It's an honor to serve as UNT's 16th president and to lead our great university into the next phase of its evolution. I am committed to working with you, our campus community and the greater North Texas region to further build UNT's reputation as a nationally prominent research university.

In the first months of my tenure, I have focused on learning about our campus and listening to our constituents. I want UNT to support our region's economic growth by matching our attributes and resources to the needs of the region and state. As we build our research capacity and the quality of our educational programs, we will emerge as a first-choice institution for students, faculty and staff and a partner of choice for alumni, communities and industry.

Our alumni are a vital part of UNT, and there are so many of you who are having an impact in the workforce and our communities. I had the fortune of meeting some of you at the UNT Alumni Association's Young Professionals Luncheon during my first weeks on the job. It was exciting to feel the emerging strength of the UNT alumni network.

As a network, you can help our students make the transition to the job market while serving as role models and mentors. As your alma mater, we want to ensure that we provide lifelong value to you by giving you plenty of opportunities to stay engaged, which is why we're creating more ways to connect and network through the luncheon and other alumni events.

I hope to meet more of you at events here on campus and in the communities. If you see my wife, Debbie, or me anywhere, please stop and say hello so we can get to know you better!

I look forward to working with you in building a prosperous future for UNT, our region and state. I know we will go far together.

UNT proud,

Neal Smatresk
President
president@unt.edu