(From WFAA-TV); 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. His last day at UT will be May 31.
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 detailed his decision to take the helm at SMU in a letter to UT faculty.
“When students ask for advice, I typically respond thematically: Follow your passions, take some chances, stretch your comfort zone, and think of how you would like to make an impact,” he wrote. “Today, I am writing to let you know that I am following my own advice, which has led to my decision that this semester will be my last as the president of the University of Texas at Austin.”
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.”
UT Board of Regents chair Kevin Eltife and chancellor J.B. Milliken also praised Hartzell’s tenure in a statement.
“UT Austin is one of the world’s outstanding universities, with an exceptional faculty, staff, and leadership team in place to position it for even greater influence in the years ahead. We have worked closely with UT Austin during Jay Hartzell’s five years as president, and we will continue to do so in the months ahead to ensure a smooth transition,” their statement reads.
(Copyright, All Rights Reserved, WBAP/KLIF 2025)
