SMU Today | September 10, 2026

Record $25 million project advances critical minerals innovation

The U.S. Department of Energy selected Lyle School of Engineering researcher Saeed Salehi to lead a first-of-its-kind research facility that will move new critical-minerals technologies from the lab to real-world testing. Supported by $19.3 million in federal funding and additional industry investment, the approximately $25 million project represents the largest individual research funding commitment in SMU history.

The facility will bring together University and industry partners while creating hands-on training opportunities for students and workers in advanced drilling, sensing, robotics and AI.

What to know today

Bush Center president delivers Stampede lecture: Shilo Brooks welcomed SMU’s Class of 2030 with reflections on the kind of education that prepares students for leadership, the value of becoming a person of substance and what it means to live the life of the mind.

SMU leaders make the case for accountability in higher education: In a Dallas Morning News commentary, President Jay Hartzell and Board Chair Rich Templeton explained why higher education should welcome accountability and measure the outcomes it delivers for students. They point to SMU’s strong results, with every undergraduate program passing the new federal framework.

Meadows School of the Arts prepares for leadership transition: Dean Samuel Holland will conclude his service as dean during the coming academic year, then take a sabbatical before returning to SMU as professor of music. The University will soon launch a national search for the school’s next dean.

Help recognize staff excellence at SMU: Nominate a colleague for a Presidential Recognition Award honoring new employee excellence, continuing excellence, outstanding leadership or innovation. Submissions close at 5 p.m. September 30.

Big ideas return to the Hilltop with the Tate Lecture Series: The 2026–27 season brings an extraordinary lineup to McFarlin Auditorium, including Anne Applebaum, George Will, Fareed Zakaria, José Andrés, Lisa Damour and Arthur Brooks.

Around the Hilltop

Academic Excellence and Research

A joint Lyle School of Engineering and Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences study identified where soil microbes consume methane from underground leaks, laying the groundwork to better understand what happens to the gas before it reaches the atmosphere.
Lyle School of Engineering computer science and mathematics students spent six weeks conducting hands-on research in AI and autonomous systems through an NSF-backed SMU program.
Cox School of Business Executive MBA graduate Jay Moon was just named among Poets&Quants’ “2026 Best & Brightest EMBAs” in the nation.
Dedman College researchers discovered what makes some Alaskan rock glaciers move faster than others, helping scientists track changes in the water stored within these remote ice-and-rock formations from space.

Innovation, People and Community Impact

Meadows School of the Arts Professor Barbara Hill Moore received the National Association of Teachers of Singing Lifetime Achievement Award, one of the profession’s highest honors.
Karen Baker-Fletcher has been appointed Wendland-Cook Professor in Constructive Theology at Perkins School of Theology, recognizing her distinguished scholarship on justice, race, gender, spirituality and the life of the church.
The Simmons School of Education and Human Development has launched Middle School Math Momentum, a five-year initiative in Lancaster ISD drawing on expertise across its research and community engagement centers to strengthen math achievement.
Robin Poston, dean of the Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies, brought the perspectives of SMU’s nearly 5,000 graduate students and research community to federal policymakers during a recent Council of Graduate Schools advocacy visit to Capitol Hill.
The Maguire Ethics Center received the largest grant in its 30-year history to launch Heart of a Mustang, a campus-wide initiative integrating character development throughout the undergraduate experience.

Community Notes

Explore SMU’s public career outcomes dashboard
View high-level data on graduates’ employment and salaries. The dashboard may also be shared with prospective students, families, employers and other external audiences.

Stake sign guidance changes
Planning to promote an event or initiative with stake signs? Review the updated Campus Stake Sign Guide for approved locations, which now preserves the main Dallas Hall lawn as a sign-free area.

Navigate SMU Taos with a new interactive map
The Office of Facilities Planning and Management has launched a new tool to help individuals navigate the Taos campus and explore its buildings, landmarks and amenities.

Religious observances
Review SMU’s guidance on religious observances, including the University policy for employee accommodations and faculty resources for supporting students. A calendar of religious holidays is also available.

OIT efforts earn award for AI Innovation
SMU received a 2026 CIO 100 Award for OIT’s innovative approach to AI adoption. Through our collaboration with the Coalition of the Willing and Operation Copilot, SMU created opportunities for faculty and staff to learn, experiment and explore generative AI together.

News access through SMU Libraries
SMU faculty and staff can access The Dallas Morning News, Wall Street Journal, New York Times and other publications digitally through SMU Libraries.

SMU in the News

Town & Country Magazine: The feature credits SMU’s rise as a national powerhouse to its ambitious culture, deep Dallas ties and blend of Southern charm and “Lone Star hustle.”

D Magazine: Kit Sawers discussed her move from Klyde Warren Park to SMU, where she now leads the new Dallas Office. She described it as “SMU’s front door to the city and region,” connecting businesses with University resources and talent.

KRLD: SMU welcomed its largest first-year class in history. The incoming class ranks among the nation’s strongest academically.

Dallas Morning News: The story revisits conversations from a summer pop-up newsroom at SMU, sharing perspectives from President Jay Hartzell, faculty and staff on student life, religion, AI and a changing campus.

Curious about other SMU headlines each week? Email news@smu.edu with the word “subscribe” to join our SMU in the News list. (Note: some of the links in the SMU-in-the-News section may require a subscription.)

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