UNT Faculty Awards

A quality faculty is one of the hallmarks of a great university. The impact of faculty members on student success and the research enterprise make them one fo the most valuable resources on campus. Nowhere is their influence more profound than here at UNT where 1,077 dedicated faculty members provide great learning opportunities in a supportive environment, engage in cutting-edge research, and enhance the image of the university by their work every day.

Salute to Faculty Excellence is just one of the many ways that UNT honors the dedicated faculty who help shape our institution and contribute to our Four Bold Goals. The University of North Texas Foundation, Inc. recognizes three new faculty awards. As a partner with the University of North Texas, the UNT Foundation enhances the educational mission of the institution by accepting, investing, and/or managing private gifts, endowed funds, and other assets for the benefit of the University and its students.

ABOUT THE BRONZE

The UNT Foundation commemorative bronze awards were designed by Stan Briney, a local artist, retired physician and former department chair of the UNT Health Science Center. Commissioned by the Salute to Faculty Excellence committee, Briney’s work capture the excellence and rich history of the institution, drawing inspiration from important buildings on campus, the majestic eagle mascot, and contemporary UNT branding.

Each of the UNT Foundation Award recipients will receive a signature bronze medallion, and a bronze eagle figure will be given to the Eminent Faculty award winner. Throughout the year, the bronze eagle will be displayed in the honoree’s department to publically recognize their accomplishments and to acknowledge the support of fellow colleagues, administrators, students, and support staff. Unlike other awards, the Eminent Faculty bronze eagle will rotate each year from department to department as new winners are announced, creating a legacy of pride over time and across the institution.

Eminent Faculty Award

The UNT Foundation Eminent Faculty Award recognizes a faculty member who has made outstanding and sustained contributions to scholarly-creative activity, teaching, and service. As one of the highest faculty achievements at UNT, the eminent Faculty Award recipient serves as an inspiration for the entire UNT community.

RECIPIENT: BRUCE BOND, REGENTS PROFESSOR
ENGLISH
Bruce Bond exemplifies faculty excellence through his teaching, service, and creative work. Professor Bond was instrumental in propelling UNT's creative writing program into national prominence upon his arrival in 1995 serving as the Director of Creative Writing and Poetry Editor of American Literary Review. As a renowned poet and critic, Professor Bond has published eight full-length books of poetry, four chapbooks, and over 500 poems and 20 critical essays, which have appeared in top anthologies and journals such as Best American Poetry, The Yale Review, The Georgia Review, Raritan, and Contemporary Literary Criticism to name a few.

Community Engagement Award

The UNT Foundation Community Engagement Award recognizes a faculty member who has the sensitivity to understand and work across organizational boundaries and the leadership to build bridges among community institutions.

RECIPIENT: ARMINTA JACOBSON, ELAINE MILLIKAN MATHES PROFESSOR
EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY
Arminta Jacobson embodies community engagement and outreach by serving the youngest members of our community - our children and their families. Professor Jacobson founded the Center for Parent Education in 1993 and continues to lead the center's efforts by sponsoring annual international conferences, hosting summer institutes, leading research and evaluation projects for parenting and marriage education, and providing resources for professionals, students, and parents. She is also the founder for the Texas Association of Parent Educators and serves as the principal investigator for the Texas HIPPY Corps Project, a parent education home visitation program for parents of preschoolers.

Faculty Leadership Award

The UNT Foundation Faculty Leadership Award acknowledges a faculty member who significantly impacts the academic enterprise thorough innovative initiatives, leadership, and service.

RECIPIENT: MARY HARRIS, REGENTS PROFESSORo
TEACHER EDUCATION & ADMINISTRATION
Mary Harris provides leadership in areas that improve education for thousands of students either directly or through the education of teachers. Her focus is teacher education and professional development during the early years of teaching, professional development schools, interdisciplinary and integrated curriculum and performance assessment and accountability. Major initiatives under her co-leadership include the Teach North Texas (TNT) mathematics and science teacher education program and the North Texas Regional P-16 Council. Through her work with TNT, Professor Harris is committed to increasing the number of highly qualified STEM teachers in the state of Texas working with area school districts and to closing the gaps in student achievement through work with Regional Service Centers, area school and community college districts, chambers of commerce, and non-profit organizations.