There’s probably no college president more dedicated to his university’s future than R. Gerald Turner. He’s a native of Texas and studied at three of the state’s universities, but Turner really cemented his place in Texas when he became the President of SMU – Southern Methodist University, in Dallas.
When he joined in 1995, SMU was already recognized as one of the most beautiful places to study – students happily carry their books across vast lawns while tree-lined boulevards and neo-Georgian architecture give it an air of solid grandeur.
But its academic reputation has also soared, with The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education putting it within range of the top 10% of US universities. SMU is recognized as one of America’s best graduate schools for digital game design and is building an emphasis on data analytics across its broad curriculum. Further, it’s one of only seven schools to offer a degree in human rights, and its music and dance programs have been ranked among the best in the nation.
During Turner’s tenure as president, SMU has undergone a major transformation. It has raised more than US$1.6 billion for student scholarships and other priorities, has reinvigorated its engineering school, created an education school, and poured cash into new sports arenas and training facilities that support Division 1 athletics, including football, basketball and championship swimming. READ MORE