As Dedman College continues to build momentum under new leadership and a shared sense of purpose, we recently sat down with Jon Altschuler ’94, chair of the Dedman Executive Board, to talk about where the College is headed—and why this moment matters. Jon has served on the Executive Board since 2014 and brings more than a decade of dedicated leadership to the College, along with a deep commitment to SMU and its liberal arts mission.
The founder of Altschuler and Company, a commercial real estate firm based in Dallas, Jon offers a perspective shaped by both business leadership and long-standing engagement with the University. In this Q&A, he reflects on Dedman’s growing energy, the enduring value of a liberal arts education, and the meaningful ways the Executive Board supports faculty, students, and alumni.
Looking ahead to the new year, what excites you most about Dedman College’s direction and momentum?
Where to start? We have a terrific new dean, I’m thrilled that Shivangi Perkins is staying, we’ve materially upgraded our marketing bench, and our Executive Board is as strong and engaged as I’ve ever seen it.
And then there are the professors and students. Spend time with either group, and the optimism becomes contagious. Everyone is leaning in, everyone cares deeply, and that combination tends to produce very good outcomes.
How does Dedman College’s liberal arts mission prepare students to lead in a rapidly changing world?
Dedman teaches students how to think, how to write, and how to argue their point—respectfully and persuasively. Just as importantly, it teaches them how to learn, unlearn, and adjust.
Those skills never go out of style. Our graduates will spend their lives forming ideas, defending them, revising them, and doing it all again the next day. Dedman gives them a very strong head start.
From your perspective, what role does Dedman College play within SMU—and within Dallas and beyond?
Dedman is the intellectual heartbeat of SMU, and SMU plays an outsized role in Dallas. That creates a deeply intertwined relationship that is best described as a complex derivative that I’ll leave to the economists or biologists to explain precisely.
Joking aside, the equation is simple: the more Dedman can do, the more SMU can do. And the more SMU can do, the more Dallas benefits. That makes our work here both exciting and important.
What are one or two strategic priorities for Dedman College that you believe will shape its impact over the next few years?
My job, along with the rest of the Executive Board, is to support the vision and priorities set by Janan. I’ll support them all.
One area I’m particularly excited about is career readiness. This is low-hanging fruit for Dedman, and we’re already climbing the ladder. The progress will be fast, the gains meaningful, and the payoff for students significant.
How does the Executive Board support Dedman College’s faculty, students, and academic programs in meaningful ways?
The short answer: by showing up.
Steve Kinder’s rapport with faculty is extraordinary. Haynes Strader has the rare ability to attract a moving circle of students and recent graduates wherever he goes—if you’ve seen him at a football game, you know exactly what I mean. Ken Malcolmson seems to know everyone on campus and in Dallas and is always eager to make connections. And Ginnie McCorkle is a model of engagement—present, thoughtful, and generous with her insights.
Those are just four examples. We have over 60 more I could mention. This kind of involvement turns a board from a title into a force multiplier.
6. What would you like students to know about the opportunities available to them through Dedman College—both during their time at SMU and after graduation?
I tell students this all the time: SMU and Dallas have a uniquely symbiotic relationship. The network here is deep, responsive, and genuinely wants to help.
Whatever you want to do, and whoever you want to meet, the SMU community can open doors—especially while you’re living in the city. That reach extends nationally, of course, but there’s something powerful about fully using Dallas while you’re in Dallas. Few university-city pairings rival it.
For alumni and friends of Dedman College, why is continued engagement and support so important right now?
Because Dedman and SMU are gaining momentum at the exact same time, Dallas is experiencing one of the most dramatic growth cycles in the country.
It’s a rare alignment and a fun one. Engagement right now isn’t just support; it’s participation in something that’s accelerating. Everyone, hold on tight!
When you think about Dedman College’s future, what do you hope it will be known for?
I hope Dedman College is known as the backbone of the university—the college that stepped up, delivered consistently, and helped bring the bold vision of our new President and Provost to life.
And if people also say, “They did it with energy and a little swagger,” I wouldn’t mind that either.