S. Scott MacDonald, Ph.D., president and CEO of the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking (SWGSB) Foundation since 1997, recently announced that he will step down at the end of 2021. He will remain with the foundation through the transition to the next CEO. MacDonald, a nationally recognized authority on bank finance and economics, is the fourth person to lead the SWGSB Foundation and its prestigious, nationally recognized programs. The SWGSB is based at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.
“It has been a remarkable journey, and a very successful one as well,” MacDonald says. “SWGSB and its very talented staff have successfully built the foundation into a well-diversified, universally respected and unique source of professional education and development for bankers and the financial services industry. For this, I am proud and profoundly grateful.”
The foundation has flourished with the support of the banking industry and has added a diverse set of national programs over the years: The Workshops for Bank Directors; the Certified Community Bank Director’s (CCBD) program, in partnership with the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT); the Foundational Commercial Lending School, Advanced Commercial Lending School and Financial Analysis School, in partnership with the American Bankers Association. The foundation has also partnered with IBAT on the Bank Operations Institute. The CCBD program has certified hundreds of directors to date. The foundation has developed and deployed unique bank management and loan simulations, as well as exclusive financial tools, that are used throughout the industry.
During the past quarter of a century, the foundation has successfully navigated epic changes and dramatic historical events, including the September 11, 2001, attacks, several financial crises and an unprecedented pandemic. Through it all, SWGSB has become stronger and more dynamic. The loyalty and dedication of industry participants, trustees, faculty and staff to its mission have made the organization one of the most trusted names in community bank education nationwide.
In addition to his role as president and CEO, MacDonald is director of the Assemblies for Bank Directors and an adjunct professor of finance in the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University (SMU). He is a frequent speaker at professional programs, bank trade associations and banking schools. He is the recipient of numerous teaching and research awards and has been inducted into IBAT’s Wall of Heroes and Legends. He is also a strategic planning facilitator and consultant to the financial services industry. He has served as an expert resource witness before the Texas Senate and is a former chairman of the board of directors of a Texas financial institution. MacDonald is the co-author of a bestselling textbook on banking, Bank Management, now in its 8th edition, and has written numerous articles in professional and academic journals.
“The entire board expresses its deepest and sincerest gratitude for the wisdom, vision, courage and remarkable leadership Scott MacDonald has displayed in guiding the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at SMU from strength to strength, to incredible heights,” says Vic Pierson, chairman of the board of SWGSB Foundation and chairman, president and CEO of Galveston-based Moody National Bank. “His nearly a quarter of a century at the helm has ensured that SWGSB remains the preeminent authority for academic excellence in all aspects of banking education. From first-line officers to directors, the SWGSB Foundation is, bar none, the go-to source for knowledge, strategy and leadership development.”
“IBAT is grateful to Scott for his long and distinguished service to the community banking industry,” says Steve Scurlock, IBAT director of government relations. “We have appreciated the partnerships and collaboration with a variety of SWGSB programs over the years, and have been honored to work with Scott and his team to benefit the officers and directors of community banks across the nation. On a personal note, I have valued our friendship since first meeting Scott at Texas Tech University when he was in charge of the banking school in Lubbock. He and Becky have been excellent ambassadors for SWGSB and the banking industry. It’s been a long and interesting ride, and I consider my involvement and engagement with SWGSB—and the great people I’ve had the chance to meet and work with—one of the highlights of my professional life. Scott’s positive impact on this program will be felt by the community banking industry for decades to come.”
Established in 1957, the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking Foundation has become one of the top banking educational institutions. Its programs meet the needs of bank directors, bank officers, regulators and others holding management positions in the financial services industry. In 2021, the SWGSB Foundation is celebrating 64 years in professional leadership development.
