Dear UNT family,

Major gifts have the power to change the fate of universities, colleges and the students they serve. Transformative gifts lead to the establishment of endowments, the creation of new scholarships and enable universities to recruit the highest-caliber scholars and researchers who instruct and inspire the creative leaders of tomorrow.

On Monday, we announced UNT's largest-ever gift of $30 million – from alumnus G. Brint Ryan ('88, '88 M.S.) and his wife Amanda – to create the G. Brint Ryan College of Business. Brint has long supported and served UNT through leadership positions with College of Business advisory boards and the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, and as chairman of the UNT System Board of Regents. Read more about the gift announcement online and in the press release.

Brint models what we see in so many students – first-generation contenders who are looking for an opportunity to get a leg up in the world and to learn their way around the business environment. A gritty and self-made man from West Texas, Brint, a Big Spring native, credits his UNT education with preparing him to build a thriving business and change his family tree.

At age 27, the proud graduate of UNT's Department of Accounting founded Ryan, a Dallas-based tax services company. Through hard work, determination and sacrifice, Ryan has grown into a global, award-winning firm valued at $1.1 billion.

This gift will be transformational for UNT and help to elevate the College of Business' national profile. The College of Business serves nearly 5,800 students and is a recognized leader in business education and scholarship. Because of Brint's gift, over the next seven years, we will establish new endowed professorships, strategic academic program initiatives and continue to increase our national reputation. Named colleges are known for having higher rankings, garnering greater public attention, and attracting top-quality students and scholars from around the country.

Brint is an inspiration to our 38,000 students who are passionate contenders, often scrimping and saving to secure a better life for themselves and their families. He is an exemplar to others wishing to transform the lives of and offer opportunities to our students by giving back.

UNT Proud,
Neal Smatresk
President
@UNTPrez