Meet President Smatresk

16th president of the University of North Texas, one of the nation's fastest-growing universities 

President Neal Smatresk

President Neal J. Smatresk joined UNT in 2014 with a vision for leading the University of North Texas to national prominence as the largest, most comprehensive university dedicated to meeting the dynamic needs of the North Texas region.

Under Smatresk’s leadership, UNT was named a Carnegie-ranked Tier One research university, named an America’s Top College by Forbes for 16 consecutive years, achieved a five-year record of continued enrollment growth to serve nearly 47,000 students, and earned designation as both a Hispanic- and Minority-Serving Institution. Now, UNT is one of only 21 Carnegie-ranked Tier One research universities designated a Hispanic-Serving Institution, joining with others to form the Alliance of Hispanic Serving Research Universities. Thanks to strategic student success investments, UNT has increased student retention, graduation rate, and its role as a social mobility elevator for students. UNT serves the North Texas region and helps drive the state’s economy through innovative research, educational excellence focused on career readiness, and a spirit of entrepreneurship. Together, with its branch campus in Frisco, UNT students earned more than 12,000 degrees last year.

With athletic investments and facility expansions, Mean Green student-athletes and teams are thriving. The men’s basketball team completed a record-breaking season in 2023 and took home the championship trophy in the 2023 National Invitation Tournament. The Mean Green joined the American Athletic Conference during the 2023-24 season, and under President Smatresk’s leadership, UNT also announced a 15-year football stadium naming rights agreement with longtime partner, DATCU. 

President Smatresk has led the charge in creating new public-private partnerships with businesses like Southwest Airlines, Liberty Mutual, Lockheed Martin, and JPMorgan Chase. In response to the rapidly changing career marketplace, President Smatresk ensured the addition of 21st century degree plans in fast-growing fields such as business analytics, data science, and urban policy and planning, as well as a partnership with the Dallas Cowboys for an M.B.A. in sport entertainment management. UNT also unveiled the nation’s first bachelor’s degree from a U.S. university on Coursera, the world’s leading online learning platform.

In addition, President Smatresk has expanded the university’s services in Collin County by opening a location in Frisco, one of the fastest-growing cities in Texas and the nation. In partnership with the City of Frisco and its Frisco Economic and Community Development Corporation, UNT opened the UNT at Frisco branch campus’ first building, Frisco Landing, in 2023 to offer higher education and research opportunities to students. With student-centered curriculum, immersive learning, and a focus on student success, UNT at Frisco aims to help bridge the gap between higher education and the public and private sectors. 

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