Jay C. Hartzell proudly serves as the 11th president of SMU. A nationally recognized university leader with deep expertise in business education and research, Hartzell was appointed by the SMU Board of Trustees, beginning his tenure June 1, 2025. He leads the University during an unprecedented era of opportunity and momentum, inspiring the future direction of SMU.

Hartzell is charting the course for SMU, building on a generation of remarkable success for the University that includes recognition among Research One institutions in the Carnegie Classification with the highest level of research productivity, membership in the Atlantic Coast Conference and the successful conclusion of a multi-year $1.64 billion comprehensive campaign. The University continues to dramatically expand its reach and reputation both nationally and internationally, attracting excellent faculty and enrolling increasingly high-achieving students from all 50 states and 86 countries.

His bold vision for the future will further cement and expand SMU’s position as a premier student-centered University while elevating its national and global influence. He is powering new paths for education, research and community while enhancing the University’s relationship with, and dynamic impact on, the vibrant Dallas economy.

A respected scholar, his research centers on corporate finance, corporate governance, and real estate. He has published articles in top journals, such as the Journal of Finance, Journal of Financial Economics, The Review of Economics and Statistics, and Real Estate Economics.

Before joining SMU, Hartzell served as president of The University of Texas at Austin, where he oversaw all-time highs in applications, enrollment, graduation rates, research expenditures and philanthropic support. Prior to that, he served as dean of the McCombs School of Business, one of the nation’s largest and most prestigious business schools, where he served as a faculty member for more than 20 years. He started his academic career as an assistant professor of finance at New York University’s Stern School of Business.

Beyond campus, Hartzell serves on the board of MGIC Investment Corporation. He has been a board member for Austin Habitat for Humanity and the American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association. Hartzell brings professional experience outside of academia as a former consultant with Hewitt Associates.

He earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration and economics (cum laude) from Trinity University and a Ph.D. in finance from UT Austin. He is married to Kara Hartzell, a licensed clinical social worker with a private practice, and they have two adult children. The Hartzells are proud to call Dallas home.

Bill Vanderstraaten founded Chief Partners, LP in the summer of 2007 in partnership with Trevor Rees-Jones and the Rees-Jones family. Chief Partners is a commercial real estate investment firm, focused on teaming with best-in-class operators across the country. Chief has assembled a portfolio that is currently 81 separate investments through 35 operating partners. Over its history, Chief has placed over $1.2 billion of equity and has a current AUM of over $1.4 billion. One hundred-twenty investments have gone full circle, achieving a net return of over 2.1X. The team at Chief and its partners have completed 4.64 million square feet of development since inception; in addition to 3.43 million square feet of value-add repositioned assets. Chief invests across all growth markets in the United States, with concentrations in multifamily, industrial, retail, medical office, land, data center, and self-storage.

Prior to founding Chief, Vanderstraaten was one of the original Fund I partners of Thackeray Partners, (now Greystar) a real estate private equity firm founded in 2005. Previous to Thackeray, he opened the Dallas office for CarrAmerica in 1997 as Dallas Market Officer. CarrAmerica was a $2 billion national office REIT that was subsequently purchased in 2005 by Blackstone.

Vanderstraaten graduated in 1982 with a BBA from Southern Methodist University. As an alumnus, he has been involved in various leadership roles at SMU, serving currently as an SMU Trustee and current member of the SMU Cox Executive Board and the Folsom Institute Board. In addition to SMU, his other current or previous civic activities include the Salesmanship Club of Dallas, UT Southwestern Board of Visitors, Chair of the UT McCombs Parents Council, Goodwill Industries of Dallas Board Chair, and the Elizabeth Toon Foundation Board.

Past industry boards and other involvement include Chair of NAIOP, TREC Board, FightNight Chair, Arts District Management Board Chair, West End Association Board and Uptown Association Board.

He resides in Dallas with wife Mimi and children Emily and Will.