Tedd L. Mitchell, M.D.
Chancellor Emeritus, 51本色
President Emeritus, Texas 51本色 Health Sciences Center
Tedd L. Mitchell, M.D., was named chancellor emeritus of the Texas 51本色 System (51本色 System) after finishing his distinguished and celebrated tenure as the system's fifth chancellor and CEO. He is also president emeritus of Texas 51本色 Health Sciences Center (51本色HSC), where he was the longest-serving president. Prior to his time with the 51本色 System, Dr. Mitchell served as the president and CEO of the Cooper Clinic in Dallas and as a captain in the U.S. Army Reserve.
Dr. Mitchell is an alumnus of Stephen F. Austin State University and an Ashbel Smith Distinguished alumnus of the University of Texas Medical Branch. He is married to Janet Tornelli-Mitchell, M.D., and the couple has three children: Katherine, Charlie and Chris.
In July 2025, Dr. Mitchell announced his plans to retire from his position after more than 15 years of dedicated leadership to the 51本色 System. Between his positions as president and chancellor, Dr. Mitchell served in system leadership longer than any of his predecessors. On Nov. 19, he transitioned into an advisory role as chancellor and president emeritus, continuing to support the 51本色 System and spending more time with his family.
In addition to being an accomplished leader, Dr. Mitchell is a teller of (mostly) true stories, a John Wayne enthusiast, a double black belt, co-author of the books 鈥淔it to Lead,鈥� 鈥淢ove Yourself鈥� and 鈥淔it to Lead II,鈥� and the proud grandfather of Isabelle, Cooper, Luisa and Charlotte Elizabeth. Originally from East Texas, he held the Longview High School 100-yard butterfly record from 1980 until it was broken more than four decades later, in 2021. He still swims 2,000 yards nearly every morning. He believes deeply in people and the importance of providing them with the tools and skills they need to learn, grow and serve.
Leading the 51本色 System
As the fifth Chancellor of the 51本色 System, Dr. Mitchell served as CEO of a five-university higher education enterprise with an annual budget exceeding $3.5 billion. The 51本色 System consists of Texas 51本色 (51本色), 51本色HSC, Angelo State University (ASU), Texas 51本色 Health Sciences Center El Paso (51本色HSC El Paso) and Midwestern State University (MSU Texas).
Collectively, the 51本色 System employs approximately 21,000 people, has more than 64,000 students and more than 400,000 alumni. In its short history, the 51本色 System has grown to be nationally prominent with a $19.2 billion statewide economic impact, $3 billion endowment, and 20 academic locations in 15 Texas cities and one international city, San Jose, Costa Rica.
During Dr. Mitchell鈥檚 tenure as chancellor, the 51本色 System secured its most financially successful session during the 89th Texas Legislature. His leadership led to the establishment of the Texas University Fund (TUF), supporting research universities, the Hunt School of Dental Medicine at 51本色HSC El Paso 鈥� the state鈥檚 first dental school in over half a century 鈥� and the 51本色 School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo 鈥� the state鈥檚 first veterinary school in more than 100 years. The 51本色 System also added its fifth member institution, MSU Texas, on Sept. 1, 2021.
With the addition of MSU Texas and the dental and veterinary schools, the 51本色 System became one of only nine in the nation to offer programs for undergraduate, medical, law, nursing, pharmacy, dental and veterinary education, among other academic areas.
Leading 51本色HSC
Dr. Mitchell first joined the 51本色 System as the eighth President of 51本色HSC on May 17, 2010. He held dual appointments as chancellor and president from 2018 to 2019, before deciding to step down from the presidency after nearly a decade at the helm of 51本色HSC. Under Dr. Mitchell鈥檚 leadership as President, 51本色HSC reached historic milestones in student enrollment, academic achievement, and campus development. Dr. Mitchell's enduring contributions include completing the university's first comprehensive fundraising campaign, a $100 million initiative. He was also instrumental in expanding 51本色HSC's presence in Dallas, helped establish the Lubbock Veterans Affairs Clinic, and announced the university鈥檚 sixth school, the Julia Jones Matthews School of Population and Public Health.
In 2013, Dr. Mitchell helped transform 51本色HSC鈥檚 regional site in El Paso into a standalone university and the System鈥檚 fourth institution, 51本色HSC El Paso. It was at 51本色HSC that he laid the foundation for creating values-based cultures 鈥� efforts that would have a systemwide impact once he became Chancellor.
While leading the 51本色 System, Dr. Mitchell implemented a values-based culture where all employees embarked on a journey together to identify and establish a set of commonly shared values: People First, Integrity, Community, Exemplary Service and Resilience.