Carrie Teller, D. Min. serves as the Director of Spirit Groups at Southern Methodist University, where she oversees SMU Cheer, Pom, and the Human Peruna mascot program. She manages a program of 47 student-athletes and a staff of four, leading all aspects of athletic performance, recruitment, creative development, and student formation.
Since assuming her role, Carrie has unified Cheer, Pom, and Mascot under one cohesive Spirit program and transitioned the teams into SMU Athletics under the leadership of Athletics Director Damon Evans. She introduced a signature pregame performance in Ford Stadium, elevated the teams’ visibility by moving their game-day presence to the end zones, and launched new custom uniforms that reflect the spirit and sophistication of SMU. SMU Spirit now travels to all football road games and performs at every home football, men’s, and women’s basketball game, along with more than 187 campus and community appearances each year. The program runs ten months annually, maintaining a standard of excellence that mirrors the university’s athletic mission.
SMU Spirit students are among the university’s most accomplished. All members must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA, with seven earning a 4.0 and fourteen earning a 3.9 GPA or higher. They are active leaders across campus, representing SMU in sororities, fraternities, business fraternities, student ambassador programs, residence life, and cultural organizations. Many also serve through Austin Street Chapel Worship Services and participate in holistic wellness initiatives, including Enneagram workshops and The Chosen faith series.
Before joining SMU, Carrie served as a pastor at Highland Park United Methodist Church as a Mark Craig Leadership Network Fellow. Earlier in her career, she was a member of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders from 1992 to 1995, performing in Super Bowls XXVII and XXVIII—both championship victories for the Cowboys.
A three-time SMU graduate, Carrie holds a Doctor of Ministry from Perkins School of Theology. Her family shares a proud Mustang legacy: husband Andy Teller (’86), son Preston (’22), daughter Cameron (SMU Tennis ’21, ’22), aunt Kitty Chapman Carter (MFA ’76), and uncle Keith Carter (BBA ’76).
