Where excellence meets opportunity

A $5 million gift from Brian S. Tyler and Kristen M. Tyler will establish three funds to support SMU excellence in economics, the fine arts and athletics. The couple’s generosity will strengthen the University’s ability to address its highest priorities and benefit students, faculty, athletes and programs in perpetuity.

“Donors like Brian and Kristen are fueling our community’s momentum as we shape our version of a world class destination for transformative teaching, research that matters and athletic impact,” said President Jay Hartzell. “Their endowment gifts will provide enduring support for some of our most ambitious goals and crucial needs. We thank the Tylers for inspiring students, generating incredible outcomes and fostering both innovation and excellence across our campus.”

The Brian S. Tyler Endowed Economics Excellence Fund strengthens one of SMU’s largest and most outstanding academic departments. Housed within the Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, the SMU Department of Economics builds strong strategic leaders, business experts and industry researchers energized by cross-disciplinary knowledge, critical thinking skills and the ability to meet challenges creatively.

“Kristen and I are proud to support these initiatives at SMU and the students, faculty and staff that make them possible,” said Brian S. Tyler, chair of the board and CEO of McKesson Corporation and SMU trustee. “True success involves more than just having the right answer. It involves the support and community spirit that universities like SMU provide, where students are empowered to ask questions, faculty is encouraged to challenge what we know, and excellence is both a goal and a way of life. We are honored to be a part of it.”

The Tylers’ gift will deliver the flexible resources needed for the Department of Economics to:

• Recruit and retain outstanding doctoral students
• Strengthen faculty excellence
• Capitalize on strategic opportunities
• Enhance both the department’s programmatic and support offerings
• Further raise its profile among peer institutions across the nation

“Brian and Kristen’s gift exemplifies the kind of interdisciplinary vision that is propelling SMU to the forefront of American universities,” said Rachel Mersey, executive vice president and provost. “Their generosity will enable SMU to support students studying diverse and interconnected disciplines as they work to become well-rounded leaders and will enable our student-athletes to pursue excellence both on the field and in the classroom.”

The Kristen M. Tyler Endowed Master of Fine Arts Excellence Fund will create immediate, critical resources for Master of Fine Arts students in the Meadows School of the Arts as they work toward advanced degrees and successful careers. SMU Master of Fine Arts programs offer the definitive degrees in the arts, similar to doctoral degrees in other fields. Talented, ambitious students work directly with faculty members to hone their craft and launch successful careers as highly skilled arts practitioners and leaders within their disciplines. The new fund will enable Meadows to provide healthcare coverage to students for the first time and create flexible resources to expand and adapt student support in the future.

“Brian and I are so pleased to play a role in SMU’s future and its work to create robust educational, research and athletic opportunities for bright young minds,” said Kristen M. Tyler. “We have always believed in the power of education and in the importance of creating a student experience marked by character development and growth. Schools like SMU are vital to the success and development of our collective future, and we’re glad to be members of a community that works together to pave avenues of opportunity for future generations.”

The Tyler Family Student-Athlete Benefit Fund, a component of the SMU Student-Athlete Benefit Fund, will directly impact talented players and teams through expanded scholarship assistance, student-athlete revenue sharing and support for Mustang Partners, the University’s initiative to guide student-athletes through name, image and likeness (NIL) advancement. Their support will deliver direct and sustained support for these talented student-athletes as they train, develop and challenge themselves in every aspect of their lives.

“Our student-athletes are some of the most dedicated, hardworking people I’ve ever had the privilege to work with,” said Damon Evans, director of Athletics. “SMU continues to raise its national profile in athletics and academics, and the Tylers’ gift underscores the important role both play in providing an exceptional student experience. We are incredibly grateful for their generosity.”

Thanks to donors like the Tyler family and the University’s dedicated community, SMU is ideally positioned to achieve our shared vision for the future. As the University enters a new era in its history, the couple’s gift offers critical support for the priorities and imperatives outlined in the University’s recently released strategic framework, Mustang Charge. The plan, made possible by the input of thousands of community members, defines SMU’s strategic ambitions and commitment for the future as we focus on our immediate priorities and continue to evolve with and ahead of the needs of tomorrow.

“The Tylers’ gift represents an extraordinary investment in the future of SMU, advancing economics, the arts, research and athletics while helping prepare the next generation of leaders and creative thinkers to shape the future,” said Shontel Grumhaus, senior vice president for Development and External Affairs. “This kind of generosity provides real opportunities for students and student-athletes and creates a cascade of positive impact that stretches far beyond the Hilltop.”