WELCOME
Peter Hegi, Board Chair
INTRODUCTIONS Board Members & SMU Leadership
SMU STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATES
CAREER READINESS UPDATES
Rachel Davis Mersey, Executive VP & Provost
K.C. Mmeje, Senior VP Student Affairs
Sheri Kunovich, Associate Provost
Crystal Clayton, Sr Exec Director
DISCUSSION AND Q&A Board Members
CONCLUDING THOUGHTS
Peter Hegi & Board Members
*Board members are invited to connect and network with one another from 2:30–3
As we move into concluding the spring semester of the 2025–2026 academic year, I am filled with gratitude and optimism for the extraordinary progress our students, staff, and campus partners have made. This year has been defined by momentum both within the Hegi Family Career Development Center and across the university as SMU advances toward a bold, unified vision for career readiness and work integrated learning.
As we celebrate our many accomplishments outlined in this board report, we are also deeply engaged in shaping SMU’s future The Career Readiness Workgroup, convened by the Office of the Provost, is advancing a university wide strategy that aligns closely with Hegi’s mission The recommendations including a required career readiness course, expanded work integrated learning, unified employer engagement, and a centralized data and communications infrastructure represent a transformational step toward ensuring every Mustang graduates prepared to thrive in a rapidly evolving world of work.
Hegi is proud to serve as a central partner in this effort. Our programs, data, and student outcomes continue to demonstrate the impact of coordinated, high quality career development. As SMU moves toward a more integrated and equitable career readiness ecosystem, our center is well positioned to lead, innovate, and support the university in achieving these ambitious goals.
Associate Provost
Student Academic Engagement and Success Office of the Provost
On June 1, 2026, the Hegi Family Career Development Center will move under the purview of the Division of Student Academic Engagment and Success.
Professor Sheri Kunovich became the Associate Provost for Student Academic Engagement and Success at Southern Methodist University in July 2018 In this position, she oversees the Division of Student Academic Engagement and Success, comprised of Honors & Scholars, Office of Engaged Learning, Academic Development of Student Athletes, Undergraduate Education and Academic Success, Student Advising and Academic Success, and University Foundations.
Dr. Kunovich graduated with a B.S. in Sociology from Texas A&M University. She earned M.A.s in Slavic and East European Studies and Sociology and a Ph D in Sociology from the Ohio State University She joined the Department of Sociology in SMU's Dedman College of Humanities and
Sciences in 2004. Professor Kunovich’s courses contribute to SMU majors and minors in Sociology, Markets and Cultures, Women and Gender Studies, International Studies, and Human Rights She has taught courses at the SMU Taos Campus and served as the Director of the Prague Internship Program Dr Kunovich served as Chair of the Sociology Department from 2014-2018
She was previously awarded the Golden Mustang Award (2010), Margareta Deschner Teaching Award (2013), Excellence in Mentoring Award (2014), Extra Mile Award (2016), Outstanding Administrator Award (2021), and Above and Beyond Award (2025) She was selected as an Altshuler Distinguished Teaching Professor in 2013 and an “M” Award winner in 2019
The Hegi Family Career Development Center extends its deepest appreciation to Dr. K.C. Mmeje, Senior Vice President for Student Affairs, for his leadership and continued support.
During his tenure at SMU, Dr. Mmeje has provided strategic direction for key areas that directly shape the student experience, including the Hegi Family Career Development Center, fostering an environment focused on student success, belonging, and holistic development His commitment to enhancing the student experience has been evident through his guidance, advocacy, and partnership, all of which have significantly contributed to the growth and advancement of our programs
As the Hegi Center transitions under the Office of the Provost and the leadership of Dr. Sheri Kunovich, we express our sincere gratitude for Dr. Mmeje’s many years of dedicated service, collaboration, and impact. His legacy of championing student development, well being, and opportunity will continue to resonate throughout our work as we begin this new chapter
SMU’s Career Readiness and Work Integrated Learning (WIL) initiative outlines a comprehensive strategy to elevate career development, expand experiential learning, and strengthen employer engagement across the university. The recommendations emphasize a unified institutional approach, deeper curricular integration, and enhanced collaboration among academic units, student experience partners, and external stakeholders. The Hegi Family Career Development Center is positioned as a central driver of this transformation.
The report recommends adopting a centrally coordinated governance structure housed in the Provost’s Office This model would set university wide strategy, standards, policies, data practices, and employer engagement expectations. Existing career centers including Hegi, Cox, Dedman Law, Guildhall, Lyle, Moody Graduate School, and Perkins would remain in place but operate with shared accountability for career outcomes aligned to degree pathways. A comprehensive review of staffing and resource inequities is essential to ensure consistent support across schools.
A required career readiness course for all undergraduates within their first four semesters is proposed, supported by a new general education proficiency. Courses may be taught by faculty or career center staff, whose roles would expand to include instruction. Implementation is targeted for Fall 2026, with the first required cohort in Fall 2027. Additionally, every major should embed at least one WIL based course, supported by a common framework for supervision, reflection, and evaluation Philanthropic support and expansion of the Hegi Career Champions program will be critical to scaling this work.
SMU should strengthen and broaden its portfolio of experiential learning, including on and off campus internships, research experiences, and paid campus employment all mapped to career competencies A donor funded Internship Support Fund is recommended to ensure equitable access. The report also encourages development of interdisciplinary SMU+ programs modeled after Duke’s Plus Programs.
4. Integration with the Student Experience
Academic and career advising should be more intentionally connected, particularly around WIL expectations and course scheduling Residential Commons based career programming, partnerships with Life After Ball and Pre-Professional Advising, and better leveraging of student organizations with career relevance (e.g., Mock Trial, Rocket Club, E Sports) will help embed career development throughout the student experience.
5. Strengthened Employer Engagement
A unified employer engagement strategy supported by a CRM system is essential, even as school based employer relations teams retain discipline specific expertise No school would “own” a company; instead, SMU would coordinate employer relationships to maximize opportunities across industries. Industry Career Communities and expanded alumni activation are key components of this model.
6. Development and Alumni Relations as Strategic Partners
The report highlights the Meadows Alumni and Career Success model as a template for broader collaboration. Development, Alumni Relations, and the Dallas Office should partner closely with the Provost’s Office and Hegi to expand mentoring networks, employer pipelines, and internship opportunities, while supporting a unified alumni mentorship ecosystem.
7. Unified Data, Assessment, and Communications
A centralized Career Readiness & WIL Dashboard, standardized student surveys, and coordinated communication campaigns will ensure consistent messaging and data driven decision making. Tools like Steppingblocks can support common reporting templates. A unified narrative will help prospective students understand how SMU prepares graduates for meaningful careers.
1,595
Total participating employers in both on-and off-campus events
As of March 13, 2026, the Career Development Team (CDT) has completed 675 spring appointments and projects a total of 1,386 by the semester’s end This is a 14% increase from to spring 2025, providing a confident outlook on our year-over-year outcomes and office growth rate We completed 1422 appointments this fall, which was a 20% increase from last fall and was within 2% of our projected number Reaching our office appointment goal of completing 3000 appointments for the year is still within reach if we include this summer’s appointment estimates.
The CDT has adjusted their liaison model for the spring semester based on the outcomes of our team goal to interact with 100% of our seniors who are not affiliated with an undergraduate career center. Our senior outreach resulted in students sharing they would like more targeted communication to meet them where they are in their progress towards career achievement and individual goals This semester we assigned a dedicated CDT liaison to each academic year, serving as the primary point of contact to deliver targeted, consistent, and goal-oriented outreach
675 SPRING APPOINTMENTS TO DATE SPRING SEMESTER APPOINTMENTS YEAR-OVER-YEAR
We were successful in rolling out the first workshop of our Career Champion Program, where we were able to educate 7 faculty members on career readiness resources as they prepare to interact with students on track to graduate this year Based on data from the NSSE survey and NACE, the program was designed to share career resources with campus partners who interact more regularly with students than career center staff We acknowledge that our outreach is limited by capacity, and want to ensure faculty feel equipped to engage in career conversations at a basic level to assist students where they are.
AS OF 3/20/2026
1,386 PROJECTED APPPOINTMENT
TOTAL FOR SPRING SEMESTER
4
Build list of achievements the assigned population should complete by end of year
Send a year-end handoff email to ensure a smooth transition to the next staff member
The Career Development Team continues to assess appointment feedback to ensure our services provide meaningful value to students. In addition to measuring satisfaction, we introduced new assessment questions to better understand knowledge gain, prior familiarity with topics, use of other career resources, and intended next steps following appointments. Results indicate 90% reported moderate to significant knowledge gain, and 90% of respondents were extremely satisfied. Notably, this trend holds even among students who indicated prior knowledge of the topic. These findings demonstrate that our appointment offerings consistently deliver highimpact support and serve as a valuable resource alongside other career development tools available to students.
KNOWLEDGE GAINED FROM APPOINTMENT
On February 26 and 27, 2026, the Hunt Leadership Scholars Program partnered with the Provost’s Division of Student Academic Engagement & Success, the SMU Office of Admission, and various academic colleges to host the Scholars’ Interview Weekend This year, over 600 applications were submitted, an increase of 20% from last year From these, 67 candidates were invited to interview, with 58 ultimately participating, supported by over 70 faculty, staff, alumni, and community volunteers
Of the 58 finalists who participated in interviews, 23 students have been named Hunt Leadership Scholarship recipients for the incoming class of 2030 Historical yield data from the Office of Admission shows that 64% of students accept their awards and matriculate Last year, this yield number was higher than normal at 72%, resulting in 20 of 27 students accepting their offer to join the Hunt Leadership Scholars Program
Using this information, we extended 23 offers with the hope of yielding 17-18 students The priority deadline to accept the Hunt Leadership Scholarship is April 1st, with a final deadline of May 1st
Selection decisions were based on interviewer evaluations, recommendations from current Hunt Scholars, a holistic review by the Scholarship Selection Committee, and discussions with President Hartzell, Provost Mersey, and Dr Mmeje, Senior Vice President for Student Affairs
The Hunt Leadership Scholarship covers about three-quarters of tuition and fees for up to four years, provided the student maintains a minimum GPA of 3 000 and meets all scholarship requirements Those not selected as Hunt Scholars will receive the SMU Leadership Scholarship We strive to retain all interviewed candidates as firstyear students in the fall
On March 5, 2026 the Hegi Family Career Development Center hosted an Etiquette Dinner for SMU students on campus, facilitated by Summer Salazar of The Etiquette Trainer.
This 90-minute interactive dining experience provided students with practical instruction on both dining etiquette and modern professional etiquette. Topics included making strong first impressions, understanding workplace dress codes, engaging in effective small talk, and practicing appropriate digital etiquette in professional settings.
The event welcomed 40 student participants representing a wide range of academic levels and disciplines
Attendees included students from the freshman through doctoral levels and represented six different colleges across campus Upon completion of the program, all participants received a digital badge recognizing their commitment to professional development, which they could add to their LinkedIn profiles
Student feedback indicated that participants gained valuable insights from the experience.
“This event was very refreshing because it felt like a safe space for exploring the business realm through trial and error.”
“This was a wonderful event that addressed a very underestimated skill! I’m really glad that Hegi put this on and that I was able to attend. I would definitely recommend!”
For the Spring 2026 All Majors Career Fair, we maintained our employer review process to ensure participating employers aligned with the academic programs offered at SMU and matched student career interests. A total of 51 employer partners participated, represented by 114 registered recruiters, to fill internship and job openings while also enhancing their presence on campus The top industries represented at the fair included Higher Education, Consumer Products/Trade, Investment Management/Counsel, K12 Education, Construction & Manufacturing, and Consulting
These employer attendance numbers reflect a broader national trend indicating that overall recruitment activity has declined compared to
previous spring semesters. However, employer engagement and outreach remain strong as organizations continue to maintain relationships in anticipation of a return to typical hiring patterns, underscoring the continued quality and caliber of SMU students and the value they bring to employer organizations
A total of 401 students attended the fair, representing all five undergraduate colleges and all academic years Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences represented 56% of all attendees; Juniors, Seniors, and Masters students made up 56% of all attendees; and women made up 54% of all attendees
On March 7, the annual Hegi Case Competition challenged student teams to serve as consultants for Buc-ee’s Holdings, Inc., evaluating the company’s long-term U.S. expansion strategy Participants assessed growth opportunities across the Northeast, Midwest, and Western regions, developing strategic recommendations for the next ten years
This year’s competition, developed in partnership with Management Consulted, incorporated several program enhancements, including a condensed one-week timeline, a streamlined presentation format, and mid-week coaching sessions with judges. These changes allowed students to focus on strategic planning, specific analytics, and clarity of recommendations
Seven teams representing 26 students presented to a panel of judges, with all participants receiving individualized feedback. The competition continues to provide a high-impact, experiential learning opportunity, connecting students with real-world business challenges and strengthening their strategic and professional skill development.
Jonathan Fyne, Hilal Abusaad, Amy Sanchez Ramirez, Harry Lierman, and Jona Akishi
Chris Gonzales, Daniela Echavez, and Umer Jamali
Denise Rivera, Brooke Barnes, Katelyn McDonald, and Bloom Wu
In Fall 2024, the Hegi Family Career Development Center, in collaboration with Pre-Health Advising, successfully revitalized and reimagined the Health Connections program to better support students pursuing admission to medical and dental schools
Job shadowing remains a critical component of medical and dental school applications, providing
Major: Biological Sciences
Placement: Dr. Chantilis - Reproductive Endocrinologis
“Ultimately, this experience strengthened my desire to pursue a career in healthcare by showing me what thoughtful, patient-centered medicine looks like in practice It confirmed that I want to be in a field where learning never stops, decisions matter deeply, and compassion is just as essential as clinical skill ”
Major: Biological Sciences
Placement: Dr Wells - Orthopedic Surgeon
“In the OR I mainly saw hip replacements or arthroplasty. Surgery is cool, but after seeing orthopedics I began to lean more towards the clinical side. In one case Dr. Wells allowed me to help with getting a brace for a patient. I practiced how to talk to a patient and it was even better experienced because the patient had a brain disorder so I got to learn how to speak to him and measure his legs and hips ”
Major: Biological Sciences
Placement: Dr. Rassa ShahidzadehGastroenterologist and Internal Medicine Doctor
“With this experience, I am even more confident in pursuing a career in the healthcare field, as I am positive that I will be able to connect with patients and provide them with the care that they need, making a real difference in people’s lives ”
Dr. Joel Wells
Orthopedic Surgeon Baylor Scott & White Health
“The SMU Health Connections Program is truly top notch, and vital for students. It sets students up with a great foundation to begin a career in healthcare. Not to mention, without proper shadowing and experience, getting into medical school can be overwhelming I feel the program helps students understand the process and set them up for success ”
PETER HEGI, CHAIR President, Braxton Advisors
C O N T A C T
Hughes-Trigg Student Center 3140 Dyer Street, Suite 126
Dallas, TX 75205
P O Box 750256
Dallas, TX 75275
(214) 768-2266
smu.edu/career @smuhegi
We thank you for your continued support in our efforts to equip SMU students on their career development journey.