Charge to the Committee

The President of the University of North Texas is the Chief Executive Officer of the institution and is responsible for the effective administration of the university. As required by Texas law and UNT System Regent’s Rules, the President is appointed by the Board of Regents and reports to the Chancellor.

As such, the UNT Presidential Search Advisory Committee is not a hiring committee, but rather the Board retains the ultimate authority and responsibility to select the next president. The Advisory Committee’s role is to conduct a nationwide search, which includes recruiting, reviewing, and vetting applicants to determine whether they have the requisite experience, skills, and leadership attributes to serve as the next president of UNT. The Advisory Committee shall advance two to three most-qualified candidates to the Board of Regents and Chancellor for further consideration.

The Advisory Committee should identify exemplary candidates who can build upon UNT’s accomplishments and lead the university into its next tier of success. The Advisory Committee should prioritize candidates with demonstrated success and strong commitments in the following areas:

Strategic Vision and Innovative Leadership

The president must be committed to both the university’s mission and the UNT System’s values. The president should be a leader in higher education innovation, prioritizing accountability and integrity, and approaching issues with an entrepreneurial mindset.

As the leader of the third largest university in Texas and one of the largest universities in the country, it will be imperative that the president work collaboratively with the Board and Chancellor to develop and implement strategic priorities to further advance the university. The president should be prepared to respond to the rapidly changing higher education environment, considering new models for how the university operates and delivers education, ideally with a strong understanding of Texas higher education funding and policy opportunities.

Academic Excellence, Research Growth, and Student Outcomes

Teaching, research, and service are foundational to the mission of higher education, and the president must advance the academic interests of the university, grow UNT’s prominence as a Carnegie R1 research university, and serve as an advocate for expanding higher education outcomes.

To solidify the value proposition for public higher education, the president must be committed to student success, and meeting the highly skilled workforce needs of the state of Texas and the rapidly growing North Texas region. Critical to this endeavor is the recruitment and retention of world-class talent, as well as significant investments to advance research, innovation, and economic development.

Communications, Relationship Building, and Fundraising

The president must be an authentic communicator who will effectively build and strengthen relationships with strategic partners, earn the trust of stakeholders, and generate support for the institution. This includes championing UNT with local, state, and federal officials, businesses and employers, as well as community and non-profit leaders. The president should foster relationships with alumni and the philanthropic community to inspire meaningful support for the university to invest in key initiatives and provide opportunities for student success.

Although a terminal degree and exceptional academic and administrative accomplishment and experience are highly preferred, the University of North Texas welcomes and encourages candidates who have achieved noteworthy success in their respective fields to apply. These candidates must have demonstrated experience and a track-record of success working in a complex organization where success is achieved in partnership and collaboration rather than solely through direct authority.

Advisory Committee Members

  • Laura Wright (’82), UNT System Board of Regents chair – Search Chair
  • Dr. Michael R. Williams, UNT System Chancellor – Search Vice Chair
  • Sam Golden (’74), UNT Foundation Board Secretary
  • Shannon Goodman, UNT Vice President for Enrollment
  • Andy McDowall, UNT Student, Student Regent 2022-2023
  • Carlos Munguia (’79), Regent
  • Lindy Rydman (’72), Regent
  • Terri West (’82), Regent
  • Dr. Marilyn Wiley, UNT Dean of the G. Brint Ryan College of Business
  • Adam Chamberlain, Associate Professor and Faculty Senate Chair
  • Megan Wheeler, Senior Director for Special Events and Projects and Staff Senate Secretary

Staff

  • Alberto Pimental, Managing Partner SP&A Executive Search  – Search Consultant
  • Rey Rodriguez, UNT System Chief Strategy Officer
  • Rachel Barone, UNT System Chief of Staff

Update Messages to the UNT Community

UNT System Vision

By 2026, the UNT System is one team, values-driven and customer-focused with an emphasis on excellence, curiosity, and innovation.

Learn More About Us

Our Values

The UNT System community is guided by five shared values – Courageous Integrity, Be Curious, We Care, Better Together and Show Your Fire.

Lean More About Our Values