Faculty Success Newsletter
February 2026
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Message from the Vice Provost for Faculty Success
Greetings Mean Green Colleagues,
Congratulations to our 2026 UNT Foundation award winners. I look forward to our surprise class visits every year and can't wait to celebrate all of our faculty honorees at the Salute to Faculty Excellence in April.
Please watch the short video about Brad Leali, professor of jazz studies and acclaimed jazz saxophonist, who won the 2026 Ellis Marsalis Jr. Jazz Educator of the Year Award. Professor Leali, along with his students, will be performing at the Salute to Faculty Excellence to showcase his impact on developing future generations of great jazz musicians.
There is still time to submit a proposal to present at the Student Portraits Data Symposium. Even if you don't present, I encourage you to attend to learn about the inspiring and innovative ways faculty, staff and students are using data to advance student success at UNT.
I know that this is a busy time of the semester, but I hope you will take advantage of the many opportunities featured in our newsletter to connect, grow your capabilities and expand recognition for your work. We appreciate all that you do in developing engaging teaching and learning spaces, discovering innovative research and creative pursuits, and driving entrepreneurial approaches to help communities and industries address critical issues. Please email us about your impactful contributions so we can amplify your great news.
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Holly Hutchins, Ph.D. (she/her)
Vice Provost, Faculty Success
| | | | | Need guidance on assisting a student in distress? Want to learn more about UNT's mental health resources? Drop into this virtual session to speak with a counselor. | |
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Professional Faculty Promotion Workshop
Faculty Success and Academic Resources
| This virtual Q&A session will cover the promotion process for professional faculty, from criteria and timelines to resources that can support you along the way. | |
| | | Join the Late Career Faculty Learning Community for a free lunch at Avesta! Meet your peers and discuss the needs, interests and experiences unique to late career faculty. | |
| | | This in-person workshop series is designed to help early-stage faculty of all appointment types strengthen skills in funding strategies, proposal development, budgeting and research resources. | |
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Promotion and Tenure Workshop
Faculty Success and Academic Resources
| Learn more about promotion and tenure at UNT, including review criteria, relevant UNT policies, an overview of the probationary review process and tips for planning for a successful review. | |
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"Innovation with Integrity" AI Panel Discussion
UNT System Institutions
| Registration is now open for this system-wide panel discussion exploring how to ethically leverage AI for positive change. Register by Feb. 24 to attend in person in Union 339 or online. | |
| | | Enjoy a delicious lunch and dessert while exploring effective strategies for long-term academic career development. | |
| | | Learn about opportunities to engage in international teaching, research and other activities through the Fulbright Scholar Award, Fulbright Specialist Award and Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program. | |
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Jazz Educator of the Year
Brad Leali, professor of jazz studies, won the 2026 Ellis Marsalis Jr. Jazz Educator of the Year Award, which celebrates distinguished music educators in higher education. Watch his award announcement video to learn more about his remarkable career as a jazz saxophonist and his commitment to student-centered teaching and mentorship.
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AGC Outstanding Educator
Dr. Orlando Bagcal, clinical associate professor of mechanical engineering, was named the Outstanding Educator for 2026 by the AGC of America, the leading association for the construction industry. The award recognizes his exceptional teaching and contributions to curriculum development, program accreditation, industry engagement and student mentorship. He will be formally recognized during the AGC Annual Convention in March.
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Poetry Prize
James Davis, lecturer and Ph.D. student in the Department of English, won the 2026 Donald Justice Poetry Prize from West Chester University's Center for Creative Writing and Poetry. In addition to bringing national recognition to James and UNT, the award paves the way for the publication of his second book of poetry in early 2027.
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| | The committee includes only 26 scholars worldwide, making it an excellent opportunity for Drs. Jiang and Yang to showcase the strength of UNT’s urban scholarship while also building connections with leading scholars in the field. | | |
Dornith Doherty, M.F.A.
Distinguished Research Professor, Studio Art
| | Faculty Leadership Award | |
Paul Hensel, Ph.D.
Professor, Political Science
| | Community Engagement Award | |
Brian Richardson, Ph.D.
Professor, Communication Studies
| | Outsanding Lecturer Award | |
Nazia Khan, Ed.D.
Principal Lecturer, Teacher Education and Administration
| | Global Funding for Faculty | | |
International Affairs is accepting applications for the UNT Global Venture Fund and UNT Charn Fund, which support faculty global engagement in the following categories:
- Hosting academic conferences, global speakers or international research scholars at UNT
- Conducting collaborative research or creative scholarly projects abroad
- Developing a new Faculty-Led Study Abroad Program
Learn more and apply on the Global Funding webpage.
| | | News from the UNT Libraries | | |
2026 Salute to UNT Faculty Book Authors
Sponsored by Faculty Success and the UNT Libraries, the Salute to Faculty Book Authors honors authors and co-authors of first-edition books, original translations or scholarly editions published in any format during 2025. Authors will be recognized in a commemorative video and at an optional in-person celebration on Tuesday, April 21.
| | | Did you publish a book in 2025 that meets these criteria? Let us know by completing this form by February 27! | | | UNT Scholarly Works: Your Scholarly and Creative Works Archive | | |
Need a place to archive your research once the project has been completed? Have supplemental material that needs a home and a persistent identifier for a publication? UNT Scholarly Works can help. Their goal is to support faculty by providing a long-term home for their research and creative works, thereby helping them build their scholarly profiles and broaden the reach of their research.
Browse their collection in the UNT Digital Library, explore their submission guidelines or email their team at UNTRepository@unt.edu with questions or submissions.
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The Learning Ecosystem for Empowering Futures (LEEF) is launching a podcast! Hosted by Carrie Allen, co-director of the Learning Institute, the podcast will highlight the work of UNT scholars, led by the following questions:
- How is your scholarship helping inform practice, and how is it is informed by practice needs in the community?
- How is your research usable in our daily lives?
- How are you engaging the broader community?
| | | Whether you have a specific research project you'd like to share or want to take a broader approach to your scholarship, they'd love to hear from you. Complete the interest form to be a guest! | | UNT Trust Line Changing Vendors | | |
The UNT Trust Line, wihch allows employees to anonymously report concerns related to university compliance, is changing vendors this month. Its number and website will remain the same, but the text messaging feature will be removed.
If you have questions, please reach out to compliance@unt.edu.
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