University of North Texas 
Faculty Fellows Program
2024-2025 Faculty Fellows and UNT President Harrison Keller, Ph.D.
UNT is committed to developing leaders capable of catalyzing and sustaining change.
The UNT Leadership Fellows program, founded in 2008, supports individual and organizational
skill-building. Competencies such as increased self-awareness, confidence, strategic
thinking, relationship building, and interdisciplinary collaborations are a few of
the key outcomes of the year-long program.
The 2025-2026 Faculty Fellows Applications are now available. Please note a few changes from last year, including nomination
letters and the submission process.
The Fellows Program has two options: Faculty Leadership Fellows (FLF) and Academic Affairs Fellows (AAF). The FLF option is ideal for an emerging faculty leader interested in gaining more visibility and experience leading a college-level project and networking with other college leaders across the university. Our AAF program is for high-potential or established faculty leaders (current or former chairs, program directors, center directors). The AAF option involves an immersive leadership development experience in co-leading one or more university-level projects with the guidance of a Faculty Success Office sponsor. The AAF offers a full-time faculty member an opportunity to gain knowledge and skills in institutional planning and decision-making, change management, program development, and academic policy at the university level. The AAF includes a one-course buyout for each semester.
Fellows in both program options will meet monthly as a learning cohort to:
- Develop and lead/co-lead strategic projects (college or university-level)
- Assess and utilize leadership strengths and opportunities
- Learn from Fellow cohort members and executive and senior leaders
- Engage with senior and executive leaders at the UNT-Denton campus
- Increase confidence in communicating about strategic projects, impacts, and leadership role
- Broaden network among academic leaders and colleagues on the UNT-Denton campus
Applications open during the spring term for both Faculty Fellow options for the following academic year.
2024-25 Academic Affairs Fellows
Tania Khalaf
Faculty Fellow for Mentoring Initiatives
Professor
Media Arts
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Brian Richardson, Ph.D.
Professor
Communication Studies
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Daniella Smith, Ph.D.
Hazel Harvey Peace Endowed Professor
Information Science
College of Information
Uyen Tran-Parsons, Ph.D.
Principal Lecturer
Counseling and Higher Education
College of Education
2024-25 Leadership Fellows
Thomas Brindle
Clinical Associate Professor
Department of Multidisciplinary Innovation
Mark Evers, Ph.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor
Department of Finance, Insurance, Real Estate and Law
Sarah Moore, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Social Work
Tiffany Norris, Ph.D.
Associate Librarian
UNT Libraries Research Support Services
Han Wen, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Hospitality, Event and Tourism Management
Yong Yang, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Biomedical Engineering