For 130 years, UNT has been a social mobility elevator for students from all walks of life, helping them to push creative boundaries and transform the world. We know students have a choice when selecting a college, and we want to continue being a springboard for difference makers like Xavier Henderson ('14), who recently landed on Forbes' 30 Under 30 Social Impact list for his work in the Oak Cliff community.

To continue inspiring future graduates like Xavier, UNT establishes programs and services for our ever-changing student body. This spring, we opened the First Generation Success Center to support the 33% of our student body who self-identify as a first-generation student -- the first in their family to attend a four-year university. We also are focused on increasing access and improving affordability for all students by decreasing textbook costs, addressing housing and food insecurity, and redistributing scholarship funds to students who may have traditionally been overlooked. We were ranked by U.S. News & World Report as a top 10 destination for transfer students, and overhauled our Transfer Excellence Scholarships to better serve this growing student population.

As a new landscape for education emerges, our alumni are leading change for many K-12 public schools. As higher education, too, transforms we will be nimble and innovative in addressing the challenges our students face, while continuing to deliver a Tier One education. This decade's challenges will require creative ingenuity and the ability to think outside the box. I know our UNT community is resilient and equipped to rise to the challenge, much like Judge Emily Miskel ('99 TAMS) has done.

When our alumni, students, faculty and staff work together, our strengths shine, and we fulfill our mission of empowering students to thrive in our rapidly changing world.