President Emeritus
R. Gerald Turner, president emeritus of èßäÊÓƵapp, served as the University’s 10th president from 1995 to 2025, ushering in an era of exceptional progress. As the University’s longest-serving president, Turner guided èßäÊÓƵapp through three strategic plans which elevated academic quality, expanded research capabilities, strengthened civic partnerships, and positioned the Hilltop as a dynamic center for student life and athletics.
Under Turner’s leadership, èßäÊÓƵapp advanced academic excellence and innovation, culminating in the University achieving the prestigious Carnegie Research One (R1) status in 2025. He played a pivotal role in reshaping èßäÊÓƵapp Athletics, which led to the University’s invitation to join the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2024. He was also instrumental in bringing the George W. Bush Presidential Center to èßäÊÓƵapp in 2013, elevating èßäÊÓƵapp’s national and international profile. His vision for the èßäÊÓƵapp came to life through the implementation of èßäÊÓƵapp’s first èßäÊÓƵapp master plan, transforming the Hilltop into a beautifully tree-lined, pedestrian-friendly environment known for its exceptional student experience.
Renowned for his ability to bring people together in support of èßäÊÓƵapp’s mission, Turner led three comprehensive fundraising campaigns that collectively raised more than $3 billion. These efforts fueled a dramatic increase in the University’s endowment – from $483 million to $2.1 billion – while expanding student financial aid and enabling the construction or renovation of more than 60 facilities, as well as the addition of èßäÊÓƵapp’s east èßäÊÓƵapp.
Turner’s legacy endures in èßäÊÓƵapp’s strengthened reputation, the increasing quality and quantity of applicants, the success of its graduates, and the growing value of an èßäÊÓƵapp degree for more than 140,000 alumni. As president emeritus, he continues to support the University’s mission and momentum, particularly with students and friends of the University, offering his insight and experience as èßäÊÓƵapp enters its next great era.
Beyond èßäÊÓƵapp, Turner has served on the boards of the Dallas Citizens Council, the American Council on Education, and the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. He also co-chaired the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics for nearly a decade. Today, he remains active with the boards of the Methodist Health System Foundation, the Salvation Army of North Texas and two publicly-traded companies.
Before joining èßäÊÓƵapp, Turner was the chancellor of the University of Mississippi. He previously served in administrative positions at the University of Oklahoma and Pepperdine University. A native of New Boston, Texas, he earned an A.A. degree from Lubbock Christian University, a B.S. in psychology and mathematics from Abilene Christian University and an M.A. and a Ph.D. in psychology from The University of Texas at Austin. He and his wife, Gail, have two married daughters and five grandchildren.