On Friday, January 10, 2025, Dr. Sandra S. Harper will retire as McMurry University’s 10th president, concluding a trailblazing tenure as both the University’s and Abilene’s first female university president. Her 11-year legacy of leadership has been instrumental in elevating the university’s profile and fostering a sense of momentum and possibility.
Dr. Harper’s distinguished career in higher education spans more than four decades. She served as president of Our Lady of the Lake College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana (2006–2013), and provost and vice president for academic affairs at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (1998–2006). Earlier administrative roles included vice president for academic affairs at Oklahoma City University and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at McMurry University. During her time as a McMurry faculty member (1985–1995), Dr. Harper chaired the institution’s transition from McMurry College to McMurry University (1989).
During her presidency, McMurry celebrated achievements in academics, athletics, and the arts, from excelling in undergraduate research and playwriting competitions to securing a historic co-championship football title—the first in over 40 years. Dr. Harper also navigated McMurry through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Texas Freeze of 2021, and significant transformations in higher education.
Key accomplishments of her presidency include the development of two strategic plans, McMurry Momentum and The Second Century, record-breaking fundraising, historic enrollment growth, and transformative infrastructure initiatives, including the reimagined and expanded Garrison United Methodist Campus Center, the construction of the Edwards Field softball stadium, and the addition of Centennial Commons, a modern campus apartment complex.
At her inauguration in 2014, the university established the Dr. Sandra S. Harper Women’s Leadership Scholarship in her honor. To date, the scholarship has awarded $5,000 each to 19 exceptional female students, with funds raised through the annual Women’s Leadership Luncheon held during Women’s History Month.
Dr. Harper’s contributions to education and leadership have earned her prestigious accolades, including the AAUW Abilene Branch Women of Outstanding Achievement Award, the Management Excellence Award from the Society for the Advancement of Management, the Y Women in Careers Award from the Corpus Christi YWCA, the Outstanding Faculty Award and the Outstanding Administrator Award from McMurry, the Carol A. Luthman Meritorious Service Award by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), and the Abilene Chamber of Commerce Pathfinder Award. A respected scholar in communication, she has published extensively and presented on topics including leadership, higher education, and communication strategies. She has also served on numerous boards, including the Council of Independent Colleges and the Association of Texas Colleges and Universities.
Further reflections on Dr. Harper’s impact are featured in The Messenger alumni magazine and the McMurry Minds podcast.
In retirement, Dr. Harper and her husband, Dave, plan to split their time between Abilene and northeast Texas, cherishing time with their two adult sons, two daughters-in-law, and six grandchildren.
Dr. Lynne Murray is set to succeed Dr. Harper and continue building on her legacy of progress and excellence, starting on Friday, January 10, 2025.
Contact
Nicholas Ocheltree, Director of Integrated Communications
ocheltree.nick@mcm.edu
325-260-3963
