UNT Insider: President's newsletter

Share this:

Watch my special message about UNT becoming a top-tier research university.

Straight from Smatresk

Dear Alum,

I shared in a recent special announcement the great news that UNT is now ranked a top-tier research university by the Carnegie Classification. I'm excited about UNT earning this distinguished honor because it marks a big milestone on our path to greater national prominence.

It's also a badge of honor for our alumni and friends because it adds value to UNT degrees. We're now among 115 top-tier research universities in the nation -- 81 of which are public universities. Top-tier universities are known as engines of progress, attracting strong intellectual capital, producing a highly qualified workforce and driving innovation, technology and economic prosperity. You can read more about UNT and other Texas universities that moved up in the Texas Tribune, Fort Worth Star-Telegram and Denton Record-Chronicle.

UNT's commitment to excellence can be seen in many areas across our campus, from our dedication to providing students with the best educational experience in Texas to our rich history and highly ranked degree programs. We were recently recognized for having one of the best online M.B.A. degree programs in the nation and the top-ranked graphic design program in the Southwest. And we're continuing our celebration of excellence in our 125th anniversary year with Wingspan Week April 11-17. The week's centerpiece event will be the April 16 Wingspan Gala, a formal green tie affair honoring our faculty, staff, students, alumni, friends and generous donors. Don't forget to buy tickets or sponsor a table.

These are just some of the great things happening all around us at UNT. As we move forward, we'll continue to build on our achievements to help the university shine and reach greater national prominence.

UNT Proud,
Neal Smatresk
President
@UNTPrez

The Inside Scoop

Logistics and political science

Students take top awards in national contests

Students in our logistics and political science programs emerged as winners in national competitions this spring. Logistics students (from left) Mary Catherine Schoals, Laura Catalina Quinones Rios, Dylan Smith and Jacob Koren took first place for their hypothetical solution for an underperforming warehouse at the 2016 Operation Stimulus Case Competition. Political science students and UNT Moot Court members Taylor Ledford and Eryn Mascia earned first place for their written appellate brief at the American Collegiate Moot Court Association. These wins speak to the quality and caliber of our students and our programs.

Learn about our logistics
and political science programs »

Global Vision Award

UNT recognized for making global impact

UNT was honored with the Global Vision Award from the Greater Dallas Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce during its 2016 Chinese New Year Charity Gala. The award recognizes individuals or agencies dedicated to leading and engaging international opportunities and making enlightening contributions to business, education, culture, art, transportation and economics in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Congratulations to fellow award recipients, Lillie Biggins, chair of the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport board of directors, and Jessie Oliver, deputy executive director of DART.

See how we honor
excellence at UNT »

Shining a green light

Encouraging STEM research

Pamela Padilla, associate professor of biology, will encourage more students and professionals to participate in STEM research and advance in STEM leadership as a newly elected member of the board of directors of the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science. This is another big honor for Dr. Padilla, who also is one of 10 NSF CAREER Award winners at UNT. Through her innovative cellular, genetic and molecular research of human diseases, she's paving the way for these future researchers. Learn more about Dr. Padilla's research.

UNT College of Music percussion professor Gideon F. Alorwoyie organizes an annual African Cultural Dance festival.

3 concerts, 1 way to score free tickets

The College of Music's spring season is filled with diverse performances that explore cultures from around the globe and celebrate strong women such as Susan B. Anthony. I'm giving away a pair of tickets to the March 4 opera performance of The Mother of Us All, the March 30 Mariachi Águilas concert and the April 9 concert by the Afro-Cuban, Brazilian and Latin jazz ensembles. Enter to win by emailing president@unt.edu by March 1. Include your name and mailing address.

Mean Green earn Grammy gold

Music alumni captured music's top prize in two categories at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards. Other alums and faculty also earned nominations. Snarky Puppy (above) -- which features several UNT alums, including founder Michael League -- earned a Grammy for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album, marking the group's second Grammy win. Music alum Dave Pietro is a saxophonist for the Maria Schneider Orchestra, which won in the Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album category. It's always great to see our music alumni and faculty excelling in their art and receiving national recognition. See a list of our famous alumni in the music world.

Alumni working behind the camera

Alumnus Denny Thomas, assistant editor for HBO's Vice, the Emmy-winning documentary series, produces provocative documentaries that change people's lives. He's helped edit film footage for The Islamic State, which won a Peabody Award, and Killing Cancer, a film project that helped raise $1 million for cancer research. Denny and other alumni filmmakers credit UNT's rigorous documentary production and studies graduate program for preparing them for work in the film industry. Read in The North Texan online about our film alumni's innovative storytelling.

Follow me on Twitter

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

Return to the Insider home ·
Subscribe to our newsletter ·
Unsubscribe from our newsletter

Copyright © 2016 The UNT System and the University of North Texas are the owners of all of their trademarks, service marks, trade names, slogans, graphic images, music, photography and videography and they may not be used without permission. If you have questions about using any of this material, please contact the UNT Division of University Relations, Communications and Marketing at 940-565-2108.