competitive athletics and diverse programming and encouraging civic pride.
Expanding SMU’s Gerald J. Ford Stadium
The foundation established by former Mustang football letterman Garry A. Weber ’58 made the commitment in support of a $100 million drive for a new 192,500-square-foot complex at Gerald J. Ford Stadium, part of the $1.5 billion campaign, SMU Ignited: Boldly Shaping Tomorrow.
Let us all commit on this MLK Day to serve one another with acts of service that build our community not just for a single day, but for all the days to come.
SMU senior awarded prestigious Marshall scholarship
Isabelle Galko’s environmental activism sparked study of policy change
SMU senior environmental science major Isabelle Galko is one of just 41 American university students named a Marshall Scholar for 2022, a prestigious opportunity to pursue graduate studies in the UK for distinguished young Americans with leadership potential.
Which personality traits can be improved without personal motivation? Research says 'it depends'
Could a company train an employee to become more conscientious, even if the worker isn’t invested in improving that trait? A new study suggests yes. But improving someone’s emotional stability without that person’s commitment is not likely to happen, says SMU psychology professor Nathan Hudson.
SMU Law Dean named President of Rhodes College
Jennifer Collins, Judge James Noel Dean and professor in SMU’s Dedman School of Law, has been named the new president of Rhodes College, a four-year private institution in Memphis with approximately 2,000 students.
New high-resolution camera records holograms of hidden objects
Researchers at SMU (Southern Methodist University) and Northwestern University are using new technology that enables cameras to record high-resolution images and holograms of objects that are hidden around corners, obscured from view and/or beyond the line of sight.