University of North Texas 
Faculty Fellows Program
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.
See the 2026-2027 Call for Proposals for more information.
Applications are due April 27, 2026, through the Faculty Success InfoReady Portal. Selections will be announced by May 15, 2026. For questions, please contact Vice Provost Holly Hutchins.
About the Fellows Program
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
Be sure to explore the following faculty leadership development programs offered by
our campus partners:
- Global Faculty Fellow: Administered by the International Affairs office, this program focuses on advancing campus internationalization for faculty. Additional information can be found on the International Affairs website. Applications are due by April 20, 2026.
- Student Success Fellow: Administered by the Student Success office, this program offers faculty an opportunity to contribute to university-level priorities focused on student success while gaining experience in academic leadership, cross-institutional collaboration, and strategic implementation. Additional information can be found on the Student Success website. Applications are due by April 27, 2026.
- Educator Fellow: Administered by LEEF, this opportunity invites UNT educators to partner with one of LEEF's units in advancing evidence-based teaching, faculty development, and curricular coherence across UNT. Additional information can be found on the LEEF website. Applications are due by May 15, 2026.
2025-2026 Academic Affairs Fellows
Cassidy Baker, Ph.D., LCSW-S, ACSW
Chair, Social Work
College of Public Affairs and Health Science
Jae Webb, Ph.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor, Management
G. Brint Ryan College of Business
2025-2026 Faculty Leadership Fellows
Özlem Altıok, Ph.D.
Principal Lecturer, Women’s and Gender Studies
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Mikaela Bachmann, Ph.D.
Lecturer, Art Education; Director of Undergraduate Programs
College of Visual Arts and Design
Huseyin Bostanci, Ph.D.
Professor, Mechanical Engineering
College of Engineering
Hsia-Ching Chang, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Information Science
College of Information
Chanjuan Chen, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Design; Fashion Design Coordinator
College of Visual Arts and Design
Dalena Dillman Taylor, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Counseling and Higher Education
College of Education
Jared Eutsler, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Accounting
G. Brint Ryan College of Business
Lauren Eutsler, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Learning Technologies
College of Information
Amir Fard, Ph.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor, Finance, Insurance, Real Estate and Law
G. Brint Ryan College of Business
Iva Jestratijevic, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Merchandising and Digital Retailing
College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism
Birendra KC, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Hospitality, Event and Tourism Management
College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism
Nazia Khan, Ed.D.
Principal Lecturer, Teacher Education and Administration
College of Education
Julie Leuzinger, MLS
Librarian
University Libraries
Jacob Mangum, MLS
Associate Librarian
University Libraries
Lauren Mathews, M.S., CCC-SLP
Clinical Professor, Audiology and Speech Language Pathology
College of Public Affairs and Health Science
Brian Meckes, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering
College of Engineering
Gül Seçkin, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Sociology
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Kewei Sha, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Data Science
College of Information
Ohad Shemmer, Ph.D.
Professor, Physics
College of Science
Jennifer Sterling, M.A.
Associate Librarian
University Libraries
Jiyoung Yoon, Ph.D.
Professor, Spanish
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences