Bruntmyer named president of Hardin-Simmons University

Eric Bruntmyer, an attorney and university administrator, has been named president of Hardin-Simmons University.

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ABILENE—Trustees at Hardin-Simmons University elected Eric Bruntmyer, an attorney and university administrator, as the Abilene school’s 16th president.

eric bruntmyer 200Eric Bruntmyer The board elected Bruntmyer, vice president for financial affairs and chief financial officer at Dallas Baptist University, as HSU president Feb. 26.

Bruntmyer, 47, will begin his new role June 1. He succeeds Lanny Hall, who will assume new duties as Hardin-Simmons’ chancellor.

Michael Waters, chair of the HSU board of trustees and the university’s presidential search committee, announced Bruntmyer’s election at a luncheon immediately following the trustee meeting.

“After a national search and consideration of a large candidate pool, it is our belief that Mr. Bruntmyer’s professional strengths and personal character will serve HSU well for years to come,” Waters said.

“His academic credentials, legal training and servant’s heart provide a unique opportunity for continuing HSU’s commitment to Christian higher education in the liberal arts tradition.”

Bruntmyer created, implemented and monitored the university’s budget at DBU, helping the university increase revenues from $40 million to more than $108 million from 2003 to 2015.

While at DBU, Bruntmyer also served as one of the school’s attorneys, developed and launched an intensive English program in South Korea and helped manage multiple areas across campus.

“It has been a blessing to serve DBU in a variety of capacities and work with such wonderful and competent teams,” Bruntmyer said of his time as a senior administrator at DBU.


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As an adjunct professor, Bruntmyer taught numerous doctoral, master’s degree and undergraduate courses for DBU, Tarrant County College and Dallas County Community College. They included classes in higher education law and finance, financial and managerial accounting, business and public law, Texas state and local government, and conflict resolution management.

Bruntmyer, who began undergraduate work at Texas Tech University, earned his law degree with a concentration in business and litigation in 1994 from Baylor School of Law. In 2006, he also earned a masters of business administration degree, with a concentration in accounting, from DBU.

Prior to his service at DBU, he was in private practice as an attorney and is a member of the State Bar of Texas and the Dallas Bar Association. He also is a member of many professional organizations, including the National Associate of College and University Business Officers, Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas, Council of Christian Colleges and Universities, and the National Association of College and University Attorneys.

He and his wife of 24 years, Elise, have five children. They are members of First Baptist Church in Arlington.


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