UNT honored its more than 1,000 faculty, many who are recognized as national and international experts in their fields, at the inaugural Salute to Faculty Excellence Week this fall. Excellence in teaching, research and service was showcased through lectures, luncheons and the successful Thank-a-Teacher program, in which students thank their favorite professors with a note. The week culminated at UNT's Apogee Stadium with a faculty awards ceremony.

"Our dedicated faculty members are the foundation of our excellence," says President V. Lane Rawlins, "and of our commitment to giving students a high-quality, meaningful education."

Faculty awards and recognition

UNT understands that quality faculty are the hallmarks of a great university. Their impact on student success and their research endeavors make them one of the most valuable resources for the university. In recognition of UNT's faculty excellence, 18 awards were presented to faculty for teaching, research and service at the Salute to Faculty Excellence Awards dinner and ceremony this fall. Three cash awards, funded by the UNT Foundation, were presented for the first time and highlight the accomplishments of UNT's most distinguished scholars and leaders. The Eminent Faculty award winner received a bronze eagle figure, which will be passed on to future year's winners and reside in their departments, creating a legacy of pride.

Eminent Faculty award

Bruce Bond, Regents Professor of English, received the UNT Foundation Eminent Faculty Award. This award recognizes a faculty member who has made outstanding and sustained contributions to scholarly-creative activity, teaching and service and has served as an inspiration to the campus community. Bond has propelled UNT's creative writing program into national prominence, serving as the director of creative writing and poetry editor of the American Literary Review, while publishing books, essays and poems that combine personal lyric and metaphysical inquiry.

Community Engagement award

Arminta Jacobson, professor of educational psychology, received the UNT Foundation Community Engagement Award. This award recognizes faculty whose careers are marked by sustained activities that advance mutual university-community engagement, successfully address important community issues through collaboration and create intellectual products respected by peers within and beyond the academy. Jacobson is an expert in child development, early education, infant care, family life education, parenting, parent education, parent involvement and work-family relations. In 1993, she founded and has since directed the UNT Center for Parent Education. She recently was named a fellow of the National Council on Family Relations, the nation's premier professional association for the multidisciplinary understanding of families.

Leadership award

Mary Harris, Regents Professor of teacher education and administration, received the UNT Foundation Leadership Award. The recipient of this award demonstrates a high degree of professionalism, is committed to the strategic mission of the university and encourages others to support and work toward the public good through innovative initiatives.  Harris co-founded and co-directs Teach North Texas, a successful mathematics and science teacher education program, and convened the North Texas Regional P-16 Council. She has been involved in the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.