In 1995, President R. Gerald Turner arrived at SMU with a vision that would transform the University. We’re taking a look back at 30 years of outstanding leadership.
An enduring legacy
1995
September
Presidential inauguration
September
Dr. Turner oversees his first SMU Tate Lecture, welcoming actor Gregory Peck
1996
July
SMU joins the Western Athletic Conference
1997
April
Launch of A Time to Lead with $300 million goal plus Dedman family $30 million gift
Fall
SMU opens the SMU-in-Plano campus in Legacy Business Park, housing graduate degree programs in business, counseling and more
1998
April
The Meadows Foundation gives $20 million toward the new Meadows Museum
Fall
Gerald J. Ford ’66, ’69 gives $20 million toward Gerald J. Ford Stadium
1999
April
Laura Bush Promenade and Fondren Library Center opens
Spring
Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher receives the Medal of Freedom from the Tower Center
2000
September
Gerald J. Ford Stadium opens; Boulevard tradition begins
2001
February
The new Meadows Museum opens, moving from its original location within the Meadows School of the Arts building
February
Dedman School of Law is named with a $20 million commitment from the Dedman family
Spring
Former President George H.W. Bush receives the Tower Center’s Medal of Freedom
September
In the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, SMU students, faculty and staff record journal entries of their reactions through the Office of the Chaplain
2002
Spring
Dedman Life Sciences Building opens for classes
May
A Time to Lead campaign celebration closes, reaching $532 million
August
Actress Kathy Bates ’69 gives Commencement address
August
Engineering complex opens, including Jerry Junkins Electrical Engineering Building
Fall
President R. Gerald Turner receives the “M” Award
2003
February
SMU seismologists analyze the infrasound signals from the space shuttle Columbia reentry crash over Texas
November
Launch of SMU Guildhall, a premier graduate-level video game development program
November
Laura Lee Blanton Student Services Building opens
2004
Spring
Westcott Field is renovated
Summer
SMU-in-Taos Cultural Institute begins
2005
July
SMU joins Conference USA
August
210 evacuated students from Tulane, Xavier, Loyola, Dillard, New Orleans and Southern universities take refuge at SMU in the wake of Hurricane Katrina
September
James M. Collins Executive Education Center in the Cox School of Business opens
2006
May
Businessman H. Ross Perot, Jr. gives Commencement address
Spring
U.S. Senator John McCain receives the Tower Center’s Medal of Freedom
September
J. Lindsay Embrey Building at the Lyle School of Engineering opens
2007
November
Harold C. and Annette Caldwell Simmons ’57 give $20 million to name Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development, endow Leon Simmons deanship
2008
February
Crum Basketball Center opens
July
Dedication of Casita Clements at SMU-in-Taos
September
Eastern portion of Yale Boulevard is renamed SMU Boulevard by the City of Dallas
September
Kickoff of SMU Unbridled campaign with $750 million goal
Fall
$35 million gift from Nancy Ann Hunter Hunt ’65 and Ray L. Hunt ’65; $33 million gift from The Meadows Foundation and $20 million gift from Annette Caldwell Simmons ’57 and Harold C. Simmons are announced as part of the SMU Unbridled campaign
October
Bobby B. Lyle ’67 names the Lyle School of Engineering
December
Annette Caldwell Simmons Hall groundbreaking
December
Noel family endows the Judge James Noel Deanship of Law at Dedman School of Law
2009
December
SMU wins the Hawaii Bowl against Nevada, marking the Mustangs’ first postseason appearance since 1984
2010
April
Caruth Hall at the Lyle School of Engineering opens
September
Simmons School of Education and Human Development and the Annette Caldwell Simmons Hall opens
November
George W. Bush Presidential Center groundbreaking
2011
April
Announcement of $20 million gift from the Moody Foundation and $10 million gift from Carolyn and David B. Miller ’72, ’73, both for Moody Coliseum renovation
April
SMU Centennial celebrations begin
May
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama visits SMU for a Hart Global Leaders lecture and receives an honorary doctorate
2012
April
Community impact report “Dallas’ University” is published, showing that SMU and its alumni provide a $7 billion impact on North Texas annually
May
Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice gives Commencement address
2013
February
Annette Caldwell Simmons ’57 and Harold C. Simmons give $25 million for Harold Clark Simmons Hall and three endowed academic positions
April
Dedication of George W. Bush Presidential Center
July
SMU joins the American Athletic Conference
December
Renovated Moody Coliseum opens
2014
January
First offering of January term classes at SMU-in-Taos
May
Dedication of Residential Commons complex
2015
February
Styslinger/Altec Tennis Complex opens
March
The Meadows Foundation pledges $45 million to SMU
September
Carolyn and David Miller Campus Center is dedicated at SMU-in-Taos
September
Centennial celebrations concludes
2016
February
Harold Clark Simmons Hall opens
April
SMU Unbridled campaign concludes, reaching $1.15 billion, a record for Texas private universities
August
Dr. Bob Smith Health Center opens
2017
November
Robson & Lindley Aquatics Center and Barr-McMillion Natatorium opens
2018
December
SMU’s Simmons School of Education and Human Development partners with Toyota USA Foundation and Dallas ISD to open the Dr. Elba and Domingo Garcia West Dallas STEM School
2019
September
Dedication of Armstrong Fieldhouse
October
Carolyn and David B. Miller ’72, ’73 give $50 million toward Cox School of Business, the largest alumni gift in SMU history
November
The Moody Foundation gives $100 million to create Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies and Frances Anne Moody Hall, the largest gift in SMU history; Moody deanship endowed
2020
February
Cox School of Business celebrates centennial
August
Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies opens
August
SMU holds in-person Commencement outdoors due to the COVID-19 pandemic
September
Campus resumes in-person instruction
December
Dedication of Gerald J. Ford Hall for Research and Innovation, an interdisciplinary hub housing SMU Guildhall and other programs
2021
September
SMU Ignited kicks off with a goal of $1.5 billion
October
43rd President of the United States George W. Bush gives a Tate Lecture Series address
2022
January
Garry Weber ’58 gives $50 million toward Garry Weber End Zone Complex at Gerald J. Ford Stadium
April
William S. Spears gift toward William S. Spears Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership, largest non-alumni gift in SMU history
April
Dedication of Washburne Soccer and Track Stadium
September
Renovated Meadows School visual arts facilities open, including Gene and Jerry Jones Grand Atrium and Plaza
October
Elisabeth Martin Armstrong ’82 and William D. Armstrong ’82 endow the dean position for the Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
2023
February
Mary and Richard Templeton give $20 million toward engineering education, including endowment of the Mary and Richard Templeton Dean of the Lyle School of Engineering
August
O’Donnell Foundation gives $30 million toward data science institute and engineering education
2024
May
David B. Miller Business Quadrangle dedication
July
SMU joins the Atlantic Coast Conference, an NCAA Power 5 conference
September
Garry Weber End Zone Complex opens
2025
February
SMU earns Research One status from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, the highest designation for research and development
February
Dedman School of Law centennial celebration
May
Rees-Jones Library of the American West groundbreaking
May
SMU Ignited campaign celebration
May
Dr. Turner gives keynote address at May Commencement
May
Dr. Turner concludes 30 years as president of SMU as he transitions to president emeritus
