Every year, SMU honors four
outstanding leaders in philanthropy, business and civic life with the highest honor the University can bestow upon its graduates, the Distinguished Alumni Awards.
This fall, Connie Blass O’Neill ’77, co-chair of the Simmons School Executive Board, will receive this honor from her alma mater during Homecoming 2020.
O’Neill put her talent to work at Ernst & Young from 1977 to 1985 as a certified public accountant. She is a member of the Texas Society of CPAs, and senior manager in audit and tax department member.
Through the years, O’Neill has been an indefatigable volunteer for the University. She has been a member of the SMU Board of Trustees since 2012, where she has served on the Development and External Affairs, Academic Affairs, Audit, and Building and Grounds standing committees, and was voted Outstanding Trustee for 2015–16. In addition, she is co-chair of the Simmons School of Education and Human Development Executive Board and a member of the Cox School of Business Executive Board.
Her past SMU service includes membership on The Second Century Campaign Simmons School of Education Campaign Steering Committee; president of the SMU Alumni Board and SMU Young Alumni; chair of SMU’s Homecoming and Reunion Committee; and co-chair of the SMU Parent Leadership Council from 2015–19 with her husband, Chris ’75.
The Distinguished Alumni Award will be presented at the Armstrong Fieldhouse, Thursday, October 22 at 7 p.m.