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What message do you want to share with the º£½ÇÖ±²¥ community about your leadership and what they can expect under your presidency?

º£½ÇÖ±²¥ has powerful momentum, due in large part to President Turner’s legacy and the remarkable progress º£½ÇÖ±²¥ made during his presidency. Some of the most recent and notable accomplishments include achieving Research One (R1) status, entering the ACC, and completing a historic fundraising campaign and a ten-year strategic plan. We are operating from a position of strength: outstanding students, faculty and staff; a thriving city; and a community that believes in this University.

As president, I will do my best to lead with clarity, candor and collaboration. You can expect me to honor what has brought us to this point while setting a bold, confident course for º£½ÇÖ±²¥’s continued ascent. I will stay open and transparent throughout this journey and ask the same in return. We will be strategic, thoughtful and true to who we are. That said, we will be aggressive and will tolerate risk and experimentation when they are undertaken for the benefit of our students, research and creative pursuits. We will look for ways to compete and win, especially when we are recruiting or retaining talented faculty, staff, students and student-athletes. This is not about change for its own sake, but about challenging what’s possible and accelerating our pursuit of excellence.

Together, we will position º£½ÇÖ±²¥ as the most relevant and highest-value urban private university in the country.

You were president of one of the largest public universities in the country. How do you plan to apply that experience to a private university campus like º£½ÇÖ±²¥?

º£½ÇÖ±²¥ is a unique institution with exciting momentum and even greater potential ahead. My experience at UT reinforced a core belief: Academics, research and athletics can and should thrive together. When they do, the whole university rises. Along the way, I have seen the power of leaning into a university’s location, alumni base, and a wide range of supporters and partners in order to innovate and advance.

I have always believed that putting people first – especially students – drives everything else. At the end of the day, º£½ÇÖ±²¥ must deliver the most relevant, high-impact education and experience for our students. The size, scale, strengths and location of our University make this possible and are all part of this remarkable opportunity.

What are your hobbies outside of work?

I am a big sports fan, especially collegiate athletics, which has become a real passion through my professional life. I also love playing tennis whenever I get the chance. It is a great way to relieve stress and stay active while having fun with friends. My wife, Kara, and I also love to travel, find interesting food to try, and to explore cities – so, Dallas is full of great opportunities for us to explore. Our children are in graduate school, so we are now able to dedicate more time to our rescue pitbull mix, Loba, whom you may see us walking on campus or in University Park.

Q: What do you see as the most exciting opportunities for academic innovation at º£½ÇÖ±²¥?

º£½ÇÖ±²¥ has always been committed to academic excellence. Now is the perfect time to enhance our approach to take º£½ÇÖ±²¥’s academic standing to the next level. This means investing in people first – people who lean into creativity and innovation. We will support and challenge our current faculty and staff to achieve their best while also recruiting new talent from across the country. By combining fresh ideas with º£½ÇÖ±²¥’s established strengths, we have the chance to propel the University and its graduates forward. Importantly, we must pair academic innovation with a focus on critical thinking and reading skills. These core competencies prepare students for success regardless of their degree paths and increase the value they bring to their communities as º£½ÇÖ±²¥ alumni.

Q: How do you see the role of experiential learning evolving at º£½ÇÖ±²¥ under your leadership?

Experiential learning is crucial for both knowledge retention and skill mastery. The city of Dallas provides an incredible environment to differentiate º£½ÇÖ±²¥ as an institution of higher – and immersive – learning. We are situated at the heart of one of our nation’s most dynamic regions, where industry leaders across sectors understand our strategic vision and want to partner with us. They are in health care, technology, transportation, finance, civil and public service, the creative and performing arts, my field of journalism and media, and many more. There are few universities that have such comprehensive resources available from a civic and business perspective, and even fewer in a region as thriving and entrepreneurial as North Texas. Our goal is to combine cutting-edge classroom modalities with increased external opportunities and practical experiences for students in all disciplines. We know the entire community benefits when we connect rising talent with hands-on, real-world applications.

Q: What are your hobbies outside of work?

As people tend to notice, I love sneakers! In addition to my major in communications, I was a studio art major in college, so I also love working with my hands. I am combining these two passions by attending online sneaker school to learn how to make sneakers from scratch. I must admit that refining my craft is slow going. I will be buying sneakers for a long time before I am wearing my own, but I take great satisfaction in learning and experimenting.

Q: In what ways do you plan to strengthen the relationship between athletics and academics on campus?

One of the main reasons I chose º£½ÇÖ±²¥ is President Hartzell’s philosophy on the importance of integrating academics and athletics. We share the belief that they support one another and are vital for what we expect to achieve in the years ahead. My background and experience have given me a laser-focused understanding of how athletics and education can, and must, coexist. I am committed to our student-athletes and preparing them for life beyond athletics as future leaders.

Q: What led you to your career path?

When I was playing football at Georgia, there was a pivotal moment when my team of 25 players was asked, “What do you want to do?” All but two of my teammates answered they wanted to go pro. I said I wanted to graduate from college. My grandfather didn’t go to college – in fact, he didn’t finish high school. He worked the rest of his life in a steel mill to support his family. I’ve dedicated my life to college athletics to encourage student-athletes to get an education. It’s my way of paying it forward. I’m so proud of the opportunities that have been given to me in my career.

Q: What books have shaped you as a leader and why?

As far as what books have shaped my leadership philosophy, I would point to two. Jack Welch’s Jack: Straight from the Gut helped me better understand embracing change. In addition, the book talked about his leadership philosophy of being straightforward and understanding the importance of people. Another book is The Art of War by Sun Tzu, which taught the following: You must really understand who you are as a leader, know your competitors backward and forward, be strategic and thoughtful in your approach, and maintain leverage when possible!

Q: How do you plan to foster interdisciplinary collaboration between the sciences, social sciences and humanities?

My role as dean is to amplify our collective strengths, champion interdisciplinary opportunities, and create a space for faculty and students to do their best work. While my own research is focused on chemistry, I also love anthropology and history, and I truly believe that a strong liberal arts foundation, with an emphasis on critical thinking and learning diverse sets of knowledge, can help prepare our students to excel in their chosen careers after graduation. We will continue to carry º£½ÇÖ±²¥ forward by fostering excellence, collaboration and innovation across our disciplines. Together, we will ensure Dedman remains a noteworthy center of academic leadership, driven by curiosity, impact and the pursuit of meaningful knowledge.

Q: What opportunities do you see for the humanities and sciences to contribute to greater societal needs?

The broader societal impact of the sciences – for instance, in creating new materials, developing medicines and advancing technologies – is clear. On the other hand, humanities are critical in explaining the human condition and how societies can function better to serve everyone. Further, liberal arts majors have a leg up and can rise through the ranks due to their capacity for creative thinking, innovation and understanding social context. AI is a great example: While the automated, algorithmic math is easy for AI to do, it’s really the prompting and thinking behind it that will move the technology to the next frontier – the mind of a liberal arts student!

Q: What are your hobbies outside of work?

I really enjoy playing tennis. It is a sport that not only requires one to be agile and strengthens hand-eye coordination, but I find an immense sense of zen just focusing on hitting the ball and rallying with a partner. I also tremendously enjoy walking, running and being immersed in nature. Watching the dappled sunlight come through the foliage or listening to birds singing reminds me of the beauty of this world we live in and is extremely rejuvenating.

Q: How do you see the role of business education evolving?

Business education must continue to rapidly evolve to meet the demands of a complex, interconnected world. Experiential learning will remain essential, with students tackling real-world challenges rather than learning in isolation. Advances in AI and technology are reshaping business strategy, operations and decision-making. Today’s organizations seek leaders who combine technical expertise with strategic thinking, adaptability and strong team management. Effective business schools must find even more creative ways to blend rigorous academics with practical, future-focused experiences. I am excited to see how we will further expand Cox’s experiential opportunities to an even greater audience by leveraging the amazing economic engine of the region.

Q: What are your top priorities when it comes to student experience, both inside and outside the classroom?

My priority is to champion a new strategic plan that further accelerates the Cox School academically and its broader impact. This means continuously challenging what and how we teach, creating even more opportunities for students to apply their learning. Innovation will remain paramount in driving the Cox School’s curriculum, research and community engagement. Further strengthening our connections across Dallas and beyond – including the incredible Cox alumni network – will give students even greater access to valuable experiences and professional networks. Everything we do helps students grow as learners, professionals and leaders.

Q: What are your hobbies outside of work?

I like to spend time with my family and stay physically active. With a family of avid sports fans, I find that we often stay well connected with conversations about sports as an impetus. When not watching the pros, I enjoy working out and have spent some time in the mountains, both with alpine and ice climbing. My greatest adventure was sitting on the summit ridge of Artesonraju in Peru, famously known as the branding for Paramount. A new challenge I took on this past academic year was jumping into a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gym. The craft is both physically and mentally challenging. And sometimes, I even “enjoy” it.

Q: Can you share a bit about your background and what led you to theological education?

I grew up very active in the church and was a religion major and philosophy minor in college. I went on to seminary, where I was drawn both to philosophical questions about religion and theologies of social justice and liberation. Those might seem like two very different and separate intellectual paths, but for me they came together at every turn, and I read everything I could get my hands on in philosophical theology and liberationist and feminist theologies. What I love about theology is its capacity to point, however falteringly, to God as the mystery of the universe, while at the same time inspiring and undergirding liberative action and loving communities that have the capacity to change the world.

Q: What aspects of Perkins’ mission resonate most with you?

The breadth and expansiveness of the Perkins’ mission resonates strongly with me as well as its stated mission of making theological education accessible to persons throughout the region, nation and world. I love that the mission of the school is holistic in bringing together service to the church, the academy and the world . . . and I believe it is possible (and necessary) to do all three without sacrificing any one of them.

Q: What are your hobbies outside of work?

My wife and I love to travel, and we have a dog named Floyd (a cockapoo) who is the love of our lives. I am also passionate about music (my favorite is still Pink Floyd after all these years), and a couple years ago I decided to learn the guitar. It has been a blast. I only wish I had more time to play; I really want to get better at it. One of my biggest passions is cinema, and for about 30 years now, I have been integrating theology and cinema in my teaching and writing as part of my larger interest in theology and culture. But film is also a personal love in my everyday life.