Professor Arnoud De Meyer, who is SMU’s longest-serving President, is slated to hand over the baton to SMU Provost Professor Lily Kong in January. He recalled his decision to become the university’s 4th president in 2010 as he was convinced that SMU was still “a blank sheet of paper” that he could write on and that he could “mould it and shape it further.” According to SMU Chairman Mr Ho Kwon Ping at Professor Meyer’s farewell ceremony, SMU has continued to deliver a “transformative education experience” under his leadership; and Prof De Meyer has transformed SMU from being a “single product” university to a “multi-product” one. Prof De Meyer was conferred the title of “SMU University Professor”, the highest appointment bestowed on a very select number of faculty members to recognize significant accomplishments in research, and outstanding contributions to the University, the profession and the community.