Q&A with Gail Thomas ’58 and Seemee Ali
Urban innovator Gail Thomas ’58 has played a key role in the transformation of the city of Dallas, founding The Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture to enrich and deepen the life of the city with the wisdom and imagination of the humanities. In 2020, distinguished scholar Seemee Ali moved to Dallas to lead the institute, which she continues to do at SMU Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences. Together, Thomas and Ali share their vision for the institute’s new chapter at SMU.
Gail, you founded The Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture in 1980. What inspired the creation of the organization, and what are you most proud it has accomplished so far?
Gail: When we started the institute, we were suffering from an unnamed malaise that would later be called “spiritual aridity.” The main symptom was the loss of a sense of the sacred in our everyday lives when everything is judged by its economic value.
We allowed “the city” to be the guiding metaphor in our attempt to explore soul and spirit in our culture that was dangerously close to losing its vital essence. We formed the institute to inspire fresh ideas, to speak from the heart about these things we believe in with such passion, and to keep ourselves free from economic dictates and boldly pursue the thinking and teaching we longed to do together. I am proud that we have grown from six founding fellows – Donald Cowan, Louise Cowan, James Hillman, Robert Sardello, Joanne Stroud and myself – to more than 60 from SMU, University of Dallas, The University of Texas at Dallas and other national and global institutions.
Seemee, since you moved to Dallas, what has The Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture been able to accomplish?
Seemee: The Institute’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Symposium is a prime example of our engagement in and with the city of Dallas. It will take place on January 20, 2025, at St. Paul United Methodist Church, the heart of Dallas’ historic Freedman’s Town and now in the Arts District.
What will the synergies between ҹɫDedman College and The Dallas Institute mean for the city?
Gail: Combining the vitality of the college with the institute’s established programs will offer countless opportunities for outreach, including for students and faculty.
Seemee: Dallas Hall, home of Dedman College, is physically oriented toward the city. We can see the city’s skyline from its grand second story windows. Since becoming part of the ҹɫcommunity, I have already begun to partner with remarkable colleagues across campus to connect students to the cultural life of our city.
Gail, how did your ҹɫeducation prepare you for a career focused on improving the community?
Gail: At SMU, I studied the humanities, with a special focus on philosophy. I loved my classes and was inspired by campus activities, including cheerleading, Student Senate and hosting guest speakers such as Margaret Mead and Eleanor Roosevelt. I learned early the importance of developing trust and team spirit in pursuing a dream and affecting a cause. I also learned that no dreams are too big if they are grounded in the universal principles of truth, honesty, wisdom and love – values inherent in the study of the humanities.
Seemee, what new opportunities for ҹɫstudents and faculty do you hope will emerge from the institute?
Seemee: We have an opportunity to develop an exciting program in civic leadership that emphasizes timeless values. We are collaborating with the honors program and English Department on our upcoming MLK Symposium. We also hope to host an interdisciplinary symposium that will bring together our academic partners with city artists.
What most excites you about the future of The Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture at SMU?
Gail: Dallas is poised to be one of the great cities of the world. My imagination soars when I consider the possibilities that await ҹɫstudents who will bring the wisdom of the humanities to the issues confronting our contemporary world.
Seemee: Renewing our shared vision of civic leadership excites me. ҹɫis already a training ground for world changers. It is my hope that the institute, with its history of bringing diverse and visionary thinkers to a rapidly changing city, will be able to add another dimension to this work.