Former University Executive Vice President and Provost Rachel Davis Mersey will join Southern Methodist University as the next executive vice president and provost, SMU announced Monday.

Mersey will begin June 1 at SMU, overseeing university research, admissions, faculty development and international programs. This follows former President Jay Hartzell’s move to SMU in January.

“I am honored to join SMU at such an exciting moment,” Mersey said in a news release. “I share Dr. Hartzell’s energy and dedication to advancing SMU’s success and look forward to working alongside students, staff and faculty to build on this incredible momentum and further strengthen SMU’s role as a leader in higher education.”

Mersey previously served as interim provost since Sept. 1, 2024, as well as dean of Moody College of Communication and director of global research partnerships at Meta. Hartzell appointed her as the University executive vice president and provost in January, but David Vanden Bout, the then-dean of the College of Natural Sciences, replaced her in late February, with information about her future employment at the University unknown.

“I am absolutely thrilled to welcome (Mersey) to SMU,” SMU President-elect Jay Hartzell said in a news release. “I know from firsthand experience that she brings a unique skillset, including a relentless focus on excellence and the ability to energize and motivate others to work as part of a team.”