As the
president of Southern Methodist
University since 1995, R. Gerald
Turner is leading an era of
unprecedented progress at the
University. The recent Campaign for
SMU: A Time to Lead raised more than
$542 million for academic programs,
scholarships, professorships, and
student life programs. A new
strategic plan is guiding the
University’s advancement, and the
Centennial Master Plan is shaping
the physical profile of the campus,
including development of a new East
Quad.
Beyond
the campus, Gerald Turner serves on
the boards of the United Way of
Dallas, the Methodist Hospital
Foundation, the Salvation Army of
Dallas, and three publicly traded
companies. He is co-chair of the
Knight Commission on Intercollegiate
Athletics. A member of the Greater
Dallas Chamber Board, he chairs the
Board’s University President’s
Council. He also serves on national
higher education commissions.
Before
joining SMU, President Turner was
the chancellor of the University of
Mississippi. A native of New Boston,
Texas, he earned a B.S. degree in
psychology from Abilene Christian
University and M.A. and Ph.D.
degrees in psychology from the
University of Texas at Austin. He
and his wife, Gail, a native of
Graham, Texas, have two daughters,
both of whom are married and live in
Dallas. Angela is a professional
opera singer and the mother of Luke;
Jessica, an SMU alumna, is a
professional actress.
Southern
Methodist University is a private,
comprehensive university of 11,000
students enrolled in seven
degree-granting schools. SMU offers
undergraduate and graduate programs
in the humanities and sciences;
business; engineering; education;
and the performing, visual, and
communication arts; as well as
professional degree programs in law
and theology. Founded in 1911 by
what is now The United Methodist
Church, SMU is nonsectarian in its
teaching and committed to the values
of academic freedom and open
inquiry.
