Chief Development Officer

Chief Development Officer Searches

Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Cox School of Business, and Dedman School of Law

Southern Methodist University

Dallas, Texas


THE SEARCHES

Southern Methodist University (SMU) seeks three accomplished, strategic, and collaborative advancement leaders to serve as the inaugural Chief Development Officers (CDOs) for the Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences , Cox School of Business , and the Dedman School of Law . These newly created positions represent a significant investment in the future of philanthropy at SMU and underscore the university's commitment to building a best-in-class advancement enterprise capable of supporting its ambitious academic and institutional aspirations.

Southern Methodist University is experiencing a period of exceptional momentum. Under the leadership of President Jay Hartzell and Senior Vice President for Development and External Affairs Shontel Grumhaus, the university is reimagining its advancement model and investing in the people, processes, and infrastructure needed to elevate fundraising performance across the institution. The creation of these three executive-level positions marks the first phase of that transformation and reflects a commitment to building a more sophisticated, collaborative, and donor-centered culture of philanthropy.

Reporting to the Vice President for Schools and Unit Development, Paula Voyles Jewell, and serving as a senior strategic partner to their respective dean, each CDO will lead the development strategy for a major academic unit while helping shape the future of advancement at SMU. These leaders will have the opportunity to establish new standards for donor engagement, stewardship, prospect strategy, and team development while working alongside deans who are deeply committed to philanthropy and eager to expand their external engagement efforts.

The opportunities across these three academic units are substantial. The Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, the university's largest and most academically diverse academic unit, presents extensive opportunities to deepen donor engagement across its 16 departments and nine interdisciplinary institutes and centers. Following an extensive renovation and expansion project, the Cox School of Business is building on strong donor engagement and recent fundraising success to support ambitious priorities in faculty excellence, entrepreneurship, technology, experiential learning, and business innovation. Similarly, the Dedman School of Law is advancing a transformative capital initiative for a new law school facility on the university's growing East Campus while cultivating a highly accomplished alumni base with significant philanthropic capacity.

As inaugural leaders in these roles, the CDOs will inherit exceptional philanthropic potential. SMU boasts visionary institutional and advancement leadership, a deeply loyal alumni community, influential volunteer leaders, and access to one of the country's most dynamic metropolitan regions. University leadership believes the institution possesses extraordinary untapped fundraising opportunity and is thereby making a deliberate investment to realize that potential.

The successful candidates will be accomplished fundraisers and collaborative leaders who bring strategic vision, intellectual curiosity, and a record of building strong partnerships across complex organizations. They will be energized by the opportunity to help shape a growing advancement enterprise, serve as trusted advisors to academic leadership, and play defining roles in the next chapter of philanthropic success at Southern Methodist University.

Southern Methodist University has retained Jack Gorman of the national executive search firm Isaacson, Miller to conduct these important recruitments. Confidential inquiries, nominations, and applications may be directed to the search firm as indicated at the end of this posting.

ABOUT Southern Methodist University

A nationally ranked private university located near the heart of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a distinguished center for global research and teaching. SMU's more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the university's small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study, and innovative programs.

The university serves approximately 7,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students through eight degree-granting schools: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Cox School of Business, Lyle School of Engineering, Meadows School of the Arts, Simmons School of Education and Human Development, Dedman School of Law, Perkins School of Theology, and Mood School of Graduate and Advanced Studies. SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem - paired with entrepreneurial drive - creates an unrivaled environment for the university to deliver research excellence.

Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty, and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU's relationship with Dallas - the dynamic center of one of the nation's fastest-growing regions - offers learning, research, social, and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.

Fundraising and Financial Overview

The Office of Development and External Affairs (DEA) comprises 147 professionals and supports Southern Methodist University by securing funding for university priorities; promoting meaningful involvement in the life and work of the university; heightening international, national, state, and local awareness of SMU; and supporting the enrollment of a diverse and able student body. In Fiscal Year 2026, SMU raised over $300 million in philanthropic support.

From 2017 to 2025, SMU Ignited: Boldly Shaping Tomorrow - the university's campaign for impact - inspired an era of unprecedented advancement in academics, athletics, and national prominence. Thanks to more than 67,500 donors, volunteers, and supporters, the campaign exceeded its goal three years ahead of schedule, raising over $1.656 billion and becoming one of the largest campaigns in the history of private Texas universities.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Chief Development Officers serve as the senior advancement leaders across three respective academic units: the Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, the Cox School of Business, and the Dedman School of Law. The CDOs report directly to Paula Voyles Jewell, Vice President for Schools and Unit Development, and serve as trusted advisors to their respective deans. In these newly created positions, the CDOs will set the strategic direction for development efforts for these three prominent academic units; manage and grow major gifts portfolios; and engage key constituents in fundraising efforts. As SMU invests in its advancement operation in preparation for its next comprehensive campaign, the CDOs will also strategically grow the fundraising teams for these academic units over time.

• Strategic Fundraising Leadership: Develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy aligned with the academic unit's strategic plan and university priorities. Establish annual fundraising goals, campaign objectives, and performance metrics while identifying opportunities to increase philanthropic support.

• Major and Principal Gift Fundraising: Personally manage a portfolio of high-capacity prospects and donors. Cultivate, solicit, and steward major and principal gifts through strategic engagement, proposal development, and collaborative donor strategies with university leadership and the dean.

• Partnership with the Dean: Serve as the dean's primary strategic advisor on philanthropy. Partner with the dean to identify fundraising priorities, prepare donor strategies, coordinate cultivation activities, and strengthen relationships with alumni, friends, corporations, and foundations.

• Leadership and Staff Management: Provide leadership, coaching, supervision, and performance management for development professionals supporting the school or college. Establish performance expectations, develop staff, promote collaboration, and foster a culture of accountability and excellence.

• Volunteer and Advisory Board Engagement: Partner with advisory boards, campaign committees, volunteers, and key constituents to strengthen philanthropic engagement and expand fundraising opportunities.

• Campaign and Strategic Initiatives: Lead the academic unit's participation in comprehensive campaigns and strategic fundraising initiatives. Coordinate campaign planning, volunteer engagement, and fundraising strategies to achieve campaign goals.

• Collaboration Across Development and External Affairs: Work collaboratively with principal gifts, corporate and foundation relations, gift planning, prospect development, alumni relations, donor relations, annual giving, and other university partners to maximize donor engagement and philanthropic outcomes.

• Financial Management and Reporting: Monitor fundraising performance, analyze philanthropic trends, prepare reports and forecasts, and manage departmental budgets and fundraising resources.

• University Leadership and Committee Participation: Represent the school or college and Development and External Affairs (DEA) on university committees and leadership initiatives while promoting collaboration across academic and administrative units.

APPLICATIONS, INQUIRIES, AND NOMINATIONS

Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search processes. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be sent via the Isaacson, Miller website:

Chief Development Officers, Southern Methodist University

Jack Gorman, Partner

Nicole Poe, Managing Associate

Grace Zakim, Managing Associate

Max Bartley, Associate

Hodge Stillwell, Associate

Ryan Cheung, Senior Search Coordinator

Isaacson, Miller


Southern Methodist University will not discriminate in any employment practice, education program, education activity, or admissions on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status. SMU's commitment to equal opportunity includes nondiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression.


This document has been prepared based on the information provided by Southern Methodist University. The material presented in this leadership profile should be relied on for informational purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information, the original source documents and information provided by SMU would supersede any conflicting information in this document.QUALIFICATIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS

• A minimum of ten years of professional fundraising experience and at least five years of management experience, preferably within a private research university setting.

• Depth of knowledge of best practices in all key areas of development and donor engagement strategies; demonstrated campaign experience.

• Demonstrated ability and experience building upon and/or transforming an existing development program.

• A proven track record of success in personally cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding gifts at the six- and seven-figure levels and above. A high level of comfort and effectiveness in working with high-net-worth individuals.

• Proven leadership and solid volunteer and staff management skills; desire to empower and motivate staff while providing the support and advocacy they need, as well as the ability to influence others beyond formal authority.

• Exemplary interpersonal communication skills; active, engaged listener; superior written and oral communication skills; clarity, crispness, and elegance in writing and speaking. The ability to succinctly articulate a vision and processes to key constituents, utilizing data and metrics as appropriate.

• The credibility, emotional maturity, authenticity, and sound judgment required to effectively engage and leverage university and academic leadership and volunteers in the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of key prospects and donors.

• The desire and ability to build bridges and strong collaborative relationships with all members of an operation.

• A sharp eye for operational efficiency and the best use of resources.

• The ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and with confidence and discretion.

• Impeccable attention to detail; superb follow-through; strong personal integrity, charisma, and work ethic coupled with a sense of humor and perspective.

• The personal flexibility to travel and work evenings or weekends as required.

• Bachelor's degree required; master's degree preferred.