RGT Retiring

[b_caesar]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KL4z9Qbz-CY

August 21, 2024

Dear SMU Community,

When Gail and I moved our family here in 1995 as I became SMU’s 10th President, we were thrilled to join SMU and Dallas, two communities with so much energy and promise, it felt like a perfect match. And, it has been.

Therefore, it is with an incredible sense of gratitude to the SMU community, I am announcing today that the coming academic year, 2024-2025, will be my last to serve as the 10th President of Southern Methodist University (SMU). I have been blessed by remarkable health and energy, along with the consistent support of the Board of Trustees, my wife Gail, my family, and the SMU community. But as Trustee Ray Hunt occasionally notes, the calendar is the calendar, and it relentlessly moves forward. Therefore, it is best to transition out of the presidency when momentum is high, as it now is at SMU.

This united, 30-year partnership with the Board of Trustees and the University community has guided the remarkable development of SMU. Two successful initial campaigns (A Time to Lead, 1997-2002, and Unbridled: The Second Century Campaign, 2008-2015), began the momentum by providing funding for academic and athletic facilities, plus scholarships, academic programs, and endowed faculty positions. The recruitment and construction of the George W. Bush Presidential Center highlighted the University’s Centennial Celebration 2011-2015. Fueling current progress, the $1.5 billion SMU Ignited major gifts campaign (2021-2028), is 90% toward its goal. Our new membership in the Atlantic Coast Conference officially began July 1, 2024. In addition, major construction projects and significant enhancements of academic programs, many fueled by advanced computing, have created a sense of institutional momentum that is palpable and nationally recognized.

With clear paths to success in completing these transformative projects, during the spring semester, Chair David Miller, Vice Chair Rich Templeton, and I reinitiated planning for the next phase of university leadership. These conversations informally began in 2022 with the election of David Miller as Chair and Rich Templeton as Vice Chair. Now in 2024, we and the Trusteeship Committee believe that the 2024-25 academic year is the ideal time for planning and implementing the next phase of university leadership. Chair Miller’s four, one-year terms June 1, 2022 - May 31, 2026, will allow him to be Board Chair during the search (2024-2025) and during the next President’s first year in office (2025-2026).

The Board and I are extremely grateful and proud of our shared success during the past 30 years brought about by the generosity of our supporters and the remarkably creative executive administrators, staff, and faculty at SMU. Also, there are no words to express the depth of my gratitude and affection for the students attending SMU over the past 30 years. Therefore, this transition process is being undertaken with my belief and that of the Board, that the future success of the University is best assured when leadership changes are made while there is continued positive momentum toward important, agreed-upon future goals. By assuming the office in 2025, the 11th President will also be able to contribute to the success of SMU Ignited which is scheduled to conclude in 2028.

Therefore, as the 10th President, I will transition from the Presidency of SMU whenever the 11th President and CEO of SMU takes office, likely on June 1, 2025. At that time, with Board approval, I will become President Emeritus of the University reporting to the President to continue full-time to support the development and external affairs of the University, including the SMU Ignited Campaign, as the new President and Board deem appropriate. After 30 years, the commitment of Gail and me to the continued development of the University and the well-being of the faculty, staff, and students is unending.

There will be opportunities later to express more fully and personally my deep appreciation to the SMU community for the honor of serving as President for the last 30 years. We can better reflect on our work together toward the end of the spring semester. In the meantime, during the coming academic year, we still have much to accomplish toward the goals of the Strategic Plan, the SMU Ignited campaign, and our new membership in the ACC. So, it is important that we continue our work together during the 2024-2025 academic year to make SMU even greater.

With deep appreciation and devotion,

R. Gerald Turner
SMU President

[Water Pony]

I am most grateful for Dr. Turner's leadership and many contributions to the progress SMU has made academically and athletically, as well as the amazing additions to our beautiful campus with its new buildings and facilities which have been funded and finished during his long, impactful tenure.

I thank him and his family for their dedication to our progress and amazing future, including our joining the ACC.

[Hoss]

Interesting timing after all the work Dr. Turner has put in to get us into the ACC.
Hope his health is OK.
On the other hand, he has kids and, I assume, grandkids. Enjoy time with them.

[fan]

I am most grateful for Dr. Turner's leadership and many contributions to the progress SMU has made academically and athletically, as well as the amazing additions to our beautiful campus with its new buildings and facilities which have been funded and finished during his long, impactful tenure.

I thank him and his family for their dedication to our progress and amazing future, including our joining the ACC.

Since this is mainly a sport forum: I really never understood the bashing of G. Turner for not liking athletics. He's down on the field after football games and sits courtside at basketball games. If he really didn't care, why would he bother? He helped get us into the ACC and no matter what happens to the conference that deserves praise.

[bubba pony]

he is 78 years old.
from the internet:
Since 1995, Turner has served as the president of Southern Methodist University. He helped lead the school's efforts to attract the George W. Bush Presidential Center, to be located on the SMU campus. In 2016, he earned $3.3 million, and was the third-highest-paid of all U.S. private-university presidents.

[EastStang]

He accomplished what needed to be accomplished and now he can retire knowing he got us to a better place.

[PonyPride]

I am most grateful for Dr. Turner's leadership and many contributions to the progress SMU has made academically and athletically, as well as the amazing additions to our beautiful campus with its new buildings and facilities which have been funded and finished during his long, impactful tenure.

I thank him and his family for their dedication to our progress and amazing future, including our joining the ACC.

Since this is mainly a sport forum: I really never understood the bashing of G. Turner for not liking athletics. He's down on the field after football games and sits courtside at basketball games. If he really didn't care, why would he bother? He helped get us into the ACC and no matter what happens to the conference that deserves praise.

Everything I have heard from those who are close to the trenches is that he has worked a ton behind the scenes to make the ACC move happen.

[tristatecoog]

RGT got a standing ovation at last night's fall convocation.

ACC and GWB Library are two big accomplishments. Also the Boulevard. He came after SMU was shut out of the Big 12. So was TCU but they were fortunate to get Patterson to stay for many years. No such luck in hoops. TCU has been to five NCAA tournaments in those 30 years and has gone 2-5. Four of those five have been since 2018 with alum Jamie Dixon. SMU has gone to two tournaments in 30 years and gone 0-2. Hopefully RGT and Miller have hired the guy to equal or beat what Dixon has done down I-30.

[Charleston Pony]

RGT got a standing ovation at last night's fall convocation.

ACC and GWB Library are two big accomplishments. Also the Boulevard. He came after SMU was shut out of the Big 12. So was TCU but they were fortunate to get Patterson to stay for many years. No such luck in hoops. TCU has been to five NCAA tournaments in those 30 years and has gone 2-5. Four of those five have been since 2018 with alum Jamie Dixon. SMU has gone to two tournaments in 30 years and gone 0-2. Hopefully RGT and Miller have hired the guy to equal or beat what Dixon has done down I-30.

I know Turner was a hoops fan and at one point I thought he favored hiring Rob Evans as our HC. I seem to recall Evans did come on in some advisory capacity but we can only hope that Enfield will be able to build the kind of program Larry Brown did. LB showed it can be done

[orguy]

RGT got a standing ovation at last night's fall convocation.

ACC and GWB Library are two big accomplishments. Also the Boulevard. He came after SMU was shut out of the Big 12. So was TCU but they were fortunate to get Patterson to stay for many years. No such luck in hoops. TCU has been to five NCAA tournaments in those 30 years and has gone 2-5. Four of those five have been since 2018 with alum Jamie Dixon. SMU has gone to two tournaments in 30 years and gone 0-2. Hopefully RGT and Miller have hired the guy to equal or beat what Dixon has done down I-30.

Deep thoughts from tristate. Cougar High's finest?

Turner was a great fundraiser. Not much else. Far from a scholar.
More suited for the presidency at Tarelton State or a junior college
than any legitimate 4 year university with national aspirations.The
shrub "library" will ultimately prove to be an imbroglio for SMU. Glad
turner is gone. A temporary pause as we await a scholar to takeover
the reigns. Will SMU and its weak BOT choose an academic like Shields?
or will we revert to the mediocre as has happened so many times
in the past? Only time will tell. Good riddance "DR" Turner.

[EastStang]

Just don't pick a law school dean from Duke. The last one nearly killed the University. Or a South Pole Scholar from USC.

[Bergermeister]

Look to our own law school dean. Pretty amazing background.

[tristatecoog]

I hear that it's likely the next president is currently a university president.

In hindsight, Shields and Pye don't seem like great picks. Both resigned due to health issues and Pye actually died within a year of leaving SMU. Shields is still alive at 88 and back in his native California. Shields was president of Cal State Fullerton and maybe raised a lot of money or improved their profile? Pye was the academic former Duke Law Dean.

Two private universities that have dramatically improved over the last 30 years have been USC and Northeastern. USC is currently led by a powerhouse president in Carol Folt, who was previously chancellor of UNC Chapel Hill and exec director of the AAU. That's a reach. The previous president (2010-18) was USC's engineering dean and then provost. USC now has roughly 47,000 students and 20K undergrads and a top 25 national academic ranking.

Northeastern had a dynamic long-time leader that rode the US News rankings to a stout academic position -- ranked #44 in 2022 US News. The Boston schools get way more applications and prospective student visits.

[orguy]

I hear that it's likely the next president is currently a university president.

In hindsight, Shields and Pye don't seem like great picks. Both resigned due to health issues and Pye actually died within a year of leaving SMU. Shields is still alive at 88 and back in his native California. Shields was president of Cal State Fullerton and maybe raised a lot of money or improved their profile? Pye was the academic former Duke Law Dean.

Two private universities that have dramatically improved over the last 30 years have been USC and Northeastern. USC is currently led by a powerhouse president in Carol Folt, who was previously chancellor of UNC Chapel Hill and exec director of the AAU. That's a reach. The previous president (2010-18) was USC's engineering dean and then provost. USC now has roughly 47,000 students and 20K undergrads and a top 25 national academic ranking.

Northeastern had a dynamic long-time leader that rode the US News rankings to a stout academic position -- ranked #44 in 2022 US News. The Boston schools get way more applications and prospective student visits.

Mr Cougar,

A wise sage indeed. Never having attended SMU you sure come across as an
authority. Shields was run off by the board. Do your homework. He was an
outstanding president.

Have you lived in the Northeastern USA? If so you would know that Northeastern
is still considered a third rate academic school. However, rankings do matter in
most cases. SMU is 91st. What of SMU's academic reputation o' loudmouth?

[leopold]

I hear that it's likely the next president is currently a university president.

In hindsight, Shields and Pye don't seem like great picks. Both resigned due to health issues and Pye actually died within a year of leaving SMU. Shields is still alive at 88 and back in his native California. Shields was president of Cal State Fullerton and maybe raised a lot of money or improved their profile? Pye was the academic former Duke Law Dean.

Two private universities that have dramatically improved over the last 30 years have been USC and Northeastern. USC is currently led by a powerhouse president in Carol Folt, who was previously chancellor of UNC Chapel Hill and exec director of the AAU. That's a reach. The previous president (2010-18) was USC's engineering dean and then provost. USC now has roughly 47,000 students and 20K undergrads and a top 25 national academic ranking.

Northeastern had a dynamic long-time leader that rode the US News rankings to a stout academic position -- ranked #44 in 2022 US News. The Boston schools get way more applications and prospective student visits.

Interesting points.

Sheilds and Pye were given messes that were over their paygrades. When Shields made at least some sort of attempt to reign in the cheating he was told by the Governor of Texas to 'go run the school,' as if the football team wasn't part of the school. What's he goign to do, fight the governor of the state? Pye was brought in with the single mandate of 'GET YOUR PROBLEM SOLVED.' Well, he at least solved that problem, one that was threating the soul of the school, and some would say, it's existence. Then Turner, who was the president of Ole Miss, starts actually providing a vision forward, no matter how flawed.

So, the question is now, what do we want to be? Do we want to be a research university, a sweet little liberal arts school, a business powerhouse, an athletic program with a library, or what? What sayeth the crowd?