Dear UNT Faculty and Staff,

In August, the Office of the Provost hosted three candidates in open forums as part of our search for the next vice provost for student success. While we appreciated each candidate’s unique strengths, we did not feel any of them were the right fit for such an important role.

Later this fall, we will restart the search with a robust hiring committee and a timeline that allows a wide range of qualified candidates to apply for the position. The vice provost for student success plays an integral role in UNT’s mission to support students at every stage of their academic journey, and it is crucial that this individual embodies UNT’s caring, collaborative, and student-centered culture.

Beginning today, Lisa Maxwell will serve as interim vice provost for student success. Lisa has held advising and administrative roles at UNT for more than 20 years and has served as the assistant vice provost for student success since February 2022, when she also assumed oversight of the Texas Success Initiative (TSI). Prior to that, Lisa served as executive director of academic advising.

One of her most impactful accomplishments was establishing the Advising Services office, a centralized advising team that serves prospective and current students exploring their major options. In addition to directing strategic and operational activities, Lisa provided institutional oversight to UNT’s decentralized advising teams with a focus on professional development, recognition, and community-building.

In 2009, Lisa received the Staff Contribution Award. She also is a two-time UNT alumna, having earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Master of Education in Counseling with a concentration in college students.

I am very grateful to Lisa for her willingness to serve in this critical role. I am confident that her steady leadership and deep understanding of UNT and its students will ensure the continued advancement of the Student Success office as we navigate this transition.

Sincerely,
Michael A. McPherson, Ph.D.
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs