Dear Alum,

I've had some fantastic travel experiences this summer, from awarding UNT degrees in China to visiting a "Mean Green" Maasai school — and celebrating my birthday — on vacation in Kenya and Tanzania.

The world is a lot smaller than it used to be and, if there's one thing we know from our travels, it's also a great classroom. Experiencing different cultures while learning that people are so similar at the core, with the same hopes and dreams for their children, is a priceless lesson.

I'm proud of the opportunities we give our students to discover the world through our study abroad programs, and I'm proud of UNT's many educational partnerships around the globe in places like Chile, Mexico and China.

I was honored to be in Dalian City, China, to award UNT degrees to our students in the Sino-American 1+2+1 China Transfer Program. Only one U.S. university per state is chosen to participate in the program, and UNT has been the Texas representative since 2012.

Our College of Engineering also has created a new 1+3 transfer program in materials science and engineering with Dalian Jiaotong University. Thanks to our designation as a top-tier research university and faculty who are nationally and internationally known for their research, the potential for future UNT collaborations in China and other countries is great. We are helping to train some very bright minds while expanding our reach and reputation around the globe.

Of course, here at home we have a diverse student body that includes 2,500 international students, making our campus a wonderful place to experience a mix of cultures and interests. Plan to visit us and take in one of the hundreds of concerts, exhibits, lectures, celebrations, athletic events and other activities we offer each semester.

We're looking forward to the fall and the energy and enthusiasm our students bring with them for learning and for the world around them.

UNT Proud,
Neal Smatresk
President
@UNTPrez