SMU appoints Kelli Shomaker as Senior Vice President for Business and Finance and Chief Financial Officer

Kelli Shomaker, a veteran higher education finance and administrative leader, has been named SMU’s next Senior Vice President for Business and Finance and Chief Financial Officer. She will join the University Nov. 1.

Shomaker currently serves as senior vice president for business and administration and chief financial officer at Auburn University. Her broad portfolio includes budgeting and resource planning, accounting, information technology and security, procurement, facilities management and capital construction, human resources, real estate, risk management and other university operations.

“Kelli understands how strategic financial leadership can propel a university forward,” President Jay Hartzell said. “Her experience aligning resources and investments with institutional priorities will be instrumental as we pursue our vision for SMU’s future, accelerate our academic ascent and invest in the people and programs that will drive our next era of impact. I’m excited to welcome her to our leadership team at this important moment for SMU.”

During her tenure at Auburn, Shomaker helped lead significant investments in the university’s long-term growth and modernization, including a 10-year strategic capital investment plan. She launched a business modernization effort that includes a new enterprise resource planning system and upgrades to IT and cybersecurity infrastructure, implemented a new budget model and guided more than $1 billion in investment across 37 capital projects. Auburn also received an S&P credit rating upgrade from AA- to AA during her tenure.

Shomaker also brings extensive experience in Texas higher education. Before joining Auburn as vice president for business and finance and CFO in 2016, she served as senior vice president for finance and administration and CFO at Blinn College and held a series of leadership positions during more than a decade at Texas A&M University, including associate vice president for operations and assistant dean for finance and administration in the Mays Business School.

“Joining SMU is an extraordinary opportunity, both professionally and personally,” Shomaker said. “I have been impressed by the people I have met and the strong sense of community and shared purpose across the University. I believe the best finance and administrative organizations are trusted partners who make it easier for faculty, staff and students to succeed. I look forward to listening, learning and working alongside colleagues across SMU. Returning to Texas makes this next chapter especially meaningful to me, and I am excited to make Dallas home.”

Earlier in her career, Shomaker held financial leadership roles in the private sector, including corporate treasurer at W.H. Mobley Group International and vice president, chief accounting officer, treasurer and controller at U.S. Global Investors. She began her career as an auditor with PricewaterhouseCoopers.

A certified public accountant in Texas and Alabama, Shomaker earned a bachelor’s degree of business administration in accounting from Texas A&M University and a master’s degree in higher education administration from Auburn University. She currently serves on the boards of the Retirement System of Alabama and Public Education Employees’ Health Insurance Plan of Alabama and is a board member of SmartFinancial, Inc. She also has held leadership roles with the National Association of College and University Business Officers and other professional organizations.