Meet Chancellor Pullin
Daniel W. Pullin, an accomplished educator, leader and innovator, became Texas Christian University’s 11th Chancellor on June 1, 2025. With an entrepreneurial spirit and unwavering commitment to student success, Chancellor Pullin is dedicated to advancing TCU’s mission and vision. His early foundation in world-renowned business organizations and 20 years of higher education experience uniquely position him to lead TCU into a future of continued excellence.
Before becoming Chancellor, Pullin served as TCU President since 2023. Infusing operational expertise and innovation into TCU’s leadership team, Pullin led the charge to develop a new strategic plan to ensure TCU advances its mission for the next 150 years. Approved by the Board in November 2024, TCU’s new strategic plan, LEAD ON: Values in Action, is a bold, innovative plan that builds on TCU’s momentum and position of strength to lead TCU to new heights and greater levels of student success and impact.
Guided by the TCU core values of integrity, engagement, community and excellence, and inclusive of input from more than 10,000 stakeholders, LEAD ON: Values in Action further enhances TCU’s excellence in student-centered growth, research, scholarship and creative activities, athletics and community engagement.
Chancellor Pullin is an energetic leader committed to serving TCU’s broad array of students, faculty, staff, alumni and supporters and advancing TCU’s excellence both nationally and internationally. In 2024, he established the university’s inaugural Office of University Strategy and Innovation, to foster TCU’s forward-thinking strategies, culture of innovation and ensure TCU remains competitive in a rapidly changing educational landscape. Through his leadership and executive team, TCU has seen significant increases in student success outcomes, research and creative activity expenditures, athletic success and engagement with the Fort Worth community and beyond. In addition to serving as Chancellor, Pullin remains in the classroom as a professor of entrepreneurship and innovation.
Pullin first joined TCU in 2019 as the John V. Roach Dean of the Neeley School of Business. Throughout his tenure, Neeley experienced dynamic faculty and staff growth and curriculum innovation, earned increased national visibility and rankings, realized development success and implemented a commitment to community excellence. Before joining TCU, Pullin was the Dean of the Price College of Business at the University of Oklahoma and served as university vice president. Before transitioning to higher education, Pullin worked for global consultancy McKinsey & Company and the private equity firm Hicks Muse Tate & Furst and its portfolio companies.
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 has won several awards for teaching, innovation in business and academic integrity. He 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 higher education 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.
Pullin earned his 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 children.
- 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 Blunzter 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.