Former UT Executive Vice President and Provost Rachel Davis Mersey will take on the same role at Southern Methodist University effective June 1, SMU announced Monday.
The announcement comes after former UT President Jay Hartzell was named SMU’s next president Jan. 7 — a role he’ll also begin June 1.
“I am honored to join SMU at such an exciting moment,” Mersey said. “I share Dr. Hartzell’s energy and dedication to advancing SMU’s success and look forward to working alongside students, staff and faculty to build on this incredible momentum and further strengthen SMU’s role as a leader in higher education.”
Mersey was appointed UT provost and vice president by Hartzell Jan. 6, the day before he announced his new position at SMU. Previously, she served as the dean of the Moody College of Communication, and was a professional journalist in Arizona before joining Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, Media and Integrated Marketing Communications as a professor.
“I am absolutely thrilled to welcome Rachel (Davis Mersey) to SMU,” Hartzell said in a statement. “I know from firsthand experience that she brings a unique skillset, including a relentless focus on excellence and the ability to energize and motivate others to work as part of a team. … The entire campus will benefit from her leadership.”
Mersey’s time as provost at UT came to an end Feb. 20, when interim President Jim Davis appointed David Vanden Bout, then dean of the College of Natural Sciences, as provost. That announcement came the day after former Chief Operating Officer Davis was appointed interim president of UT by the Board of Regents.
Davis’ appointment prematurely ended Hartzell’s tenure as president, which was scheduled to last until May 31.
Mersey’s move follows a string of administrative shakeups at UT in the past year that have impacted many positions, including college deans, the UTPD chief and more.
“With a distinguished background in both academia and industry, Dr. Mersey is the ideal leader to further elevate our academic excellence and expand our impact in Dallas and beyond,” outgoing SMU President R. Gerald Turner said. “I join Dr. Hartzell in welcoming Rachel and her family to Dallas and the Hilltop.”
