Office of the Provost and
Vice President for Academic Affairs
Office Staff
Juanda Fischer
Executive Administrative Assistant to the Provost
Juanda Fischer provides administrative support to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. Her duties include managing the Provost’s workload, handling the calendar, composing correspondence on behalf of the Provost, assisting in the promotion and tenure process, annual evaluation process, and a variety of university nomination, selection, and award processes. She is also responsible for preparing reports and tracking projects for the Provost. She serves as liaison with the President’s Office in preparing academic agenda items for the UNT System Board of Regents meetings. She also serves as liaison with the Chancellor’s Office, Faculty Senate, and Faculty Senate Executive Committee, and she provides staff support for the Deans’ meetings.
Contact Information:
- Phone: 940.369.3952
- Email: Juanda.Fisher@unt.edu
Margaret Vestal
Special Assistant to the Provost
As the Special Assistant to the Provost, Margaret functions as her principal assistant in the area of student complaints/concerns including the State mandated Compact with Texans, ensuring that all questions and complaints received by the University are handled in a timely and efficient manner. Margaret also serves as the lead academic staff member working with Risk Management to ensure that appropriate safety measures are taken within the academic units. In collaboration with the Provost and Senior Staff, Margaret handles the updating of all academic polices, tracking them through the policy approval process. Margaret represents the Provost and Academic Affairs on several committees including: One Book/One Community Committee, Student Code of Conduct Committee, Risk Management Safety and Transportation Steering Committee, Mental Health Service Model Committee, and the University Welcome Center Committee. Margaret manages and directs numerous other projects, as assigned by the Provost.
Contact Information:
- Phone: 940.369.7911
- Email: Margaret.Vestal@unt.edu
Darlene Callahan
Manager of Administrative Services
As the Manager of Administrative Services, Darlene Callahan is responsible for the oversight of the administrative and fiscal areas of the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs in the absence of the Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs. In addition, Darlene coordinates the distribution of university space, including all academic and administrative space allocations and reallocations, and the assignment of new space created by vacancy, renovation or new construction. She also supervises the faculty recruitment process and appointments, the faculty position management system, and is the Web Content Manager for the Office of the Provost.
Contact Information:
- Phone: 940.565.3951
- Email: Darlene.Callahan@unt.edu
Dilana King
Senior Budget Officer
Dilana King serves as the Senior Budget Officer and maintains the operating accounts for Academic Affairs. She is responsible for aiding the Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs in academic unit budgeting. Dilana reviews and approves payroll transactions for all academic units and certain faculty travel reimbursements. She compiles reports and allocations on a semesterly basis, including the Dallas Campus reversions and large classroom reports. She also serves as chair for A-Team meetings and manages numerous accounts, including the Hispanic Global Initiative Fund and Learning Enhancement Grants.
Contact Information:
- Phone: 940.565.3949
- Email: Dilana.King@unt.edu
Margie Lagleder
Assistant to the Deputy Provost
Margie Lagleder provides administrative support to the Deputy Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Studies. In this role, Margie manages the Deputy Provost’s calendar, supports the Associate Deans’ Council, University Curriculum Committee, and ad-hoc committees chaired by the Deputy Provost. She is responsible for maintaining undergraduate curriculum materials and processing forms for numerous award programs. Margie also serves as the special events coordinator for the Office of the Provost. Among the events she is responsible for is New Faculty Orientation and the Spring Faculty Meeting.
Contact Information:
- Phone: 940.565.8010
- Email: Margie.Lagleder@unt.edu
Mary Atkins
Assistant to the Assistant Vice President
Mary Atkins manages the workload and provides administrative support to the Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs. She is responsible for managing the Assistant Vice President’s correspondence and calendar, as well as providing staff support for administrative and search committees chaired by the Assistant Vice President, including the Space Assessment Committee. Mary also coordinates travel for all office personnel, provides oversight for purchasing, serves as the records retention officer, and supervises the reception area staff.
Contact Information:
- Phone: 940.565.2496
- Email: Mary.Atkins@unt.edu
Lynn Bissett
Assistant Director of Academic Publications
As the Assistant Director of Academic Publications, Lynn Bissett directs the production of the academic sections of the undergraduate and graduate catalogs and academic calendar. She reviews submissions to the University Curriculum Committee and coordinates revisions as needed. Lynn supervises the Academic Publications Copy Editor, serves as team leader for various academic publications and is the liaison to the Federation of North Texas Area Universities Calendar Committee.
Contact Information:
- Phone: 940.565.3505
- Email: Lynn.Bissett@unt.edu
Donna Randolph
Records Coordinator
Donna Randolph is the Records Coordinator for all faculty personnel files. In this role, Donna prepares and distributes faculty contracts, faculty offer letters, criminal history checks, and promotion and tenure materials. She also tracks faculty appointments and status changes, manages faculty visa applications, development leaves, and modified service appointments. Donna is responsible for ensuring the integrity of the faculty data in the faculty database and preparing reports/surveys for faculty data from the American Association of University Professors, College and University Professional Association, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Contact Information:
- Phone: 940.565.3953
- Email: Donna.Randolph@unt.edu
Ernest Lerma
Programmer Analyst III
Ernest Lerma provides computer technical support for the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Office. He serves as the primary contact for issues related to computer hardware and software. Ernest performs data analyses, responds to ad hoc requests for database reports, develops and manages computer systems and databases, and maintains the Office of the Provost web site. He also is responsible for the Southern Accreditation of Colleges and Schools (SACS) faculty credential database and the Account Budget Authorization System.
Contact Information:
- Phone: 940.565.3026
- Email: Ernest.Lerma@unt.edu
Michelle Maroney
Administrative Assistant II
Michelle Maroney serves as the Receptionist for the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Office. She is responsible for greeting visitors and answering and directing phone calls to the proper individual. Among other duties, Michelle serves as the departmental timekeeper, manages purchasing for the office, assists office staff with special projects, and supervises the student assistants. Michelle is also responsible for coordinating the Star Performer Award Program for Academic Affairs.
Contact Information:
- Phone: 940.565.2550
- Email: Michelle.Maroney@unt.edu
Katy McDaniel
Academic Publications Copy Editor
Katy McDaniel serves as the Academic Publications Copy Editor and works closely with the departments, schools, and colleges to write and edit catalog content for both printed and web publication versions. She manages editorial files, curriculum documentation, faculty data files for the catalog, and other project tracking files. Katy also serves as team member for various academic publications.
Contact Information:
- Phone: 940.565.3948
- Email: Katy.McDaniel@unt.edu