UT Austin president Jay Hartzell named next president of Southern Methodist University

DALLAS - Current UT Austin president Jay Hartzell has been named the next president of Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas effective later this year.

Following an extensive national search, the SMU Board of Trustees unanimously voted Tuesday to name him the 11th president of SMU, effective June 1. His last day with UT Austin will be May 31.

Hartzell is currently the 30th president of the University of Texas at Austin and has been since the fall of 2020. He previously served as the dean of the McCombs School of Business and has been a UT Austin faculty member since 2001.

"I am honored to serve as the next president of an exceptional institution like SMU in one of the most dynamic and fastest-growing cities in the nation, and excited to see how I can make the greatest impact as a leader," Dr. Hartzell said in a release from SMU. "SMU’s stellar – and rising – national reputation, decades of extraordinary internal and external leadership, strong board of trustees, accomplished alumni, and impressively strong and diverse students and faculty made this an opportunity that Kara and I could not pass up. I look forward to building upon the University’s remarkable momentum and leading SMU into its next era."

SMU is a private university with an enrollment of about 12,000. UT has roughly 53,000 students.

Jay Hartzell, president of The University of Texas at Austin, speaks during the National Association of Business Economics (NABE) economic policy conference in Dallas, Texas, US, on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. The theme of event is Beyond the Business Cy

Expand

UT System Chairman of the Board of Regents Kevin P. Eltife and Chancellor J.B. Milliken released a statement about the news Tuesday, saying: 

"We congratulate UT Austin President Jay Hartzell on being named the new president of Southern Methodist University.  We greatly appreciate his service as UT Austin’s president since 2020 and on its faculty since 2001. His last day on the Forty Acres will be May 31.

"UT Austin is one of the world’s outstanding universities, with an exceptional faculty, staff, and leadership team in place to position it for even greater influence in the years ahead. We have worked closely with UT Austin during Jay Hartzell’s five years as president, and we will continue to do so in the months ahead to ensure a smooth transition.

"We wish President Hartzell our very best on his new leadership role in Dallas, and we thank him for his many contributions to UT over the past 24 years."

What the campus community is saying: The announcement drew mixed reactions from the campus community. 

"I've worked for some really good presidents, he's the best. I love that guy," Vic Schaefer, head women's basketball coach, said. "I'm certainly happy for him because I think he is a great man... he has what I call a presence. I think he's really smart... he's not one of these ivory tower guys. He's like me and you, he's a humble guy... he's got the it factor to me... I hate to see him go."

"He really hasn't been on the side of students in recent years, so I'm kind of happy to see him move on," senior Kyle Porter said.

"The students' voices should be heard first and foremost. They shouldn't be thrown out and stricken to this one ruler who I felt like President Hartzell kind of gave that presence," Gonzales said.

"I just want to see someone who cares a bit more and is more compassionate with students about the causes that they stand for," Choudry said. 

Background on Hartzell's tenure: Hartzell highlighted several accomplishments during his time as president, including all-time highs in applications, enrollment, and graduation rates, plus more accessible housing for students. Hartzell's tenure has not been without controversy. 

In April 2024, pro-Palestine protesters on campus were met by law enforcement, and dozens of people were arrested.

"A lot of my friends here at UT and everyone had really mixed feelings about Jay Hartzell with everything that's been going on with the pro-Palestine protests," sophomore Zainab Choudry said.

"That whole instance was handled very poorly," Porter said.

"A lot of people didn't like his response to the protests," junior Jacob Gonzales said.

Hartzell was also president when the university laid off dozens of staff members to comply with the state's ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

What's next: Hartzell will take over the position from current SMU president R. Gerald Turner, who will transition to the full-time role of president emeritus this summer. Turner has been president of SMU for three decades and plans to support Harzell and the University's development and external affairs in his new role.

"With Dr. Hartzell taking the reins, I am confident that SMU will continue building on a generation of remarkable success," Dr. Turner said. "Gail and I are excited to support Jay and Kara to continue SMU’s prominence and impact at the national level."

Dr. Hartzell holds a B.S. in business administration and economics from Trinity University and a Ph.D. in finance from UT Austin. He is married to Kara Hartzell, a licensed clinical social worker with a private practice in Austin, and they have two adult children. His formal installation as SMU’s 11th president is tentatively scheduled for next fall.