Eric Bruntmyer

Eric Bruntmyer became Hardin-Simmons University’s 16th President on June 1, 2016.

As Chief Executive Officer for this private, Christian university with bachelor, master’s, and doctoral programs, he has focused on transparency in communication, building a quality team, improving financial stewardship across the university, and increasing engagement with stakeholders. His focus has now turned to building new buildings and remodeling old facilities on campus as well as starting an engineering program.

Bruntmyer’s team has increased African American student enrollment from 7% to 11.5% and Hispanic student enrollment from 16.3% to 21.8%. HSU also recently achieved 3.5 Financial G.P.A. out of 4.5 G.P.A. in Forbes Magazine February 2021 Edition.

Prior to serving Hardin-Simmons University, he was the Chief Financial Officer for Dallas Baptist University from 2003-2016. Prior to serving at Dallas Baptist University, he practiced law in Fort Worth, Texas where he was responsible for areas of litigation including medical malpractice, nursing home malpractice and contracts as well as commercial transactions, mediations, probate, divorces and adoptions, criminal law, mental health commitments, franchise agreements, incorporations, and collections.

Bruntmyer has taught doctoral, masters and undergraduate courses in class, online, via live video feed and in hybrid formats. Courses include law, finance, budgeting, accounting, employment law, conflict resolution, mediation, local, state and federal government, as well as labor and management negotiations.

Bruntmyer has been active in numerous civic and professional organizations as an accreditor, arbitrator, tax committee chair, and board chair.

He has served in organizations such as SACSCOC, Abilene Improvement Corporation, NAICU Board, Abilene Chamber of Commerce, Abilene Industrial Foundation, American Southwest Conference, ICUT, CCCU, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Advisory Council, Arlington Classics Academy Board of Trustees, Dallas Bar Association, NACUBO, NACUA, and the State Bar of Texas.

Bruntmyer has given presentations for the 317th Airlift Wing of Dyess Air Force Base, Kiwanis, Abilene Bar Association, Leadership Abilene Panel, Baker & McKenzie law firm, UBTech Conference, NACBA Certification Conference, Chinacast Investor's Conference, Ignite Dallas 2, Northwood Republican Women’s Club, Frisco Chamber of Commerce and Fort Worth ISD.

Bruntmyer’s travels include Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, England, Israel, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Korea, Spain, Swaziland, and Thailand.

Bruntmyer has also served his church in a variety of capacities as Sunday School Teacher for children, youth, college and single adults and married couples, as well as on the Finance and Personnel committees.

Bruntmyer was born in Titusville, Florida and was raised in Portland and Salem, Oregon, Baltimore, Maryland, Mobile, Alabama, and Arlington, Texas. He is a graduate of Texas public schools, attended Texas Tech University, graduated from Baylor Law School and received his MBA from Dallas Baptist University. He and his wife, Elise Renee Bruntmyer, have five children, Kai, Noah, Avery, Shea and Halle.

Bruntmyer enjoys training for off-road sprint triathlons which provides many colorful stories about crashes, snakes and cold-water vertigo.