April 2019 - On The Move

Sept. 3, 2019
FROM THE PRESIDENT'S DESK
While welcoming back to campus all of our dedicated faculty and staff, and
yet another record-breaking number of students, for what promises to be a
busy and exciting Fall 2019 semester is top of mind, at this moment, I'd
simply like to start things off by saying, thank you!
The rapid growth of our enrollment and physical campus means that our
mission is resonating. More than 4,100 students, the majority hailing right
here from our urban Dallas communities, started the fall semester with us,
another milestone increase from a year ago. Our unique mission to reduce
economic inequity in higher education is also now being understood and reported by our friends
in the local media. Between Move-in Day on Aug. 24 and the Student Center grand opening two
days later, all four local TV news stations spotlighted us, and the Dallas Morning News on Aug.
27 published an in-depth article about our progress on their front page.
The start to this new academic year has been unlike any we've seen at UNT Dallas since the
first freshman class walked through our doors in 2010. The enthusiasm generated by the grand
opening celebration of our magnificent Student Center was remarkable, and ushered in a new
era for our campus. For one, we can truly say, our campus. Just walk around. Freshly paved
walkways that include elegant features and beautiful landscaping connect our four buildings.
Areas for students to study, eat, relax and visit with friends and classmates, both outdoors and
indoors, are plentiful. Our campus is now designed for our students to make it their home away
from home.
This transformation doesn't happen without an unwavering commitment to excellence from all
of you. For that, I thank you.
I thought the Honorable Helen Giddings said it so well when she spoke at our grand opening
ceremony. She said:
"When Sen. Royce West shared his vision, and we worked together to get the support of our
colleagues in the legislature, we developed our goals, and some said our goal was too lofty.
And when we wanted to get our second building, some thought we were too ambitious. When
we talked of attracting great students and creating a diverse campus that was affordable, some
thought that was too difficult. And in the words of a popular song, ‘What do you think of us
now?’ "

STUDENT CENTER GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION USHERS IN A NEW
ERA ON OUR QUICKLY EVOLVING CAMPUS
Appropriately held on the first day of classes so many of UNT Dallas' record student body of
more than 4,100 students could attend, the grand opening celebration for the Student Center
generated a buzz on campus about, well, just how much this now looks and feels like a
traditional college campus. A new era at UNT Dallas kicked off on Aug. 26 with the most
anticipated grand-opening event in the young history of the institution. Needed to handle the
rapid enrollment growth experienced over the last three-plus years, the $63 million Student
Center will serve as the hub of student life. A large library and a sky-top reading room with a
magnificent southern view from four floors up are instant highlights. So, too, is the living room
complete with couches and a cozy fireplace. President Bob Mong called it the students' house.
More: Read about the big day and check out some photos
DALLAS MEDIA SHINES BRIGHT SPOTLIGHT ON UNT DALLAS'
GROWING CAMPUS, ENROLLMENT AND UNIQUE MISSION

More than ever our mission is becoming the talk of the town. Not only is our enrollment growth
proof, but a significant uptick in local media coverage over the last year, and more specifically,
over the recent period of Move-in Day on Aug. 24 and our Student Center grand opening on
Aug. 26. The Dallas-Fort Worth media was not shy in telling our unique story to the masses. All
four DFW television news stations aired stories about Move-in Day or the Student Center and
our mission -- or both. WFAA reporter Teresa Woodard came to Move-in Day and aired a
wonderful report about our overall mission -- not without the help of our Michelle Hurdle. The
Dallas Morning News education reporter Corbett Smith followed on Aug. 27 with an in-depth
front-page report that explores our evolution.
More: Check out the report aired by WFAA and published by The Dallas Morning
News
HOW ABOUT THAT?: BUSINESS PROFESSOR DR. CHARLENE CONNER
GETS A DALLAS PUBLIC SCHOOL NAMED IN HER HONOR
Few can boast of having a school named in their honor. UNT Dallas School of Business
professor Charlene Conner can do just that as the new University Method of Education (UME)
Preparatory Academy Dr. Charlene Conner Learning Center opened its doors for the start of the
new school year. The K-12 school located on Spur 408 in Dallas, recognized Conner’s dedication
and service to the school's growth with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Aug. 16. The 62,000-
square-foot Dr. Charlene Conner Learning Center houses grades 7-12. UME Prep dedicated the
new building to Conner because of her work on the school’s board and helping to turn the
academy around when it was in financial distress. Conner worked tirelessly, school officials
say, to plan and prepare the charter in 2010. The charter was approved by the Texas Education

Agency in the spring of 2012 and UME Prep opened its doors last week. Congratulations, Dr.
Conner!
More: Dr. Conner's work that led UME Prep to put her name on its new facility
WORTH A HIGH FIVE: TWO SCHOOL OF HUMAN SERVICES MASTER'S
PROGRAMS EARN ACCREDITATION THROUGH 2025
We are delighted to announce that two master's counseling programs housed in the School of
Human Services -- Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School of Counseling -- were awarded
full accreditation status through 2025 by the Board of Directors of the Council for Accreditation
of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The accreditation is a significant
and monumental accomplishment for the two programs, said School of Human Services dean
Dr. Constance Lacy. “Our counseling faculty and staff work very hard and they are to be
commended for their dedication to ensuring students receive a quality, dynamic experience,”
Lacy said. “Our graduates are our best example of the value of offering a nationally accredited
curriculum. In today's climate, it is vital to have licensed professional counselors, certified
school counselors, clinicians in private practice and in community-based organizations who have
the skills and can affect long-lasting change in the lives they touch.”
More: Additional information on the accreditation of these two master's programs

TRAILBLAZER ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT…
CRISELY MENDEZ
Class of 2018, Interdisciplinary Studies
Employer: Duncanville ISD
Position: 4th grade bilingual math teacher
Job role entails: Making students feel welcome, important and
confident with who they are growing into, while teaching math,
science and social studies to students and guiding them to become
the best versions of themselves.
Alumni Q&A
How did you decide to focus your career in your respective
field? I realized in high school that I enjoyed working with children
and watching them grow and seeing their “AHA!” moments. I thought about becoming a
pediatric nurse and realized I do not like needles or blood. Then I realized that by teaching I
could work with children and help them before it’s too late and hopefully make an impact on
their lives.
What was the most unique aspect of your experience at UNT Dallas? Knowing I had a
support system and being told that I was capable of accomplishing my goals. Professors

actually knowing my name and going above and beyond to help me succeed.
What advice would you give current UNT Dallas students about how to make the
most of their time at UNT Dallas? Use ALL of the resources they are provided and ask for
help. No one can help you if you don’t tell them. Enjoy your time there; it's a great experience
and do not give up!
Alumni Fun Facts
Favorite quote: "Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter
and those who matter don't mind" -- Dr. Suess
Favorite part about living in Dallas-Fort Worth: All the different places to explore and
learn.
Favorite Dallas restaurant: Rice Pot in Duncanville.
Life motto: Worry about your circle of control!
#UNTD NEWS & CAMPUS UPDATES
North Texas Giving Day: Quickly approaching on Sept. 19 is the annual North Texas Giving
Day. Please consider giving to the UNT Dallas Foundation. All donations go toward our No. 1
objective, funding scholarships for growing student body. A social media campaign --
#IamUNTD -- is underway to help us surpass last year's total raised. No amount is too small.
Any amount goes a long way. Thank you for all you do, and for your support.
No. 1 and Proud of It: At UNT Dallas, we are extremely proud of the diversity among our
student body as well as our faculty and staff. We take it a step further. At the mid-year Fiscal
Year 2019 mark, UNT Dallas ranked No. 3 for Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) statewide,
and No. 1 for higher education. That is an accomplishment to be proud. The HUB
Program was created to promote full and equal procurement opportunities for small, minorityand
women-owned businesses.
Chancellor Roe Coming to UNTD: We are excited to welcome UNT Chancellor Lesa Roe to
our campus for her quarterly UNT World Town Hall on Sept. 19 at 2 p.m. in the Student Center.
The town halls rotate campuses are designed to provide an opportunity to ask the Chancellor
and other key UNT System leaders work-related questions. This quarter's moderated discussion
will include a look at where UNT System Administration is headed in Fiscal Year 2020. Please
make plans to join us for this special town hall.
Full House at Wisdom Hall: For a third consecutive year since opening in 2017, Wisdom Hall
is at capacity with 116 students. Students moved in on Saturday, Aug. 24, with the help of a
tremendous army of volunteers made up of students, staff and faculty. The big day attracted
media attention with NBC5 airing a story and WFAA's Teresa Woodard airing an extended piece
that delved into UNT Dallas' growth and overall mission.
Pulling Together with CBS11: UNT Dallas is participating in CBS 11's Pulling Together event,
a tug-of-war event to benefit Children's Cancer Fund. We have two teams of students
participating in the big event on Saturday, Sept. 14 at Joe Poole Lake in Grand Prairie. Members
of our Student Government Association will face off against a team made up of student

veterans. Both teams are fundraising, and taking part in a social-media campaign to drum up
support.
Lunch, er, Breakfast with President Mong: D CEO magazine's monthly installment, "Lunch
with D CEO," featured President Mong in August. Usually the interview takes place over lunch,
but those plans changed to breakfast at Overeasy in The Statler Hotel, across the street from
the UNT System building in downtown Dallas. "We've got a big campus, and we only occupy
about 10 percent of it. There's a lot of room for us to grow," Mong told D CEO, alluding to
future expansion.
Construction Update: The next phase of our master plan has crews working on the coming
Hart Amphitheater, as well finishing up details on Campus Square, the area directly outside the
main entrance of the Student Center. The area around the university seal and the tree well area
to the east are currently closed to foot traffic to allow for the seal to completed and for benches
to be installed. With so much completed in terms of walkways and landscaping around the
sparkling Student Center, our campus has truly become a beautiful place to work and study.
Meet Our New Faculty Members: We are excited to announce the arrival of 14 new faculty
members to UNT Dallas. Please welcome them to our campus: Ms. Rosa Barrett, Lecturer of
Spanish; Dr. Jessica Cintron, Visiting Professor of Psychology; Ms. Jan Marie
Cunningham, Visiting Lecturer of Criminal Justice; Dr. Sean Hubbard, Lecturer of Political
Science; Dr. Shelley Jackson, Lecturer, School Counseling Coordinator; Dr. Candice
Kowalski-Dulaney, Visiting Lecturer of Psychology; Dr. Jesseca Lightbourne, Assistant
Professor of Public Leadership; Dr. Keriman Livingston, Lecturer of Biology; Ms. Shelby
Miller, Visiting Lecturer of Applied Linguistics; Dr. Peter Obitade, Visiting Professor in the
School of Business; Dr. Corron Sanders, Visiting Lecturer of Public Health; Ms. Rhonda
Shaw, Visiting Lecturer of Mathematics; Dr. Mychelle Smith, Assistant Professor in the
School of Education; Dr. Mark Stallo, Lecturer of Criminal Justice.
The University of North Texas at Dallas is our city's emerging urban university. UNT Dallas
empowers students, transforms lives and strengthens communities. Perched on a hilltop,
overlooking the Downtown Dallas skyline, UNT Dallas is the only public, accredited 4-year
university in the City of Dallas. UNT Dallas includes the UNT Dallas College of Law in Downtown
Dallas and is part of the UNT System.

Office of the President
7300 University Hills Blvd, Dallas, TX 75241
972.780.3601
President@UNTDallas.edu