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The following faculty members earned the honorary title of Emeritus in the 2025-26 academic year, recognizing their distinguished service to the University of North Texas.

Dr. Michael Baskes

University Distinguished Research Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
College of Engineering

Dr. Baskes enjoyed a long and distinguished career as a materials scientist, including serving 29 years at Los Alamos National Laboratory. He founded the journal Modelling and Simulation in Materials Science and Engineering in 1992 and served 13 years as its chief editor. He was elected fellow of The Minerals, Metals, and Materials Society in 2004, and in 2012 he was elected to the National Academy of Engineering. He is internationally known for his expertise in atomic simulations of metals and alloys. While at UNT, Dr. Baskes was active on several sponsored research projects either as a co-PI or as a senior personnel member, including projects funded by the Army Research Lab, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, and the Department of Energy. Beyond UNT, he continued his work to understand atomistic mechanisms of material strengthening at high temperatures and strain rates, working collaboratively with Material Science and Engineering faculty on various projects, and was actively involved in training and mentoring students and postdocs.

Dr. Kent D. Chapman

Regents Professor Emeritus, Biological Sciences
College of Science

Dr. Chapman provided over 30 years of distinguished service to UNT, including 15 years as a Regents Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences. Throughout his exceptional career, he made profound and lasting contributions to teaching, research and service. After joining UNT in 1993 as an assistant professor, he steadily advanced to the highest faculty rank, authored over 200 publications and delivered numerous invited presentations at national and international venues. His research and scholarly contributions consistently placed him among the top 1% of highly cited researchers globally. His visionary leadership played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Plant Signaling Research Cluster, which evolved into the BioDiscovery Institute (BDI), UNT's multidisciplinary research center advancing basic and applied biological sciences. Dr. Chapman provided extensive and meaningful service to the department, college, university and the broader academic community. His stellar career at UNT and abroad was marked by numerous national and international honors that brought significant recognition to the institution. 

Dr. Cynthia Cready

Associate Professor Emeritus, Sociology
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences 

Dr. Cready has worked at UNT since 2000 and as a tenure-track professor since 2002. She served UNT in a variety of ways, including as director of graduate studies (2013-2015) and associate chair (2013-2015). Dr. Cready’s teaching was critically important for Sociology. For years, she was the sole instructor of Sociology’s statistics classes, including the undergraduate course — which she taught 26 different times — and the graduate-level courses in introductory and advanced statistical analysis. Her teaching evaluations were consistently high, and it was well known that students sought to take their statistics courses with her so they could benefit from her personal instruction and teaching excellence. Dr. Cready mentored countless students, including graduate students for their dissertations and master’s theses and undergraduates for special topics classes. She co-authored a book (2008) on health work between residents and staff of long-term care facilities and published over 30 peer-reviewed articles throughout her career, as well as several research and technical reports. Dr. Cready's lasting legacy at UNT is one of teaching excellence, dedicated mentorship and service, and deep care for her colleagues and students.

Dr. Cindy Denmark

Principal Lecturer, Teach North Texas
College of Science

Dr. Denmark earned her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from UNT in 2014. She was hired as a lecturer in 2010, only two years after the founding of Teach North Texas, and eventually was promoted to principal lecturer. She retired in 2024. Dr. Denmark was a vital component of the growth and success of Teach North Texas. She taught nearly every course in the teacher-preparation sequence for prospective secondary teachers of mathematics and science. Dr. Denmark challenged her students to think carefully about their beliefs about teaching and to consider and attempt different pedagogical strategies than they had likely experienced when they were high school students. A vital component of Dr. Denmark’s exemplary service was preparing teacher candidates to teach actual lessons in local schools for children and adolescents and then observing these lessons and providing critical feedback immediately after the lesson. She observed everyone from novices who needed their hands held very tightly to apprentice teachers who were one semester away from graduating. Dr. Denmark especially made her mark working with apprentice teachers who spent a semester teaching in a local school, experiencing their first real successes and failures overseeing their own classrooms for lengthy periods. Dr. Denmark showed great skill in praising apprentice teachers for what they were doing right and tactfully suggesting course corrections if plans didn’t work out as expected. Many alumni have commended Dr. Denmark for how the time she spent with them eventually translated into early career success once they began as classroom teachers. 

Dr. Derrick D’Souza

Professor, Management
G. Brint Ryan College of Business

Dr. D’Souza consistently distinguished himself through numerous awards, excellence in research and teaching, and outstanding service throughout his 35 years as a professor at UNT. He leaves a lasting legacy in the college through his many service contributions, student mentorship, and a $1 million gift to the Department of Management to establish the D’Souza Family Professorship. His research includes 40 peer-reviewed articles in leading journals that contributed significantly to disciplines ranging from strategic management to operations management to entrepreneurship. He delivered over 60 presentations at national and international conferences and received 10 best paper awards. Dr. D’Souza pioneered the department's efforts to obtain externally funded research and was one of the first business professors to receive a grant from the National Science Foundation. The area where Dr. D’Souza truly excelled and made his greatest contribution was as a professor and mentor to the students in the management doctoral program. He was highly regarded among the faculty and students for his excellence in the classroom working with both undergraduate and graduate students. He mentored numerous doctoral students and worked to develop them as future leaders and researchers in the management discipline by chairing five dissertations and serving on over 20 dissertation committees.

Chef Jodi Duryea

Principal Lecturer, Hospitality, Event & Tourism Management
College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism

Chef Duryea joined the CMHT/HETM faculty as a full-time lecturer in January 2007. She was instrumental in growing the professional food preparation classes in our ACPHA accredited, nationally ranked program. Her dedicated teaching style always had the Marriott Culinary Lab active with experiential learning. Chef Duryea continued to grow her professional skills throughout her career, earning certificates from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Grain School, the Notter International School of Confectionery Arts, the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, and ServSafe. Prior to joining UNT, she was an Executive Chef at the Silver Star Kitchen Company, the Corpus Christi Yacht Club, Jerry’s, and Delia’s Supper Club. She was also pastry chef at Caffee Giovanni, The Atrium Club, and sous chef at Café Luxembourg, Flowers Restaurant, and Andiamo Restaurant. Chef Duryea is the author of Cooking for the Hospitality Industry (2019), a widely adopted textbook for students in hospitality programs. She is also the creator, author, designer, and performer of 41 educational videos with more than 180,000 views since 2012.

Mr. Gordon England

University Distinguished Research Professor, Electrical Engineering
College of Engineering

Professor England had a truly remarkable career. Among his various professional posts, he joined General Dynamics, Ft. Worth Division in 1977 and held various roles there, ultimately rising to president of the division. He held this post until the division was sold to Lockheed, after which he stayed at the company becoming president of Lockheed Aeronautics for four years. Professor England served the U.S. government in various roles including the Secretary of the Navy from 2001 to 2006, and Deputy Secretary of Defense from 2005 to 2009. He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2012 and served as chair of the NAE Council from 2016 to 2020. At UNT, Professor England was a tireless advocate for students and faculty, active in advising and mentoring and frequent participant in events organized by student organizations such as the Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers, the Drone Club, and the Electrical Engineering Honors Society, Eta Kappa Nu (HKN). He also sponsored and mentored capstone senior design projects. Professor England served on the College of Engineering Board of Councilors with distinction. In this role he promoted philanthropic support of the college, sponsored meeting venues for outreach activities that engage alumni and college partners, and provided council on corporate engagement projects to grow research and scholarship in the college. Professor England has actively supported President Keller’s National Security and Economic Strategy initiative and mentored our rising star faculty, including supporting nominations for the Edith and Peter O’Donnell Award from the Texas Academy of Medicine, Engineering, Science, and Technology (TAMEST). 

Dr. Theodore Farris

Professor, Supply Chain Management
G. Brint Ryan College of Business

When Dr. Farris arrived at UNT, there was no logistics program. He led the launch of the program with just 15 students and helped shape it into one of the nation’s premier undergraduate supply chain programs, ranked 4th in North America by Gartner and supported by a full complement of faculty across ranks. Dr. Farris’s scholarly contributions include 59 peer-reviewed journal articles alongside trade publications, book chapters, economic reports, and over 130 presentations across 14 countries. He was involved in nationally funded research, co-founded Austria’s Logistikum Research Center, and was the second-ever Fulbright Scholar in logistics. Dr. Farris also received two Charn Uswachoke International Scholar awards for global classroom innovation. His teaching legacy includes three national awards for pedagogical innovation and the development of globally integrated case-based learning, engaging more than 4,000 students from 30 universities across 63 countries. His Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals case studies won eight of nine peer-reviewed competitions, influencing logistics curricula worldwide. Dr. Farris’s resilience and vision built a lasting academic infrastructure, and his contributions to research, teaching, and international engagement not only elevated UNT but also shaped the broader field of supply chain education.

Ms. Marjorie Hayes

Professor, Dance and Theatre
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

Professor Hayes began her UNT career as a faculty member in Dance and Theatre in 1995, was promoted and tenured in 2001, and was promoted to full professor in 2018. She helped build the theatre curriculum and single-handedly developed the directing track, which includes multiple courses in which students contribute to current department theatre productions. In addition to directing, Professor Hayes taught nearly all the acting classes offered, developed a popular musical theatre course, and offered a highly successful study abroad course exposing students to theatre in London. A large part of UNT’s success in theatre is due to her extensive acting and directing career. Professor Hayes directed productions internationally, and she had a prolific acting career on stage and on camera, from early roles in the 1970s in New York, Poland, and California to her direction of The Donner Party at UNT in 2024. In 2017, with an Institute for the Advancement for the Arts Fellowship, she created The Women Who Compose for Broadway, a musical celebration of women composers who broke through the glass ceiling at Triad Theatre in New York. Professor Hayes was recognized by her colleagues as a tenacious, hard-working collaborator, which includes years leading and working within the theatre production committee. Shortly before earning Emeritus status, she led effort to re-engage alumni through an appreciation night at a showing of Cabaret. Most of the more than 50 alumni who attended had a meaningful connection to Professor Hayes. 

Dr. Robin Henson

Distinguished Teaching Professor Emeritus, Educational Psychology
College of Education

Dr. Henson joined UNT in 2000 as an assistant professor, spending a total of 25 years at the university. During those years, he served as department chair (2006-2007, 2018-2022) and was awarded the designation of University Distinguished Teaching Professor in 2016. An accomplished and award-winning scholar, mentor, and educator, Dr. Henson made transformative contributions to his department, the college, and the university. His scholarly citation rate places him in the top 2% of researchers in his field in the world. His legacy at UNT is characterized by a deep care for his colleagues and students and a sustained commitment to teaching excellence, student mentorship, and servant leadership. 

Dr. Connie Hilliard

Professor, History
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

Dr. Hilliard earned her Ph.D. in African American history from Harvard University in 1977. She worked in foreign policy after graduation and then joined the UNT history faculty in 1991. While a professor at UNT, Dr. Hilliard taught courses in African History and African American history. She is also a prolific writer and researcher, with wide-ranging interests and expertise. She has published four books, on topics ranging from precolonial African intellectual history to Middle Eastern politics to the history of craniometry and craniology. In the last decade, her research moved to histories of genomics, race, and evolution. In 2020, she hosted a grant funded interdisciplinary workshop on ancestral genomics, and in 2024, she published Ancestral Genomics: African American Health in the age of Precision Medicine with Harvard University Press. The book received praise from Kirkus Reviews and Texas Monthly and led to many talks and public appearances. Dr. Hilliard continues to publish related work in medical journals and in public outlets.

Dr. Dee K. Knight

Associate Professor Emerita, Merchandising and Digital Retailing
College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism

Dr. Knight's distinguished service at UNT, spanning more than two decades, leaves an indelible mark on the institution, driven by her commitment to continuous improvement in both curriculum and community. As associate dean from 2008 to 2018, Dr. Knight was a catalyst for the development and implementation of academic programs that anticipated and responded to evolving industry trends. Her vision for updating courses — particularly in global retailing, omnichannel strategy, and digital learning — opened new, practical pathways for student learning, broadening both access and engagement. Her research contributions in consumer experience, social commerce, and global retailing reflect a keen ability to marry theory and practice. These efforts advanced the academic discipline and enriched the classroom, directly benefiting students and colleagues alike through both scholarship and the pursuit of external project funding. Dr. Knight's mentorship shaped the career trajectories of faculty and students alike. Her commitment to service extended across department, college, and university committees, demonstrating her genuine desire to help others succeed.

Dr. Wendy Middlemiss

Professor Emerita, Educational Psychology
College of Education

Dr. Middlemiss joined UNT in 2008, earning tenure in 2012 and promotion to full professor in 2020. Dr. Middlemiss garnered significant funding and prestige for UNT through her work with the HIPPY project (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters) and through her work as the editor of the peer-reviewed journal Family Relations: Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Science  from 2019 to 2025. As PI of HIPPY, she managed more than $3 million in external funding that enabled her to support numerous doctoral students, project staff, and summer funding for faculty. As editor of one of the leading journals in her discipline, Dr. Middlemiss guided doctoral students in roles as editorial assistants, providing not only financial and tuition support but also life-changing, real-world publishing and networking experiences. She won the College Service award twice (2019 and 2023), and for clear reasons. Dr. Middlemiss served on a long list of committees, chairing many of them, at the department, college, and university levels for many years. 

Dr. Brian O’Connor

Professor, Information Science
College of Information

Dr. O’Connor joined UNT in 2003. His previous academic appointments included UCLA, UC Berkeley, and Emporia State University. At UNT, he served as program coordinator of the Ph.D. in Information Science from 1998 to 2007, mentoring emerging scholars while fostering a research culture grounded in intellectual rigor and creativity. His background in fine arts and information studies uniquely shaped his research on visual information, proximity, and document theory, contributing significantly to the fields of information behavior and scholarly communication. As a prolific author, Dr. O’Connor published over a dozen books and more than 50 peer-reviewed articles across decades of active scholarship. His publications in The Document Academy and numerous invited presentations reflect an enduring engagement with the evolving nature of meaning, metadata, and human interaction with information. His work on photo provocations and proximity affordances challenged conventional paradigms and inspired new ways of thinking in the field. Beyond research, Dr. O’Connor is also a visual artist and documentary filmmaker, further exemplifying the depth and range of his intellectual contributions. His creative works, ranging from films and photographic installations to interdisciplinary exhibitions, served as powerful teaching tools and expressions of scholarship. Throughout his career, Dr. O’Connor exemplified UNT’s values through his generosity as a mentor, his excellence in teaching, and his commitment to intellectual exploration. 

Dr. Jaime Javier Rodriguez

Associate Professor Emerita, English
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

Dr. Rodriguez joined UNT in 2009, after initially earning his B.A. in Journalism from the university in 1981 and then pursuing his graduate work at Harvard University. He retired from UNT after 16 years of service. In his courses on American literature, his students benefited from his inquiries into the deeper streams of American culture. As a first-generation Mexican American from the South Texas borderlands, Dr. Rodriguez grounded his Chicanx literature classes in a deep and broad knowledge of both Texas and Mexican history. His legacy in the English department shines in the engaging online courses he built in science fiction and first-year writing.

Dr. Barbara Schultz-Jones

Professor, Information Science
College of Information

Dr. Schultz-Jones joined UNT in 2007 and made a profound and lasting impact on the college, its students, and the international library science community. Dr. Schultz-Jones held numerous leadership roles during her tenure at UNT, including serving as associate chair of the Department of Information Science, director of the M.S. programs in Information Systems and Library Science, and co-director of the Multiple Literacies Lab. She also led the School Library Certification Program and Youth Librarianship initiatives, reflecting her enduring commitment to student success and program innovation. Her research contributions are widely recognized, particularly in the areas of data literacy, school library learning environments, and global standards for school librarianship. She authored and co-authored numerous books, peer-reviewed journal articles, and international guidelines, including her role as co-editor of the IFLA School Library Guidelines. Her grant work, particularly with the Institute of Museum and Library Services, advanced data-driven practice and librarian leadership across educational contexts. An active global voice, Dr. Schultz-Jones presented research in over a dozen countries and collaborated with international bodies to improve literacy, technology integration, and evidence-based practice in school libraries. Her leadership and scholarship empowered school librarians and informed policy, making her a pillar in the global library and information science field. Dr. Schultz-Jones’s tenure at UNT was marked by excellence in teaching, mentorship, and service, and her visionary approach to education and research shaped multiple academic programs. 

Dr. J. Michael Spector

Regents Professor, Learning Technologies
College of Information

Dr. Spector is widely recognized as a leading authority in instructional design, educational technology, and the development of complex learning environments. Over the course of his distinguished career, he held influential academic positions across multiple institutions and countries, including Syracuse University, Florida State University, the University of Georgia, and the University of Bergen in Norway. At UNT, he played a key leadership role, notably serving as interim associate dean for research and development, while also mentoring faculty and contributing meaningfully to a range of college and university-wide initiatives. He served as professor and chair of the Department of Learning Technologies and elevated the department and college through his global reputation and extensive scholarly contributions. His research and service were recognized with awards from the American Educational Research Association, the Association for Educational Communications and Technology, and numerous international organizations. He chaired major conferences and edited foundational texts in the field, including multiple editions of the Handbook of Research on Educational Communications and Technology. Beyond his prolific publication record, Dr. Spector secured millions in grant funding from agencies such as the NSF, the U.S. Department of Education, and international partners. His work consistently advanced knowledge and practice in instructional systems, educational simulations, and adaptive learning design. Dr. Spector’s legacy is one of unwavering commitment to improving education through technology, research, and mentorship. His intellectual generosity and vision continue to resonate across UNT and the global scholarly community. 

Ms. Sally Vahle

Professor, Dance and Theatre
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

Professor Vahle began her UNT career in 2004. Throughout her career, Professor Vahle helped modernize the theatre curriculum, including creating a voiceover course to fill a desperate need for stage actors to get experience in this vital career skill. She also was instrumental in developing the Showcase of Undergraduate Theatre Artists, which provides upper class students (especially graduating seniors) from many regional universities the opportunity to share the products of their work with theatre companies and agents.  A successful professional acter, Professor Vahle was a member of the Brierley Acting Company through the Tony Award-winning Dallas Theater Center, a member of the League of Resident Theatres (LORT), and recognized as being in the highest tier of U.S. theatre. Her storied acting career includes the much-heralded Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship in 2011, a top honor for professional development among actors in LORT theaters. Professor Vahle earned numerous awards, recognitions, and achievements, and her excellence in the profession connected UNT Dance and Theatre to the professional theatre world in Dallas and beyond to great effect. She was recognized by her colleagues as a keen, wise, and compassionate leader of service collaborations, which included many years chairing the departmental personnel affairs committee.

Dr. Olga Velikanova

Professor, History
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

Dr. Velikanova retired in May 2025 but remains engaged in research, teaching, and mentorship. She earned her Ph.D. from St. Petersburg State University in Russia in 1993, after which she worked in the newly opened Soviet archives and came to specialize in Soviet popular opinion studies and state policies of social mobilization and surveillance. She has published five books, two of which were translated into Russian, and 28 articles that have been published in seven languages. Her books include Mass Political Culture Under Stalinism (2018) and Popular Perception of Soviet Politics in the 1920s (2013). Dr. Velikanova received 14 awards from different international research foundations, including the Alexander von Humboldt fellowship. Before landing at UNT, she worked in Russia, Germany, France, Italy, and Canada. Her research has been featured on the BBC, the History Channel, and in Finnish, German, and Russian media. Dr. Velikanova’s research project on Soviet Surveillance received three external awards. She was a popular instructor, with especially high student evaluations in her upper-level and graduate courses on Russian and European history. Her innovative teaching projects included a mock trial of Stalin and interview projects that paired U.S. students with students in Russia. She also provided important service to the department, including serving on the Departmental Affairs Committee. 

Dr. C. Edward Watkins

Professor, Psychology
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

In his nearly 40-year career, Dr. Watkins authored 280 journal publications, 22 book chapters, 10 co-edited books, three co-authored books, and one edited book. He was instrumental in 125 national or international presentations or symposia. authorities in clinical supervision. His contributions were recognized with APA Fellow status (Divisions 17 and 29) and the Early Career Scientist/Practitioner Award. In 2025, Dr. Watkins received the Doctor Honoris Causa from Tibiscus University (Timisoara, Romania), which also celebrates the UNT Tibiscus partnership he helped establish and Supervision in Psychotherapy. What stands out most is the durability of his legacy: a body of work that continues to educate, mentor, and inspire across generations.

Dr. James Williams

University Distinguished Research Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
College of Engineering

Dr. Williams joined the UNT College of Engineering in 2012 and enjoyed a distinguished career as a world-renowned authority on titanium alloys. He held research and leadership positions at Boeing, Rockwell, and General Electric in developing new materials and processes for jet engines. Dr. Williams spent 13 years at Carnegie Mellon University as professor and president of the Mellon Institute, and as dean of the College of Engineering from 1983 to 1988. In 1987, he was elected to the National Academy of Engineering. He was elected as a fellow of The Minerals, Metals, and Materials Society in 1998. Later he joined The Ohio State University, where he served as the dean of engineering from 2001 to 2004, and retired as Professor Emeritus in their Department of Materials Science and Engineering in 2010. While at UNT, Dr. Williams regularly taught a graduate level core course on the properties of materials. He was a staunch supporter of UNT students and faculty, nominating several materials science and engineering colleagues for distinguished awards and serving on the College of Engineering Board of Councilors. He also regularly served on thesis committees for engineering graduate students.