R. Gerald Turner | |
|---|---|
| 10th President of Southern Methodist University | |
| Assumed office June 5, 1995 | |
| Preceded by | A. Kenneth Pye |
| 14th Chancellor of the University of Mississippi | |
| In office April 2, 1984 – 1995 | |
| Preceded by | Porter Lee Fortune Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Robert Khayat |
| Vice President of Executive Affairs University of Oklahoma | |
| In office 1978–1984 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 25, 1945 |
| Education | Lubbock Christian College (AA) Abilene Christian University (BS) University of Texas at Austin (MA, PhD) |
| Occupation | Academic administrator |
Robert Gerald Turner (born November 25, 1945) is the President of Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, Texas. One of the most highly-compensated university presidents in the United States,[1] Turner has been described as a "transformational"[2] figure who helped rehabilitate SMU's national reputation following the infamous 1980s football scandal and NCAA death penalty. His tenure as president, the longest in SMU history, has also been marked by legal confirmation of the university's independence from the United Methodist Church,[3] and campus expansion, and the school's endowment surpassing $1 billion.[2][4]
At the same time, Turner has drawn criticism for failing to translate his fundraising prowess into significant improvements in the national rankings of SMU and its constituent colleges.[4] Further, Turner has courted controversy for his decision to bring the George W. Bush Presidential Center to SMU,[5] and, more recently, the university's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[6]
Before coming to SMU, Turner served as Chancellor of the University of Mississippi ("Ole Miss") from 1984 to 1995.[7] Under his leadership, Ole Miss increased its endowment from $8 million to $64 million.[7]
- ^ Strauss, Karsten. "The Highest-Paid Private College Presidents". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-07-25.
- ^ a b "Gerald Turner Takes the Reins at SMU". D Magazine. Retrieved 2021-07-25.
- ^ "Judge rules for SMU over jurisdiction". United Methodist News Service. Retrieved 2021-07-25.
- ^ a b "SMU's Big Man on Campus". D Magazine. Retrieved 2021-07-25.
- ^ "Protest Against Bush Library Goes National". Texas Monthly. 2007-01-19. Retrieved 2021-07-25.
- ^ "SMU Faculty Members Question the University's Opening Plan". D Magazine. 2020-09-11. Retrieved 2021-07-25.
- ^ a b "Former Chancellors | Office of the Chancellor | Ole Miss". Office of the Chancellor. Retrieved 2021-07-25.
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