TCU
For nearly 22 years, TCU has gone without an official inauguration. On Thursday, Nov. 6, that changes.
The Van Cliburn Concert Hall will hum with tradition, brass, and a few hopeful glances toward the future as Daniel W. Pullin steps up as TCU’s 11th Chancellor.
Pullin isn’t just another administrator in a suit. He’s the kind of leader who walks into a room and makes everyone feel like they’re part of something bigger. He even took the time to talk to me — a new reporter to Fort Worth — over three years ago when I just got to town.
TCU
Since arriving at TCU in 2019 as the John V. Roach Dean of the Neeley School of Business, Pullin has left fingerprints on everything from curriculum innovation to faculty growth — and he’s carried that same drive into his chancellorship. By the time he became president in 2023, he had already mapped out a vision for the next 150 years: “LEAD ON: Values in Action,” a bold strategic plan built on integrity, engagement, community, and excellence.
Thursday’s ceremony will blend spectacle and substance — a faculty processional, university presidents from across the nation, and keynote remarks from Gordon Gee, one of only five people to lead five universities. But beyond the pomp, the inauguration is about Pullin’s people-first approach: his commitment to students, faculty, and the Fort Worth community, his hands-on leadership, and his insistence that TCU innovate without losing its character.
Pullin’s journey reads like a case study in ambition meets preparation. He cut his teeth in global business, consulting with McKinsey & Company and managing investments at Hicks Muse Tate & Furst, before shifting gears into higher education leadership at the University of Oklahoma. He brought that business acumen to TCU — and the results are tangible: rising student success, research growth, and a university culture that values innovation as much as tradition.
Outside the classroom, Pullin is a fixture in North Texas civic life, recognized as one of Fort Worth, Inc.’s 500 Most Influential People and D CEO Magazine’s 500 Most Influential Business Leaders. He and his wife, Ann Bluntzer Pullin, Ph.D., are avid supporters of TCU athletics and the arts, blending personal passion for public purposes.
The Van Cliburn Concert Hall will be full of applause, but the real celebration is quieter — in the classrooms, the labs, the athletic fields, and the hallways where Pullin’s influence is already shaping TCU’s next chapter. This inauguration isn’t just a formality — it’s a statement: TCU is ready to lead, innovate, and grow under Chancellor Pullin’s vision.
“It is the honor of a lifetime to be named chancellor of TCU and be a part of the most dedicated, talented, and passionate team of students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, and fans in the country,” Pullin told TCU News in May. “Together, we will ensure that TCU’s legacy is positioned for a future of inspiring and supporting generations of Horned Frogs.”
When: Thursday, Nov. 6 — 4:00 p.m. Central
Where: Van Cliburn Concert Hall, Megan and Victor Boschini Music Center, 2900 W. Lowden St., Fort Worth
