I’ve spent my life in public higher education, starting first as a college student. The experience has taught me that education is perhaps the last true frontier for those seeking growth and progress. Society will falter without excellent public universities filled with creative faculty and talented staff members dedicated to supporting students’ dreams.

In my first month, I have seen how UNT excels at this fundamental mission.

Throughout my career, I have been committed to maintaining strong connections between world-class research and education. In my time here, I want to make sure that UNT continues its efforts to emerge as a major research university with its students’ education as a central focus.

The upcoming academic year will be an important one as we follow up on the new strategic plan for research, approved in May by the UNT System Board of Regents, and prepare for the upcoming legislative session, which starts in January. We proceed from a strong base as an energetic university committed to excellence.

My nearly two decades as a public university president taught me that one of the most important things I can do as a leader is to listen. I hope you will join me at the many campus events throughout the year. I want to hear from you about how we can work together to make UNT the best that it can be.

I look forward to meeting you, and I thank the university community for the warm welcome I have received. I am excited about the year ahead.

Sincerely,
V. Lane Rawlins
President
president@unt.edu