UNT President Neal Smatresk taking a selfie at a Transfer Orientation
New students joined me in a selfie at transfer orientation Jan. 8 in our new University Union ballroom.
Straight from Smatresk

Dear Alum,

The New Year is shaping up to be an exciting one for the Mean Green Nation. We're embarking on bold new initiatives, continuing our 125th anniversary celebration and laying the groundwork for a new era in Mean Green football and more.

As you may have heard, we've started classes at the University of North Texas New College at Frisco, an off-site instructional facility, to give students hands-on experience in classes and programs that will have a focus on industry engagement and professional development. You can read in Dallas Innovates how UNT's New College at Frisco represents a new kind of education and is a prime example of how we're thinking like a business to adapt and grow.

Seth LittrellGiving our students a well-rounded education also means having a strong athletics program and celebrating the UNT traditions that make us stand out. I'm excited about the things we have in store this year on both of these fronts.

In December, we welcomed Seth Littrell (left), into the UNT family as Mean Green football's new head coach. He's the former assistant head coach for offense and tight ends at North Carolina. With Coach Littrell's leadership and expertise -- and the strong coaching staff and new recruits he's bringing on board -- we have an opportunity to make great things happen in our 2016 football season. Read about our new coach's record-setting career. And let's continue to support and cheer on our men's and women's basketball teams this season. Go Mean Green!

We're hitting the ground hard, too, to gear up for Wingspan Week April 14-17, which continues our 125th anniversary celebrations. The week's centerpiece events will be our Union Dedication and the Wingspan Gala, where we'll recognize UNT's excellence in teaching, student success and generous alumni and friends. Buy tickets or sponsor a table for our Wingspan Gala, a green tie formal event that will begin at 6:30 p.m. April 16 at the new University Union.

Also as you may know, the state's "campus carry" law takes effect Aug. 1. Please share your thoughts on the UNT campus carry policy draft through Feb. 8. Read my message to the campus community about the policy draft.

It's an exciting time to be part of the UNT family, and I know 2016 will be another good year for reaching our goals and making an impact.

UNT Proud,
Neal Smatresk
President
President Smatresk on Twitter @UNTPrez

The Inside Scoop
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UNT signature event gets $1.25 million boost

A vision of alumnus and philanthropist Ernie Kuehne, the UNT Kuehne Speaker Series is one of our signature events in Dallas and known for hosting speakers who lead thought-provoking conversations on globally relevant topics. Because of its relevancy as a platform for exploring global issues and its reputation for attracting some of today's foremost thought leaders as speakers, donors recently committed more than $1.25 million to create a sustainable fund for the series. It's great to see our alumni and supporters passionate about this important event. Businessman and philanthropist T. Boone Pickens (above) will be our featured guest for a conversation with alumnus G. Brint Ryan, chairman of the UNT System Board of Regents, May 10, 2016, at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas.
 
 
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Retailing, public health programs to launch in fall

Starting this fall, two new UNT degree programs will help industry fulfill critical needs. UNT's new bachelor's degree in retailing will prepare students to master the complexities and technologies of the retail marketplace to give consumers a seamless experience among in-store and online shopping. UNT is the first university in the U.S. to bridge the gaps between the three primary components of retail: merchandising, digital and operations. UNT's new public health degree program will have several focus areas, including population studies and biological sciences, and prepare graduates for work in public hospitals, health departments and nonprofit health organizations.
 
 
 
 
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UNT seniors (from left) Nichole Fallis, McKenzie Hibler and Katelyn Patrick and junior Ashley Nudge
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Cybersecurity
Alumni fighting cybercrime across disciplines

UNT alumni working as cybersecurity professionals are using their tech savvy and best business practices to help protect global computer networks and data for some of the nation's largest companies. See how they're making an impact in airline, health, computer and other industries in the latest issue of The North Texan online.

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Mobile app puts brakes on human trafficking

UNT design research graduate student Lisa Mercer (above) created a smartphone app that aims to help people report incidents of human trafficking -- especially truck drivers who are hesitant to share crimes they witness with authorities. Lisa worked with associate professors of communication design Keith Owens (left) and Michael Gibson (right) during her M.F.A. thesis experience to develop her app, Operation Compass. Her goal is to compile a database that will automatically collect and sort human trafficking incidents. Get the full scoop on how Lisa's putting Operation Compass to good use.

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