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GIVING IMPACT

GIVING IMPACT

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BRILLIANTLY GREEN UNT’s newest Eagles visited campus throughout the summer for two-day orientation experiences, opportunities to help them acclimate to the university. They met their new classmates, faculty and staff; got a crash course on UNT traditions; received advising to register for classes; and learned how the campus — filled to the brim with support and resources — is ready to help them succeed.

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Faculty/Staff Appointments

New Leadership

UNT recently announced several new

appointments. Michael McPherson was named UNT’s new provost and vice president for academic affairs. A professor of economics, he joined the UNT faculty in 1992 and has held several leadership posts, which include Faculty Senate chairperson, acting dean of the Mayborn School of Journalism, associate vice provost for faculty success, special advisor to the provost, and vice provost for student success.

Brandon Buzbee was appointed vice president for university advancement, where he’ll work to increase engagement and fundraising. Buzbee previously served in fundraising roles at the University of Denver and the University of California, San Diego.

Angie Cartwright, associate professor of counseling and higher education, was named the inaugural assistant vice provost for faculty success in the Office of the Provost. She has been at UNT since 2015, and will focus on academic policy, faculty programming and DEI efforts.

Teresa R. McKinney was named assistant vice president and director for diversity and inclusion. She previously worked as president for student services and enrollment management at Texas Southern University. Prior to that, she served as assistant vice president for student affairs, health and wellness at UNT, from 2013 to 2019.

Jeff Brown is the new associate vice president for facilities after previously working at UNT from 2009 to 2011, when he served as director of facilities maintenance. He’s since worked more than 20 years at the University of Missouri in Columbia.

Non-credit Courses for Senior Adults

OLLI Expands

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute is

expanding to Dallas this fall. OLLI, which offers non-credit courses for adults 50 and over at seven classroom locations across Denton, Collin and Tarrant counties, signed a three-year partnership agreement with CC Young Senior Living in Dallas. The center’s residents and senior adults in the general public can take classes at The Point on the CC Young campus near White Rock Lake starting this fall.

OLLI courses cover a wide range of topics and are taught by subject matter experts, including both active and retired university faculty. Learn more at olli.unt.edu.

IN THE MEDIA

IN A CBS DFW INTERVIEW, recent doctoral learning technologies graduate Tetyana Kucher (’22 Ph.D.) from Ukraine shared how her teacher Regina Kaplan-Rakowski, lecturer in the College of Information, arranged a safe place for her mother to stay in Poland as she evacuated after the Russian invasion of her home country.

SHARON MILLER, assistant professor of audiology, explained in The Hearing Review how a new study at UNT will provide a road map to help customize the hearing aid fitting process to match specific patient needs and increase hearing aid acceptance.

THE CHRONICLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION talked with Joanne Woodward, Division of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access; Kelly Evans, UNT Libraries; and Megan Cunningham, UNT at Frisco, about UNT’s White Accountability Group and the success of these groups in higher education with the ultimate goal of helping to fight racism.

IN AN INTERVIEW IN THE ROOT, Morgan Gieringer — head of special collections in the UNT Libraries — discussed new efforts to digitize recordings from the Black Academy of Arts and Letters.

INCOMING STUDENT JAYLEN WALKER was celebrated in an NBC NEWS story about his acceptance to UNT’s ELEVAR program, a post-secondary education program for young adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities. Read more about the ELEVAR program on page 36.

UNT WELCOMED A RECORD-BREAKING 44,532 STUDENTS TO CAMPUS THIS FALL, INCLUDING THE LARGEST-EVER GROUP OF NEW FRESHMEN — 6,708 STUDENTS.

STudenT SuCCeSS

Wins to Cheer About

Again, this spring, the North Texas Cheer team brought home the National Cheerleaders Association college championship in Spirit Rally

— the first time in school history they’ve earned back-to-back national cheer titles. This year’s win at Dayton Beach, Florida, was especially exciting. Last year, because of the pandemic, they competed virtually.

“This title celebrates getting back to normal,” head coach Tracie O’Neal (’99, ’03 M.Ed.) says, adding that they were able to make the traditional run into the ocean after the win with trophy in hand to celebrate their victory.

O’Neal, who is starting her 12th year coaching the team, has a deep love for the sport and UNT. As a marketing undergrad, she was captain of the North Texas Dancers. After earning a master’s degree in applied training and development, she taught and spent eight years coaching at John Horn High School in Mesquite. She was awarded the coveted NCA Texas High School Cheer Coach of the Year award in 2008. In addition to leading the North Texas Cheer team, O’Neal is national sales director for Cheerleading.com, a cheer and dance uniform company, and is involved in high school choreography and judging — a role model for hard work and commitment.

The 42-member North Texas Cheer team, comprising two equal squads — Coed and All Girl — practices more than 10 hours each week in the fall, aside from traveling and attending games. They put in even more time in the spring, practicing through spring break, during competition season.

“They are truly participating in cheer for love of sport,” O’Neal says. —Photo courtesy of Photoville

New Regents

Gov. Greg Abbott appointed Lindy Rydman (’72) and reappointed Laura Wright (’82, ’82 M.S.) and Ashok “A.K.” Mago to the UNT System Board of Regents this summer.

Rydman, co-owner of Spec’s Wines, Spirits and Finer Foods, earned a bachelor’s degree from UNT’s music education program. Wright, who retired in 2013 after 25 years with Southwest Airlines, received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in UNT’s five-year accounting program. She has served on the UNT System Board of Regents since 2015, serving as chair since 2019. Mago is chair and CEO of Mago and Associates Inc. and has served as a regent since 2015.

Andy McDowall, a UNT computer science and engineering major and political science minor, is the UNT System’s new student regent. As student regent, McDowall, pictured below left, is charged with representing the interests of students, the state of Texas and the UNT System. He will serve through May 2023 and is among eight students Abbott appointed to their respective university system boards.

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STar STudenT

cOURAGE TO HELP OTHERS

See Moore’s winning self-portrait in the Frame Your Future scholarship contest. northtexan.unt.edu/help-others

Deante’ Moore (’19) knew he had to see a counselor when he lost his scholarship after failing courses

during his freshman year in his major, biology. Those sessions he took at UNT changed his life. He now wants to be a counselor to help others.

Moore, who grew up in Pflugerville, went on to earn his degree in psychology and currently is working toward his master’s degree in counseling. When he enrolled in counseling courses, it was the first time he thought about his mental health and it opened his eyes to what he had been missing.

“I appreciated the guidance and the space and being able to connect with people on a different level,” he says.

His favorite class was Cultural Diversity Awareness Counseling, which he identified with as a Native American and a Black man.

“I felt seen and represented in different areas,” he says.

Charmaine Conner (’20 Ph.D.) was his favorite teacher who, like Moore, is Black with native ancestry and shared his love for art, incorporating it into her lessons.

As a member of the Gila River Indian Community Akimel O’odham and Tohono O’odham tribe, Moore first joined the Native American Student Association in 2018 and now is vice president. As an undergrad, he was a member of Active Minds, a mental health organization, and Mixed Greens, which connects students with biracial backgrounds. He now serves on the executive committee of the Coalition of Black Counselors, which promotes mental health resources for the Black population. He’s also served as ambassador for American Indian Heritage Day in Dallas and as a mentor for the United National Indian Tribal Youth.

Due to Moore’s hard work, he’s earned scholarships from his tribe and he recently won the $6,000 grand prize in the Frame Your Future scholarship contest, sponsored by Church Hill Classics, for his self-portrait using symbols of his Black and Native American cultures.

His advice for other students?

“Have a lot of courage,” he says. “And don’t be afraid to ask for help.” — Jessica DeLeón

EVENTS

OCTOBER

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20-22

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28-29 31

Michelle Zauner, the musician behind Japanese Breakfast and the author of the memoir Crying in H Mart, will be interviewed and sign books as part of this Fine Arts Series event. For tickets, visit untuniontickets.com.

Jazz Studies 75th Anniversary Reunion will celebrate UNT’s program with alumni performances, current ensembles, a celebration of Lyle Mays’ life and more. For tickets, visit jazz.unt.edu/ unt-jazz-75th-anniversary.

CVAD Celebrates will feature the dedication of Matthew Ritchie’s sculpture “Shadow Garden” — on the west side lawn of the UNT Art Building — and the new Art Annex. Visit news.cvad.unt.edu/ cvad-celebrates.

The Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference, themed “Diary of a Storyteller,” is in a new location in Dallas. To register, visit themayborn.com.

Homecoming, themed “Destination North Texas,” will start Oct. 31 and culminate Nov. 5 with tailgating and football. See more at homecoming.unt.edu. NOVEMBER

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The Fine Arts Series presents Wynton Marsalis and The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra at 7:30 p.m. at the Margot and Bill Winspear Performance Hall in the Murchison Performing Arts Center. For tickets, visit thempac. music.unt.edu.

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DECEMBER

The Kuehne Speaker Series will welcome Kevin O’Leary, “Mr. Wonderful” on ABC’s Shark Tank. To learn more, visit kuehneseries.unt.edu.

16-18

Celebrate Fall 2022 graduates at this year’s commencement ceremonies. For the schedule, visit commencement. unt.edu/fall-2022-schedule.

MARCH

23

UNT’s 2023 Equity and Diversity

Conference will feature a variety of speakers discussing topics related to equity, diversity and inclusion. To learn more, visit edc.unt.edu.

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experT Take

Job Seeking Advice

When the COVID-19 pandemic forced most employees to work from home,

it shook the job market. The lockdown prompted many workers to quit or seek better jobs, inspiring the term “The Great Resignation,” as they shifted to take care of family or re-evaluated their lives and careers. As a result, employers have had to adapt — from allowing remote work to implementing new diversity, equity and inclusion strategies, and creating belonging such as the establishment of employee resource groups.

“I think it’s vital that organizations build a strong employer brand that will attract diverse talent so workers feel they can thrive in that organization,” says Teresa McKinney, assistant vice president and director for diversity and inclusion at UNT.

Whether you’re an alumnus who resigned from your position looking for a better opportunity or a recent graduate seeking your first job, you can tap into the Career Center — which provides help with resumes, interviews and other aspects of the job search — at careercenter.unt.edu.

Here, three members of the UNT community discuss the impact of the jobs shift. DENNIS G. NASCO JR.

Management lecturer in the G. Brint Ryan College of Business and program director of Coursera B.S. General Business Degree

“Employers can allow for more autonomy of when and where employees choose to work. If a job can be done remotely, then there are virtually no geographic limitations on where the employee lives, meaning companies can expand their recruitment pools beyond traditional regional recruitment. This also may allow for more access to diverse talent.”

MICHAEL CARROLL

Professor of economics and director of the Economics Research Group (ERG)

“The increase in labor demand is impressive in most sectors of the local economy. College-educated workers are especially in demand from these new firms. But the economy may be facing a mild recession in the short term, and the strong labor market demand may give younger workers a false sense of security in their employment decisions.” TERESA MCKINNEY

Assistant vice president and director for diversity and inclusion for UNT’s Division of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access

“Organizational change and disruptions always create uncertainty among employees, but for many historically marginalized workers, the question remains as to how these current disruptions will affect their experience, retention and job opportunities in the future. Employers must be sensitive to employees’ perceptions of support, equity and employee well-being.”

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