Presidential center’s 10 years of impact

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April 29, SMU President R. Gerald Turner and co-author Ken Hersh, president and CEO of the George W. Bush Presidential Center, for a commentary on the occasion of the 10th Anniversary of the Center’s decade of partnership after opening in 2013 on the SMU campus. Published in the Dallas Morning News under the heading Presidential center’s 10 years of impact: Bush Center brings a world of ideas and opportunity to Dallas: https://tinyurl.com/mt9exk4j

It’s been a full decade since the George W. Bush Presidential Center launched to great fanfare on the Southern Methodist University campus. To this day, the recalled image of five living presidents from differing political parties celebrating together demonstrates the spirit of optimism that has been the hallmark of the Bush Center.

President George W. Bush planned for a strong but independent partnership between SMU and the Bush Center that would benefit the university, Dallas, the United States and the world. Ten years down the road, we are grateful for the opportunity and our achievements.

Bush Center brings a world of ideas and opportunity to Dallas

By R. Gerald Turner and Ken Hersh

It’s been a full decade since the George W. Bush Presidential Center launched to great fanfare on the Southern Methodist University campus. To this day, the recalled image of five living presidents from differing political parties celebrating together demonstrates the spirit of optimism that has been the hallmark of the Bush Center.

President George W. Bush planned for a strong but independent partnership between SMU and the Bush Center that would benefit the university, Dallas, the United States and the world. Ten years down the road, we are grateful for the opportunity and our achievements.

At a fundamental level, the partnership has been a boost to our economy. Just last week, the Bush Center issued a report outlining its cumulative $2 billion economic impact on the North Texas region. What began with the construction of the Bush Center by local workers with regional materials has grown to support hundreds of jobs. The Bush Center continues to drive the economy, attracting visitors from all over the world to the George W. Bush Presidential Museum, the George W. Bush Institute and the Laura W. Bush Native Texas Park.

It would be impossible, however, to put a price tag on the intellectual capital generated by this partnership. The Bush Center continues to build thought leadership to influence policy on topics such as economic growth, immigration, trade, education, veteran transition, freedom and democracy, global health and women’s empowerment. The Bush Center’s strategic programming engages deeply across all constituencies, ensuring that the Bush Center remains an important positive influence on the nation.

Close to 1,000 changemakers have come to the Bush Center and SMU through the Bush Institute’s leadership programming, supported by SMU faculty members who have helped develop curriculum. Learning from differing perspectives, thoughtful collaboration and a commitment to civics, Presidential Leadership Scholars are making an impact right here in Dallas, across the United States and around the world.

More than 1.9 million people have visited the Bush Museum since it opened on May 1, 2013. The Engage at the Bush Center series presented by NexPoint brings influential voices to the North Texas and SMU communities. And the Bush Center’s annual Forum on Leadership has hosted many prominent leaders and officials, including Bono, Jeff Bezos and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Just this month, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin discussed political polarization at the 2023 Forum on Leadership.

Experts at the Bush Institute are trusted thought leaders, appearing across media platforms, counseling presidents, testifying before Congress and advising influencers. Fellows such as physician-diplomat Dr. Deborah L. Birx, former Johnson & Johnson Chairman Alex Gorsky and former Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam are part of the Bush Institute’s team.

The Catalyst: A Journal of Ideas from the Bush Institute launched in 2016 with the vision that ideas matter in shaping public policy. The quarterly publication is a forum for national experts, Bush Institute and SMU thought leaders, as well as new and rising voices of the day.

The spirit of open inquiry at the Bush Center has been a good fit for a university committed to civility and discourse, the essence of our democracy. Neimi Fellows from SMU’s Cox School of Business create research projects with the Bush Center, and NexPoint Tower Scholars, who study public policy and international affairs, have the opportunity to intern at the Bush Center.

SMU faculty members work with the Bush Institute on many levels to help produce meaningful research. For example, the George W. Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative promotes innovation, entrepreneurship and faster, more inclusive growth through global competitiveness and sound immigration policy. Simmons School of Education and Human Development faculty have collaborated with the Bush Institute on improving global health.

As we look to the next decade and beyond, SMU and the Bush Center will continue to encourage civil debate and informed analysis of broad topics — very important during these divisive times. This is leadership by example, and we are just getting started.

R. Gerald Turner is president of SMU. Ken Hersh is president and CEO of the George W. Bush Presidential Center. They wrote this for The Dallas Morning News.

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