UNT Insider: President's newsletter

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Evening fireworks at the UNT Graduation Block Party

We celebrated commencement this month with a great new tradition, a UNT Graduation Block Party that served up gifts, games, food and fireworks for graduates, their families and the UNT community. Scrappy led the conga lines and I worked the T-shirt cannon -- now that's what I call a celebration.
See more photos.

Straight from Smatresk

Dear Alum,

There is no better reminder of the importance of what we do as a university than seeing our students graduate. An estimated 8,900 students earned their degrees this 2016-17 academic year -- another record! They are the next generation of leaders and doers, joining a global alumni network that is 393,000 Eagles strong and growing. Many remain in the area and, like UNT graduates before them, will be driving forces in the DFW and Texas economies.

Having a record class of UNT graduates is one of a growing list of accomplishments that have cemented our status as a Carnegie-ranked Tier One research university. They are fueling our progress.

For instance, our projected freshman enrollment for fall is currently on track to be higher than it has ever been. That increase is expected to once again include a record number of National Merit Finalists. Doctoral enrollment also is expected to increase. Our list of academic programs in the Top 100 is growing. And our research profile is growing as more of our faculty are making breakthroughs and earning significant grant funding.

All of these factors are signs that UNT's reputation is expanding and getting stronger. More students and top faculty are choosing UNT -- and we're first on their list -- because of our high quality and our caring community.

As we enter the summer season, I hope each of you has plans to enjoy time with your family and friends. And please know that you're always welcome to come home to UNT.

UNT Proud,
Neal Smatresk
President
@UNTPrez

The Inside Scoop

New Forbes ranking

I'm happy to report that UNT has once again been named one of the Best Midsize Employers in the nation by Forbes. The "midsize" category includes companies with 1,000 to 5,000 employees, and the question given the most weight on the survey that determines the rankings is whether respondents would recommend their company to others. At No. 25 on the list, up from 32nd last year, we're second in Texas among any industry and first among Texas universities. Nationally, we're fourth in the education category. Thanks to all of our faculty, staff and students past and present for making UNT a great place to work.

See the
complete list »

International connections

UNT President Neal Smatresk ath the U.S.-China Smart Learning Conference

While attending the U.S.-China Smart Learning Conference in Beijing this spring with College of Information Dean Kinshuk, I signed an agreement with President Dong Qi of Beijing Normal University, establishing a joint research and development lab. The Computing for All Learning (iCal) lab will explore smart learning technologies and intelligent learning environments to enhance our students' learning experience. Congratulations to our College of Information for receiving the 2017 Outstanding International Research Collaboration Award because of partnerships like these among its researchers and professors from BNU and East China Normal University.

Learn more about
the agreement »

DFW creative economy

A report from UNT's Economics Research Group, covered by The Dallas Morning News and Dallas Business Journal, found that creative industries in the Dallas-Fort Worth area add $34 billion into the broader economy annually, as well as almost $4 billion in taxes. UNT -- as home to top programs in music, arts, design and more -- is one of the driving forces of DFW's creative economy, and our graduates are leaders in those fields.

Learn more about the UNT
Economics Research Group »

Major milestones

Two images, a UNT student playing a saxophone and students at working at a computer

Our programs help fuel UNT's legacy of excellence. It's because of programs like jazz studies and computer science -- which each reached a milestone this year -- that we're known as a university that excels in the arts, sciences and everything in between. Our 70-year-old jazz studies program was the first of its kind in the nation and is still one of the best, and our computer science program is celebrating 45 years of leading the way in technology.

Meet some of our computer
science alumni »

Spotlight on Excellence

Faculty standouts

UNT art history professor Nada Shabout was named one of 'Eight Influential Female Art Historians' for her research and promotion of modern Arab art. (Pictured is a 1970 oil on canvas by Iraqi artist Dia Azzawi)
John Ishiyama, a professor of political science, has been recognized statewide for his impact on teaching as a 2017 Minnie Stevens Piper Professor.
Rhonda Christensen, a research professor of learning technologies, has been awarded a Fulbright Senior Specialist Scholarship to work with faculty at Windesheim University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands.
Torgbui Midawo Gideon Foli Alorwoyie, a professor of music, principal dancer/choreographer and director of the UNT African Percussion Ensemble, was profiled in The New York Times as a world-renowned master drummer.
Rachel U. Mun, assistant professor in the College of Education, received the 2017 National Association for Gifted Children Dissertation Award.

NCAA qualifiers

Members of our track and field and men's golf teams continued to impress this spring. Three individual golfers -- sophomores Ian Snyman and Thomas Rosenmueller and senior Cory Churchman -- qualified for the NCAA regional tournament, marking the sixth time in the last seven years UNT has been represented there. Ian (pictured) had the best finish for the Mean Green, placing 15th after shooting a career-best 67 in the final round. And six track and field student-athletes qualified for the NCAA West preliminaries, underway in Austin. Check meangreensports.com to keep up to date on the Mean Green.

Students walking to classes near the Hurley Administration Building

Stellar students

Andrea Recek, a doctoral student in musicology, was awarded a $25,000 Mellon-Council of European Studies fellowship to complete her dissertation.
Juana Monsalve, a doctoral student in music performance, was awarded a P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship. She'd like to return to Colombia to build a strong voice program.
Accounting students are partnering with UNT's Student Investment Group, getting hands-on practice in operational auditing as the group works to grow its gift fund and begin awarding scholarships.
UNT TAMS student Joanna Feaster moves on to the international portion of NASA's International Space Settlement Design Competition.
Graduate student Baolong Zhang, who came to UNT to study piano with Regents Professor Pamela Mia Paul, won first place at the 2017 Virginia Waring International Piano Concerto Competition.
Education doctoral student Ana Guadalupe Reyes was selected for a $20,000 fellowship from the National Board for Certified Counselors. The fellowship will help her receive further training in equine-assisted psychotherapy.

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Connect with UNT

Office of the President

University of North Texas
Hurley Administration Building, Room 201
Mailing Address:
1155 Union Circle #311425
Denton, Texas 76203-5017
940-565-2108

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