Daniel Pullin is out as Texas Christian University’s chancellor, less than 17 months after taking the private institution’s top job. His resignation, effective immediately as of Thursday, was announced in a statement dated October 22, 2026, but did not provide specific reasons or details about the terms of his departure.
Kit Moncrief, chair of TCU’s board of trustees, expressed gratitude for Pullin’s service, stating, “We thank Daniel for his years of service at TCU. We wish him and his family only the best.” In a swift move, the board appointed Victor Boschini Jr., Pullin’s predecessor who previously led TCU for 22 years, as chancellor without an interim designation.
Under Boschini’s leadership, the university aims to execute its strategic plan while managing daily campus operations. This change in leadership comes at a pivotal time for TCU, which is in the midst of a significant expansion initiative aimed at increasing enrollment and enhancing its profile as a research institution. Notably, Pullin had a hand in developing this strategic vision before his ascension to chancellor in June 2025.
Pullin remarked on his departure, “I love our students and couldn’t be more proud of what their futures entail as they graduate and become outstanding TCU alumni. Thank you to everyone at TCU. I will always be invested in what TCU stands for.” His tenure at TCU began in 2019 when he became the dean of the Neeley School of Business. He transitioned to chancellor after a national search that concluded in early 2023.
This past fall, TCU welcomed a record enrollment of 13,241 students, marking its largest incoming class for the second consecutive year. The university has set ambitious goals for 2035, targeting an enrollment of approximately 17,900 students while aiming to achieve Carnegie R1 status, a prestigious classification that recognizes doctoral universities with the highest levels of research activity.
To accommodate this growth, TCU is investing more than $500 million in two housing developments, which will add over 3,200 beds by fall 2027. This includes new campus housing and additional facilities at Morado on Berry, which will also feature retail spaces.
In June, TCU launched the Roach Institute of Athlete Engineering with a generous $10 million gift. This institute aims to bridge research in athletic performance with practical applications for military personnel, first responders, and individuals in physically demanding professions. During Pullin’s leadership, TCU also introduced the TCU for Texans program, which offers financial aid to qualifying Texas students from families earning under $100,000, providing full tuition and additional support for food and housing.
However, Pullin’s tenure was not without controversy. Disputes arose over academic priorities and faculty involvement, particularly surrounding the university’s decision to merge its race and gender studies departments into the English department. This move raised concerns among faculty about the lack of consultation and possible political influences, though university administrators attributed the decision to financial and enrollment considerations.
Before joining TCU, Pullin served as dean of the University of Oklahoma’s Price College of Business. A Plano native, he holds undergraduate degrees in accounting and finance from Oklahoma, an MBA from Harvard, and a law degree from Oklahoma. His professional background includes experience at McKinsey & Company and in private equity.
Pullin’s departure marks a significant shift in the higher education landscape of Tarrant County, as he becomes the third higher education leader in the area to step down in recent months. Notably, UT Arlington’s Jennifer Cowley resigned as president in August, and Texas A&M-Fort Worth’s Bobby Ahdieh was appointed president of Pace University in New York just a few days prior to Pullin’s resignation.
For ongoing coverage of higher education developments in Texas, readers can follow the reporting of Dang Le, who serves as a higher education reporter for the Fort Worth Report. You can reach him at dang.le@fortworthreport.org.
The Fort Worth Report collaborates with Open Campus to enhance its coverage of higher education, supported by major educational institutions across Tarrant County, which include Tarleton State University, Texas A&M-Fort Worth Christian University, Texas Wesleyan University, the University of Texas at Arlington, and UNT Health Fort Worth.
