Meet Chancellor Pullin
Daniel W. Pullin, an accomplished educator, leader and innovator, became Texas Christian University’s 11th Chancellor on June 1, 2025. Guided by an entrepreneurial spirit and a steadfast commitment to student success, Chancellor Pullin is dedicated to advancing TCU’s mission, vision and values. His early career in world renowned business organizations, combined with two decades of higher education experience, uniquely positions him to lead TCU into a future of continued excellence and impact.
Before becoming Chancellor, Pullin served as the John V. Roach Dean of the Neeley School of Business and later as TCU President. Bringing operational expertise and a culture of innovation to the university’s leadership team, he spearheaded the development of a new strategic plan. Launched in January 2025, LEAD ON: Values in Action is a bold, values-centered roadmap designed to build on TCU’s momentum and elevate student success, academic achievement and institutional impact. Shaped by the input of more than 10,000 stakeholders, TCU’s strategic plan aims to strengthen the university’s excellence by: 1) Enhancing the student experience through student-centered growth; 2) Elevating academic distinction through significant increases in research, scholarship and creative activities; 3) Achieving excellence across athletics in support of student-athletes and programs; and 4) Expanding community engagement in Fort Worth and beyond.
In the first year of LEAD ON: Values in Action, TCU surpassed several major milestones. The university’s endowment exceeded $3 billion for the first time in its history; first year enrollment rose 12.3% for fall 2025; research and creative activities expenditures set new university records; major investments in emerging technologies and a campus-wide AI framework are underway; and continued success across athletics programs is enhancing engagement, audience growth and international visibility. The university is also investing in campus enhancements to support strategic growth, with new residence halls coming in fall 2027 that will provide 2,450 additional beds. TCU is currently ranked in the top 100 national universities by U.S. News & World Report. Known for its unmatched student experience, TCU is ranked No. 1 for Happiest Students, No. 2 for Best Quality of Life, No. 3 for Best Run Colleges and No. 4 for Most Beautiful Campus, among other top national rankings from The Princeton Review.
Chancellor Pullin is committed to civic and higher education leadership, serving on the Fort Worth Economic Development Partnership Executive Council, Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Dallas Regional Chamber Board of Advisors and is a member of Valliance Bank Board. He actively engages with industry leadership groups, including Big 12 Conference presidents, Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas (ICUT), the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB), the Education Advisory Board (EAB) University Presidents Roundtable and the CCI University Presidents Roundtable. He is honored as one of Fort Worth, lnc’s 500 Most Influential People in Fort Worth and D CEO Magazine’s 500 Most Influential Business Leaders in North Texas.
Pullin earned undergraduate degrees from the University of Oklahoma and an MBA from Harvard Business School before returning to OU to earn a Juris Doctor. Chancellor Pullin and his wife, Ann Bluntzer Pullin, Ph.D., are avid sports fans and enjoy attending TCU fine arts and athletic events with their family.
- President, Texas Christian University, 2023-2025
- John V. Roach Dean, Neeley School of Business, Texas Christian University, 2019-2023
- Dean, Michael F. Price College of Business, University of Oklahoma, 2014‐2019
- Vice President, University of Oklahoma, 2014‐2018
- Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors (ex-officio) (2021-present)
- Dallas Regional Chamber Board of Advisors (2021-present)
- City of Fort Worth, Entrepreneurship & Innovation Committee (2022-present)
- Valliance Bank, Board of Directors (2022-present)
- University of Houston, Bauer College Academic Advisory Board (2022-present)
- Seattle Study Club, Board of Directors (2021-present)
- Bachelor of Accountancy, University of Oklahoma
- Bachelor of Business Administration, Finance, University of Oklahoma
- Master of Business Administration, Harvard Business School
- Juris Doctor, University of Oklahoma
Chancellor Daniel W. Pullin and Mrs. Ann Bluntzer Pullin, Ph.D., are involved in almost every aspect of Texas Christian University life, sharing a deep passion for higher education and the Fort Worth community. Together, they frequently host students, faculty, staff, alumni, Trustees and friends of TCU on campus and in Minor House, the official residence of the TCU Chancellor. They also travel across the state and country, supporting alumni chapters, cheering on the Horned Frogs and advocating for TCU. Chancellor and Mrs. Pullin’s engagement on campus and in the broader community illustrates their commitment to fostering a connected community and supporting the mission and values of TCU.
Like her husband, Mrs. Pullin is a thought leader in her field and is highly engaged in civic, educational and professional organizations. With over 25 years of experience as a professor and administrator, Mrs. Pullin currently serves as the executive director of the Hamm Institute for American Energy at Oklahoma State University. She is a global expert on the geopolitics of the energy sector, energy policy, grid and infrastructure innovations and the oil and natural gas industry. She has worked with Texas Christian University, the University of South Carolina, Texas A&M University, University of Jakarta, Austin Business College and Warsaw University of Life Sciences. Mrs. Pullin began her career with the Foreign Agriculture Service at the United States Department of State, with assignments in Poland, Lithuania, Indonesia and Australia. She has also held executive leadership positions with various nonprofit organizations globally.
Mrs. Pullin holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Management and Education Administration from the University of South Carolina and both a Master of Education in Leadership & International Studies and a Bachelor’s in Agricultural Development from Texas A&M University.
Together with the Chancellor, Mrs. Pullin is dedicated to the educational, cultural and economic advancement of TCU, Fort Worth and the broader regional and global community. Year-round, they can be found enjoying TCU athletics events and fine arts performances with their children.
Connect With the Chancellor
Now is a remarkable time to be a part of the TCU community as we look to the future and write the next chapter of our story together.
Shaping Our Future Together
Inspired by our core values, TCU’s strategic plan, LEAD ON: Values in Action, sets a clear focus for shaping our future. The plan’s four strategic pillars — Student-Centered Growth, Research, Scholarship & Creative Activities, Athletics and Community Engagement — will help us grow our impact.