DANA G. HOYT, PH.D., CPA
Senior Consultant
Areas of Expertise: Governance and administration, finance, human resources, real estate, risk management, facilities, information technology, auxiliary services
Dr. Dana G. Hoyt retired as the thirteenth president of Sam Houston State University (SHSU) in August 2020. She assumed the presidency on September 1, 2010 after serving as the university's vice president for finance and operations since April 2009. Before coming to SHSU, she served as president of National University, the second largest private nonprofit institution of higher education in California. She previously held vice presidential positions at SMU, University of Colorado at Denver (UCD), YMCA of Metropolitan Denver and Texas Woman's University. Dr. Hoyt started her higher education career as an accounting professor. Before higher education, she worked in public accounting. As president, Dr. Hoyt led the effort to add an osteopathic medical school at SHSU. During her vice presidency at UCD, she participated in the consolidation of the downtown campus and the Health Sciences Center.
Dr. Hoyt has served in numerous external leadership positions in higher education. These include chair and board member for the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) and American Academic Leadership Institute; board member of Academic Search, Southern Association of Colleges and School Commission on Colleges, a term as chair of Council of Public University Presidents and Chancellors (Texas), and chair of the Southland Athletic Conference president’s group.
Additionally, Dr. Hoyt has served on a variety of community and corporate boards. Currently, she serves as a member of the Woodforest National Bank board. Previous board service includes: Huntsville Memorial Hospital, Voices for Children, Fidelity, Inc. (not-for-profit customer board), Denver Downtown Partnership, and CASA of Denton County.
A few honors of Dr. Hoyt’s include community awards such as Athena Leadership Award (2020) and National Women’s Council Top 15 Women in Business of Houston (2017). Additionally some higher education awards are the SHSU Sammy (2020), NASPA Region III President’s Award (2019), TWU Distinguished Alumna (2009) and the SMU Administrator of the Year (2006).
Dr. Hoyt completed a bachelor of science degree in business accounting (1981) and master of business degree (1984) from Texas Woman's University and earned her doctorate in business from the University of Texas at Arlington. Dr. Hoyt has been a certified public accountant since 1984.
Dr. Hoyt provides a broad depth of knowledge to evaluate shared service models, merger and acquisition possibilities as well as potential partners. The ability to expeditiously determine institutional strategic potential and outline a plan of action were key to Dr. Hoyt’s success in the variety of administrative positions she held, and is important to her role as a senior consultant at HCS.