Brad E. Cheves
Brad E. Cheves serves as the senior vice president for Development and External Affairs (DEA) at SMU. In this role, Cheves advances the University’s strategic priorities by managing fundraising, strengthening donor relations and alumni engagement, overseeing marketing and communications, and deepening community connections.
As the University’s chief development officer, Cheves led DEA’s charge for SMU Ignited: Boldly Shaping Tomorrow, a multiyear $1.656 billion campaign to empower outstanding students, enrich teaching and research, and enhance campus and community. This landmark initiative was built on the support of 67,500 donors, volunteers and supporters and exceeded its $1.5 billion goal three years ahead of schedule on May 31, 2025, becoming one of the largest campaigns in the history of private Texas universities.
In addition to his responsibilities as senior vice president, Cheves played an equally critical part as campaign director in building support for the previous comprehensive campaign, SMU Unbridled: The Second Century Campaign. The academic programs, student scholarships, faculty support and facilities made possible by the ambitious campaign elevated SMU’s standing as a global teaching and research university. He also played a key leadership role on the University team that developed the proposal to bring the George W. Bush Presidential Center to SMU.
Since his appointment in June 2004, Cheves has initiated aggressive and innovative use of new technologies in SMU’s outreach programs targeted to alumni, potential students and national media, resulting in increased attention and an enhanced worldwide reputation for SMU. The number of new donors at all levels has increased dramatically, resulting in significant growth in endowed scholarships and faculty positions.
Reporting to Cheves are the offices for Marketing and Communications, Principal and Major Gifts, School and Project Development, Annual Giving and Alumni Relations, Development Services, and Program Services and Donor Relations – which produces the renowned SMU Tate Lecture Series, the SMU Athletic Forum luncheon series and the Doak Walker Award. The Office of the Senior Vice President includes Strategic Affairs, Staff Development and Leadership Projects.
This is Cheves’ second appointment at SMU. From 1998 to 2001, he was SMU’s associate vice president for Development. In that capacity, he also served as associate director of A Time to Lead: The Campaign for SMU.
From 2001 to 2004, Cheves was vice president for Advancement and Public Affairs and an assistant professor of public policy at Pepperdine University, where he reorganized the advancement operation and began a branding project that resulted in the establishment of Pepperdine’s Office of Marketing. He previously served Pepperdine as associate dean at the School of Public Policy and director of alumni relations at Pepperdine’s School of Law.
A native of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Cheves earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and finance from Abilene Christian University and a Juris Doctor degree from Pepperdine University School of Law. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas and has worked with the Texas State Legislature.
Cheves currently serves in several Dallas community leadership roles, including on the Broadway Dallas Board of Directors, the Dallas Assembly, the Dallas Council on Foreign Relations, the Texas Lyceum, New Friends New Life Honorary Board and its Men’s Advocacy Group, the Circle Ten Council Boy Scouts of America Executive Board and as an elder at the Preston Road Church of Christ. He and his wife, Angela, have three sons who all attended SMU: Kyle ’18, Conner ’20 and Keaton ’26.