Founders’ Day Weekend 2014: Salute To Faculty And SMU Progress

Faculty gathered for a group portrait in Moody Coliseum. See the photo with individual identifications here.

Founders’ Day Weekend, April 10-13, highlighted the Year of the Faculty, celebrating the centennial of the recruitment of SMU’s first professors.
President R. Gerald Turner honored SMU faculty during a reception April 11 at the Miller Event Center in Moody Coliseum. Preceding the reception, a group photo was taken of full-time and emeriti faculty who assembled in Moody Coliseum. In his president’s briefing, Turner highlighted the University’s accomplishments and provided a look ahead for the coming year.
Board of Trustees Chair Caren Prothro said that “one of the great benefits and rewards of service on the board is getting to know the faculty. Also, it is my pleasure to express the Board’s sincerest respect and greatest appreciation for all that the SMU faculty have done over the past century – to support students, to develop new knowledge through research, to shape community and national issues due to your expertise and to lead the development of SMU as a highly respected institution today in U.S. higher education.”
Golden Mustangs, alumni from classes of 1963 or earlier, participated in a reunion and luncheon and toured the Sorolla exhibit at the Meadows Museum on Thursday.
This year Founders’ Day Weekend added a new performance program on Friday, Inside SMU Powered by TEDxSMU. The program featured stories and demonstrations from 16 SMU faculty, staff, alumni and student speakers on topics ranging from NSA surveillance to SMU’s civil rights pilgrimage program to a whimsical demonstration using giant origami.
Founders’ Day Weekend expanded its annual Community Day activities this year, including family events at the George W. Bush Presidential Center as well as at the Meadows Museum.

Tom and Susan Downs Armstrong '59 reminisced while leafing through old Rotunda yearbooks at the Golden Mustangs reunion April 10. — Tom and Susan Downs Armstrong ’59 reminisced while leafing through old Rotunda yearbooks at the Golden Mustangs reunion April 10.

At the President's Briefing, SMU Board of Trustees Chair Caren Prothro honored the faculty with a proclamation held by Student Body President Ramon Trespalacios (left) and accepted by Faculty Senate President Santanu Roy. — At the President’s Briefing, SMU Board of Trustees Chair Caren Prothro honored the faculty with a proclamation held by Student Body President Ramon Trespalacios (left) and accepted by Faculty Senate President Santanu Roy.

President R. Gerald Turner highlighted a year of SMU achievements at a briefing in Moody Coliseum. — President R. Gerald Turner highlighted a year of SMU achievements at a briefing.

Parent Leadership Council Chair Jim Landon '82 spoke to the group at the Miller Event Center during Founders' Day Weekend. — Parent Leadership Council Chair Jim Landon ’82 spoke to the group at the Miller Event Center during Founders’ Day Weekend.

Fred Wendorf, professor emeritus and Henderson-Morrison Chair in Anthropology and wife Christy Bednar attended the reception for faculty at the Miller Event Center in Moody Coliseum. — Fred Wendorf, professor *emeritus* and Henderson-Morrison Chair in Anthropology, and wife Christy Bednar attended the reception for faculty at the Miller Event Center in Moody Coliseum.

Families participated in Community Day events at the Bush Presidential Library and Museum and the Meadows Museum. — Families enjoyed snacks and hands-on activities at the Bush Presidential Library and the Meadows Museum during Community Day April 12.

Children explored painting with watercolors at the Meadows Museum. — Children explored painting with watercolors at the Meadows Museum during Community Day.

Families enjoyed the bluebonnets at the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum's Native Texas Park. — Families enjoyed the bluebonnets at the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum’s Native Texas Park.

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