SMU’s board of trustees approved Hartzell’s hire Tuesday.
DALLAS — University of Texas President Jay Hartzell will become SMU’s next president.
SMU’s Board of Trustees approved Hartzell’s hire Tuesday and he will become SMU’s next president effective June 1, 2025.
The announcement comes after SMU President R. Gerald Turner announced plans this fall to step down as that university’s president after 30 years and transition to President Emeritus.
Hartzell has served as the University of Texas’ 30th president since 2020, but has worked at the university since 2001 as a faculty member and former dean of the McCombs School of Business. His other notable jobs include senior associate dean for Academic Affairs, chair of the Department of Finance and executive director of the McCombs School’s Real Estate Finance and Investment Center.
“I am honored to serve as the next president of an exceptional institution like SMU in one of the most dynamic and fastest-growing cities in the nation, and excited to see how I can make the greatest impact as a leader,” Dr. Hartzell said. “SMU’s stellar – and rising – national reputation, decades of extraordinary internal and external leadership, strong board of trustees, accomplished alumni, and impressively strong and diverse students and faculty made this an opportunity that Kara and I could not pass up. I look forward to building upon the University’s remarkable momentum and leading SMU into its next era.”
Hartzell’s selection comes after a national search led by a 15-member search committee.
“Dr. Hartzell is a well-respected academician and higher education leader with a strong track record of accomplishments that make him the ideal candidate to build upon the tremendous energy and momentum we are experiencing here on the Hilltop,” said SMU board of trustees co chair and co-chair of the presidential search committee David Miller. “His leadership at UT Austin and commitment to advancing programs across diverse disciplines, including humanities, social sciences, arts, education, business, law, student life, and intercollegiate athletics, make him an excellent choice as SMU’s eleventh president. He also understands the vital role Texas and its universities play in the nation’s vibrant economy. The Board of Trustees looks forward to welcoming him, his wife, Kara, and their family to the Hilltop and Dallas.”