Jay Hartzell on His Vision as SMU's New President

Transition to SMU Presidency

• 💡 Jay Hartzell describes his transition to SMU president as a "return to really what I enjoy doing," emphasizing his passion for the academic enterprise.
• 🎯 He feels SMU is "on the rise" and sees this moment as an opportunity to shape a real ascent for the university.
• 📌 While still adjusting, he finds the role of SMU president becoming more "customary."

Personal Journey and Academic Path

• 🚀 Hartzell shares his upbringing in Oklahoma, influenced by his sports writer father and later a Methodist minister stepfather, a Perkins School of Theology grad.
• 🎓 He pursued undergraduate and graduate studies, eventually returning to Texas, which he considers "home."
• ⚡ His path to leadership at UT involved taking on responsibilities when leadership changed, leading to an interim role.

Vision for SMU's Future

• 🌟 Hartzell aims to attract more great talent, both students and faculty, by designing programs and experiences that rival top institutions.
• 🔬 He plans to focus on societal problems where SMU can make an impact, leveraging its strengths and its urban, private university context.
• 🤝 The vision includes fostering a nimble environment that allows SMU to move faster and upward, drawing parallels to successful urban private universities.

Challenges and Opportunities in Higher Education

• ⚠️ Hartzell acknowledges public perception challenges facing higher education and aims to showcase SMU's positive direction.
• 🔑 He emphasizes the need to attract top talent by highlighting SMU as a place where individuals can build something special, countering traditional biases towards Northeast or West Coast institutions.
• 💬 He sees the university's role in Dallas as a partner, offering talent, research, and convening power to help solve community problems.

Engaging with Students and the University Community

• 🎓 Hartzell values engaging with students, drawing from his own positive undergraduate experience and a professor who inspired his academic path.
• 📸 Social media is seen as a tool to increase visibility and accessibility for university leadership, allowing students to know who their leaders are.
• 🤝 He believes in fostering a collaborative spirit where diverse voices contribute to problem-solving, leading to better outcomes.

SMU's Strengths and Family Considerations

• 💖 Hartzell highlights SMU's holistic student experience, including strong academics, a beautiful campus, vibrant arts, and athletics.
• 🎨 He enjoys engaging with the university's art collection, seeing it as a perk of the academic environment.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 For families, he stresses SMU's commitment to a safe and caring environment, the blend of liberal arts and professional schools, and strong student outcomes that provide lifetime value.

Leadership Philosophy and Future Outlook

• 🚀 Hartzell is excited to focus on the academic heart of the school and work with a team to steer SMU's direction.
• 🎓 He anticipates his inauguration as a moment to celebrate SMU's current achievements and future aspirations.
• 🤝 He looks forward to building relationships, learning, and seeing SMU continue its ascent, with key moments like commencements and recruiting top talent.
• 🌱 He aims to support faculty by celebrating their contributions, encouraging ambitious research, and fostering a risk-tolerant environment.
• 🌟 His hope for five years from now is that SMU will be even more on the ascent, with a cohesive team, a growing student body, and retained top faculty.