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Southwestern University names Ajay Thomas as chair-elect of trustees board
As board chair, he will guide the University's governance and work with leadership to advance its strategic priorities.
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Bhavana P - Mon, 06, Jul 2026
- 15:23 EDT
- 32
Ajay Thomas / Southwestern University
Southwestern University (SU) has appointed Indian-origin alumnus and investment banking executive Ajay Thomas as chair-elect of its board of trustees.
Thomas will begin serving as board chair on July 1, 2027, succeeding Christopher E. Cragg, whose term concludes on June 30, 2027.
A 1994 graduate of Southwestern University, Thomas currently serves as chair of the board's fiscal affairs committee and is a member of the facilities planning committee and the SU 560 Committee. He joined the university's board of visitors in 2016 before being elected to the board of trustees in 2024.
Also read: Ohio State's Bellamkonda outlines vision for university's future
University president Laura Skandera Trombley described Thomas as a dedicated alumnus and long-time supporter of the institution, saying his leadership and experience would help guide the university through its next phase of growth.
“He cares deeply about this institution and the students we serve, and he consistently brings both wisdom and perspective to the Board’s work. I am delighted that he has agreed to take on this leadership role and help guide Southwestern into its next chapter,” Trombley said in a statement.
Thomas said he was honored to take on the role and looked forward to working with fellow trustees and the university's leadership to advance Southwestern's strategic priorities while responding to changes in higher education.
“I believe service is a privilege, and to be able to serve as a Trustee and now as the next Chair of the Board at my own alma mater is one of the highlights of my life. As the Board’s Chair, I look forward to continuing to work closely with my fellow Trustees, President Trombley, and her leadership team to ensure that the University’s strategic priorities are met while balancing the realities Southwestern faces in a rapidly evolving higher education environment,” Thomas said.
Since 2017, Thomas has served as senior managing director and national head of public finance at FHN Financial, a division of First Horizon Bank. He oversees the firm's national public finance investment banking strategy and leads municipal and nonprofit investment banking teams across the United States.
Before joining FHN Financial, Thomas held senior leadership positions at William Blair, Robert W. Baird, Raymond James and Morgan Stanley. In 2020, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott appointed him to the Board of Directors of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, and he was reappointed to a second five-year term in January 2026.
Thomas earned bachelor's degrees in economics and political science from Southwestern University in 1994, a master's degree from Harvard Kennedy School in 2000 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Texas School of Law in 2001. He has also supported the university through philanthropy, including funding a scholarship and contributing to the renovation of the Mood-Bridwell Hall.
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