LEADERS IN GOVERNMENT LUNCHEON

The Chamber invites you to join us for our quarterly Leaders in Government Luncheons. 
Chamber luncheons inform our members of hot topics in our area and the nation.  

For our April Luncheon we will be hearing from the President of Tarleton State University, Dr. James Hurley. 
 

Dr. James Hurley was unanimously appointed the 16th President of Tarleton State University in August 2019 by The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents. Since his arrival, Tarleton has become one of the country’s fastest growing comprehensive public universities.

Under Dr. Hurley’s leadership, the university created and implemented Tarleton Forward 2030: Our Future-Focused Strategic Plan, a blueprint for becoming the premier comprehensive public university in the nation. During his time, Tarleton has elevated its academics, research, enrollment, retention rates, graduation rates, diversity, fundraising, athletics and regional engagement.

His signature initiatives include robust enrollment growth, innovative student funding models, accelerated degree completion, improved operational efficiency and collaborations with business and community stakeholders. Additionally, Dr. Hurley launched the largest-ever comprehensive capital campaign in Tarleton’s history. The university shattered that $100 million goal in 2022, two years ahead of schedule, and set a new target — $125 million — to commemorate its 125th anniversary in 2024. Tarleton topped that goal in March 2023.

Dr. Hurley’s efforts to advance research and innovation endeavors have earned Tarleton the elevated designation of Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. This puts Tarleton among only 132, or 4%, of universities across the country designated as high research institutions. He established and secured funding to launch three major research initiatives: the President’s Excellence in Research Scholars (PERS), the Center for Research, Innovation and Economic Development, and the Texas Rural Research and Innovation Alliance.

An invitation in 2022 to join the impactful Association of Public & Land-grant Universities reflects Dr. Hurley’s commitment to groundbreaking discovery, increasing educational access for historically underserved students and enhancing equitable student success. APLU membership underscores Tarleton’s place among the top academic institutions in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

President Hurley’s cultivation of broad and deep connections has resulted in a student body with the third highest number of Texas counties represented. Collaborations with regional Distinguished High School Partners and two-year Distinguished College Partners strengthen the university's commitment to educational attainment and affordability, offering guaranteed scholarships for qualified students.

Additionally, his Tarleton Promise provides tuition, fees, books, room and board to students who exhaust federal and state financial aid. He spearheads efforts to address the state’s growing educational and workforce needs by serving on several governing boards pertaining to higher education affordability, economic development and public policy.

The North Texas Commission honored Dr. Hurley with its prestigious 2022 Education Leadership Award, recognizing his lasting impact on the region, and he currently serves on the Council of Public University Presidents and Chancellor’s Executive Committee.

In 2019 he advanced Tarleton to NCAA Division I status in the Western Athletic Conference. He was instrumental in the league’s expansion and in re-establishing championship football in the WAC. He is one of three presidents who serve on the WAC Board of Directors Executive Committee.

A nationally recognized innovator and academic leader, Dr. Hurley has a lifetime of service as Instructor, Professor, Dean and Vice President. Prior to Tarleton, he served as President of Tusculum University. Under his leadership, TU added its University Health Center, College of Health Sciences and Niswonger College of Optometry.

Dr. Hurley is a first-generation college graduate, the grandson of coal miners and a son to parents who taught him that education holds the key to a brighter future. This is the very motivation behind his lifelong advocacy in promoting higher education opportunity, enhancing diversity and supporting access for all students.

He holds a Doctorate in Education from Morehead State University, a Master’s Degree from Indiana University and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Pikeville. He completed the Institute for Presidential Leadership at Harvard University and received a certificate of higher education management from Vanderbilt University.

President Hurley and his wife, Kindall, are the proud parents of sons Drew and Carter and daughters Blayklee and Brooklyn.