Dear UNT supporter,

It's bittersweet that I'm writing my final letter to you as president for my last issue of UNT Insider. As you may have heard, the UNT System Board of Regents named Dr. Harrison Keller as UNT's next president. Dr. Keller will become the 17th president in the university's history effective Aug. 1. He has served as commissioner and chief executive officer of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board since 2019. Dr. Keller has spent his career committed to improving higher education in Texas, and I am excited and confident he will propel UNT to even greater prominence, continuing to serve our students and shaping them to become the leaders of tomorrow. Look for a special edition of the Insider next month to welcome him to UNT.

As I look back, I am proud of how far we've come over the past decade. The culture of caring and family we have here — not only for students, but for faculty, staff, alumni, and our community partners — is incredible. It does not come from just one person: Each member of the Mean Green Family contributes to that sense of belonging we have here.

I hope you all enjoying your summer and have a chance to rest and unwind before the hustle of a new school year begins. I am looking forward to some time with my family and preparing to transition to a faculty position once again — there's so much I need to learn! I hope to see some of you at a few football games this season, too. Go Mean Green!

Thank you for your commitment to this university. Thank you for your generosity, your spirit, and your support each year. It has been appreciated more than you know.

Forever UNT Proud,
Neal Smatresk
President

@UNTPrez