SMU names new vice president
SMU has named Brad E. Cheves as its new vice president fordevelopment and external affairs, after a nationwide search. Cheves has beenserving as vice president for advancement and public affairs at PepperdineUniversity in Malibu, California, since 2001.
This appointment represents a return to SMU for Cheves, who served theuniversity as associate vice president for development from 1998-2001. Inthat capacity he also served as associate director of The Campaign for SMU,helping to lead the most successful major gifts campaign in SMU history andthe largest for any institution in North Texas. The five-year campaignexceeded its $400 million goal by raising $542 million for scholarships,faculty positions, academic programs, facilities, and student life programs.
As SMU vice president for development and external affairs, Cheves will be amember of the president”s executive staff and will supervise fund-raising,alumni relations, public affairs, special events and lecture programs,including the popular Willis M. Tate Distinguished Lecture Series. He willassume his new position at least byAugust 1.
‘Brad Cheves brings exactly the right combination of skills needed duringthis time of opportunity for SMU, as we reach out to alumni and the broadercommunity, and continue to develop resources supporting our academicprogress,’ said SMU President R. Gerald Turner. ‘He brings leadership,hands-on experience, and a knowledge of SMU that will keep us moving forwardwithout interruption.’
As Pepperdine”s vice president, Cheves increased the number of alumni andother donors to the university. He reorganized the advancement operation,bringing together development and public affairs into one division. He begana branding project that resulted in establishment of Pepperdine”s Office ofMarketing. He also was an assistant professor of public policy atPepperdine, teaching courses at the graduate and undergraduate level.
‘SMU is clearly on the rise in national prominence, with a strong facultythat is becoming more widely recognized and a diverse student body thatforms a solid nucleus of strength for our future,’ Cheves says. ‘When youcombine that with a distinguished alumni constituency and the dynamic cityof Dallas, we have the basis for becoming one of the premier privateuniversities in the nation. That”s our goal as we raise support andvisibility.’
Cheves, an attorney, has led a varied career in higher education advancementand public policy. Earlier in his career, he served as associate dean forthe School of Public Policy and director of the Institute for Public Policyat Pepperdine University, coordinating the fund-raising campaign toestablish a graduate school of public policy. He previously served asdirector of advancement and alumni relations at the Pepperdine School ofLaw.
His public policy experience also includes working as legal clerk in theOffice of the General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Energy, and as chiefof staff for a member of the Texas House of Representatives. Cheves is amember of the State Bar of Texas and is active in the Council forAdvancement and Support of Education.
A native of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Cheves holds a bachelor”s degree inbusiness administration and finance from Abilene Christian University inTexas and a J.D. from Pepperdine University School of Law.
Cheves succeeds Jeanne P. Whitman, who left as SMU vice president fordevelopment and external affairs May 31 to become head of The HockadaySchool in Dallas.
