Dr. Neal Smatresk
I am President of the University of North Texas
I am cultivating tomorrow's creative leaders
I am inspired by 38,000 students
I am helping students achieve dreams
I am a champion of lifelong learning
I am reimagining the ordinary
I am Mean Green
How does Frisco foster its highly-educated workforce? Dr. Neal Smatresk, President of the University of North Texas, says "Frisco Never Stops Learning."
The University of North Texas, a Tier One research university, is expanding its footprint in Frisco with Neal Smatresk at the helm. Since Smatresk's arrival at UNT in 2014, the university received designation as a Tier One research university by the Carnegie Classification, grew enrollment to 38,000 students, and now has 72 of its 227 academic programs ranked among the nation's top 100.
Smatresk is responsible for several public-private partnerships between University of North Texas and global companies including the Dallas Cowboys, PGA of America and NetDragon, a Chinese tech conglomerate. These partnerships have been key to Smatresk's vision of "educational innovation" becoming a reality at UNT.
With a new campus in Frisco, the University of North Texas will provide higher education and research opportunities to future generations. As Frisco continues to grow, the Frisco Independent School District is projected to add at least 10,000 more students by 2022. Frisco Mayor Jeff Cheney says UNT's presence in Frisco will "provide our residents new opportunities to earn bachelor's and master's degrees right here at home. Affordable, quality education is an integral part of being a vibrant, innovative, and sustainable community."
Smatresk is committed to bringing UNT's blend of innovation and ambition to Frisco, with a mission to "ensure that UNT graduates from our Frisco campus are uniquely qualified to meet the evolving needs of a creative economy driven by education."
Frisco is a community of learners seeking convenient higher education opportunities, who respond to complex, forward-looking industries. UNT is meeting that need by transforming higher education and ensuring its graduates are equipped to succeed in a next-gen economy.