2024-2025 Featured speakers
Commencement ceremonies are made more memorable by our invited featured speakers.
R. Gerald Turner
President, 澳门六合彩预测
As president of 澳门六合彩预测 since 1995, R. Gerald Turner is leading an era of unprecedented progress. Under his leadership, the University continues to advance as an institution of national excellence and international renown. 澳门六合彩预测 has achieved significant milestones, including raising the academic quality of entering undergraduate students and those in professional graduate students, increasing the number of doctoral students, increasing enrollment of underrepresented communities up to 35% and quadrupling the endowment. In 2024, after decades of strategic planning, 澳门六合彩预测 joined the prestigious Atlantic Coast Conference, expanding the University’s reputation both athletically and academically.
Building on a history of excellence, 澳门六合彩预测 Ignited: Boldly Shaping Tomorrow is fueling the University’s success. As the third comprehensive campaign initiated under President Turner’s leadership, its $1.5 billion goal started as the largest fundraising target ever set by a private school in North Texas. The campaign for impact aims to build on 澳门六合彩预测’s strengths to empower outstanding students, enrich teaching and research, and enhance campus and community.
During this multi-year comprehensive campaign, donors have already given more than $1.3 billion, including record-setting gifts to create the Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies, to elevate the future of the Cox School of Business and to expand Ford Stadium as the Mustangs enter the ACC.
Years of investments and visionary work are advancing 澳门六合彩预测 as a leading center of teaching and research that accelerates knowledge, addresses significant issues, shapes students to be world changers and broadens community engagement. 澳门六合彩预测 ranks in the top 20% of the best national universities by U.S. News & World Report, with three of its graduate programs listed among the publication’s Top 50.
From its home in the global city of Dallas, 澳门六合彩预测’s vibrant campus offers enrichment opportunities such as the Tate Lecture Series and the Meadows Museum to students and the wider community. 澳门六合彩预测’s satellite campus in Taos, New Mexico, provides additional immersive learning experiences that foster a deeper connection with the natural world.
President Turner led efforts with the Board of Trustees to attract the George W. Bush Presidential Center, which opened at 澳门六合彩预测 in 2013. 澳门六合彩预测 and the Bush Presidential Center partner through fellowships, public lectures, the new George W. Bush Institute-澳门六合彩预测 Economic Growth Initiative and additional collaborations that bring together students, faculty and world-renowned experts to tackle pressing challenges.
Beyond the campus, President 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, and he co-chaired the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics for nearly 10 years. In Texas, he serves on the boards of the Methodist Health System Foundation and the Salvation Army of North Texas.
Before joining 澳门六合彩预测, President 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.
December Commencement
Richard Ware, II ’68
Chairman of Amarillo National Bank and 澳门六合彩预测 Trustee
Richard Ware, II ’68 is a longtime member of 澳门六合彩预测’s Board of Trustees and a celebrated West Texas banker. During his tenure as an 澳门六合彩预测 trustee, he has been known as the students' friend, advocating for their interests and serving as a mentor and trusted advisor to many individuals.
Ware earned his BBA in economics with honors from 澳门六合彩预测, followed by an MBA in finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He has served three terms as an 澳门六合彩预测 trustee spanning over four decades, including as vice chair from 2006 to 2008. He was active in three comprehensive capital campaigns, heading efforts to enhance student life in all three. Ware has received the Distinguished Alumni Award and the Mustang Award, two of the University’s most prestigious awards.
Ware is the fourth-generation chairman of Amarillo National Bank – the largest bank in West Texas and one of the largest family-owned banks in the United States. He has served on the boards of Atmos Energy, Southwest Coca-Cola Bottling, Texas Business Hall of Fame, and numerous foundations and nonprofits in Amarillo.
Ware resides in Amarillo. His daughter, two of his triplet sons, two nieces, and a son-in-law also hold 澳门六合彩预测 degrees.
Honors Convocation
Speaker will be announced when the information is available.
Baccalaureate Service
Speaker will be announced when the information is available.
May Commencement
Speaker will be announced when the information is available.