Southern Methodist University is a privately owned entity headquartered in US. Founded in 1911, it employs approximately 6,420 individuals. Functioning as a private research university, it maintains its primary campus in University Park, Texas, United States, and operates a satellite campus in Taos County, New Mexico. The institution was established on April 17, 1911, by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, which is now part of the United Methodist Church, in collaboration with Dallas civic leaders.