After 22 years of service to SMU, Lori Krone, testing manager of the University Testing Center (UTC), has announced her retirement effective June 30, 2026. The search for her successor is underway, with the position officially posted to the SMU Staff Career Portal today, December 1. The UTC aims to welcome a new testing manager by mid-March.
Lori’s connection to SMU runs deep. She is not only an alum, having earned both her undergraduate degree and a Master of Liberal Studies, but also a proud SMU parent and long-serving staff member. Her professional journey at SMU began in May 2004 as testing coordinator for Counseling Services at the Dr. Bob Smith Health Center before transitioning to testing manager for the UTC in June 2022.
She helped facilitate the opening of the center to provide accommodated testing services previously managed by the Disability Accommodations and Success Strategies (DASS) office, later expanding services to include early and makeup testing for student-athletes; credit-by-exam testing (CLEP) for select SMU courses; placement testing for Math, Chemistry, and Second Language courses; and fee-based proctoring for distance learners and professional licensure exams. In January 2025, Lori secured UTC’s recertification as a testing center through 2030 by the National College Testing Association (NCTA) in recognition of adherence to national testing standards and test integrity.
“I’m sincerely grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given, the unwavering support I’ve received and the lasting friendships I’ve formed. I’m proud of my work with exceptional colleagues to lay a solid foundation for the UTC’s continued growth and impact on SMU students and our broader community,” Lori said.
Lori’s supervisor, Dustin Grabsch, shared the following on the announcement of her retirement: “Lori has led the University Testing Center with the kind of grace and good humor that makes you wonder if she secretly has superpowers, or at least an extra 10 hours in her day. Her work ethic is unmatched, her leadership steady and thoughtful, and her care for students absolutely unwavering. We’ll miss her deeply, but knowing Lori, she’s probably already color-coding her retirement plans with the same precision she brought to the UTC. Lori, thank you for shaping a center, and a community, built on integrity, compassion, and heart.”
The UTC Testing Manager plays a critical role in overseeing the center’s daily operations, including communications with students, faculty, staff, and other stakeholders; test scheduling and administration; software and hardware systems; and electronic surveillance protocols.
Please see the job description in the SMU Staff Career Portal for more information, share it with your offices, and post it within your professional networks on or after December 1.
Deadline for submission: Sunday, January 4, 2026
Hiring Points of Contact:
- Lori Krone (lkrone@smu.edu / 214-768-2269)
- Dr. Dustin Grabsch (dgrabsch@smu.edu / 214-768-4887)