SMU Leaders

Professor Lily Kong, President of SMU, has been elected as a Foreign Fellow of the esteemed Geographical Society of China, in recognition of her exceptional contributions to geographical research, particularly in urban transformation and social cohesion within Asia.

SMU Hall buzzed with anticipation as faculty, staff, students and guests gathered to hear Professor Lily Kong delivered her sixth SMU President’s State of the University Address. Professor Kong took a broad view, reflecting on SMU’s progress over the last five years since the launch of the SMU2025 strategic plan in 2020. She shared milestones in the University’s transformative education, cutting-edge research, and commitment to being an engaged city university.

Professor Li Jia has been appointed as Dean of the School of Economics, effective 1 July 2024, and Professor Kenneth Benoit as Dean of the School of Social Sciences, effective 1 August 2024, with both appointments lasting four years.

SMU’s leaders and faculty members showcased the University’s multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary research, thought leadership and entrepreneurship related to cities and sustainability at the World Cities Summit in Singapore. The University also helped to organise the Science of Cities Symposium there to highlight innovation and technology's impact on building resilient, inclusive communities.

The book, Behind the Banyan: Ho Kwon Ping, which Mr Ho launched at SMU on 21 May, walks the reader through his experiences as he steered hotel chain Banyan Tree through various milestones and challenges – including the recent pandemic when it had to operate with zero occupancy at many of its properties.

A book examining the remarkable life and legacy of Dr Yong Pung How was launched at SMU on 11 April 2024. Dr Yong was the second Chief Justice of Singapore between 1990 and 2006 and served as the Chancellor of SMU between 2010 and 2015. In 2021, SMU renamed the School of Law to include Dr Yong Pung How's name as a recognition for his founding contributions to the University.

SMU Patron’s Day 2024 saw the annual celebrations given a major boost as crowds of students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of SMU came together on SMU’s Campus Green to celebrate the University’s 24th anniversary.

The focus, in line with the University’s Vision 2025, was on environmental protection and sustainable development. President Tharman Shanmugaratnam graced the event, on his first visit as SMU’s Patron. He attended with his spouse, Ms Jane Ittogi.

More than 400 alumni, faculty members and current students of SMU’s School of Computing and Information Systems (SCIS) gathered for a dinner to celebrate the school’s 20th anniversary. The past two decades have seen the school grow from strength to strength. It is now housed in a brand-new shared sustainable city-college block, with an alumni body of over 6,000, more than 2,300 undergraduate students and close to 700 postgraduate students, including about 130 doctoral students.

On 20 October 2023, more than 400 alumni, faculty members and current students of SMU’s School of Computing and Information Systems (SCIS) gathered for a dinner to celebrate the school’s 20th anniversary.

SMU President’s State of the University Address 2023 touched on significant developments, strategic priorities, as well as future endeavours. It took a new and engaging format in embracing SMU’s people-centric thrust: faculty, staff and students shared their experiences and achievements through a series of videos that formed Prof Kong's compelling narrative.