University of North Texas

Richard Nader, top right, has been named vice provost for international affairs, after having served in the position in an interim role since July 1, 2011.

“UNT-International is such a key part of UNT and its dreams and aspirations as we go forward, and I’m excited to know that we now have a wonderful permanent leader for UNT-International,” said Warren Burggren, provost and vice president for academic affairs.

Nader joined UNT in 2008 as UNT’s first director of research development in the Office of Research and Economic Development. 

“The best universities are globally engaged, and the best international offices provide excellent services that add value to the university’s missions of teaching, research and service,” Nader said. “I am thrilled at the opportunity to continue to work with faculty, students and UNT-International staff to comprehensively internationalize UNT. 

"My priorities going forward are to bring the best and brightest to UNT, promote UNT to the world, and prepare the next generation to be successful in our globalized society.”    

Nader brings more than 20 years of experience in the administration of university international programs, including early career experience managing international recruiting and student affairs at Texas A&M University’s branch campus in Japan in the 1990s.

From 2000 to 2005, Nader served as director of the Institute for Pacific Asia at Texas A&M. At the institute, he led projects funded by the U.S. Department of State, Department of Education and National Science Foundation and created new international alumni programs in Japan, South Korea and Thailand.

From 2005 to 2008, Nader served as program director and visiting scientist in the East Asia Pacific Division in the Office of International Science and Engineering for the National Science Foundation. There, he managed a $12 million, 700-project China portfolio and funded international research and exchange grants throughout Asia and the Pacific designed to spur new research collaborations. He supported senior NSF leadership with U.S.-China cooperation, negotiated intergovernmental memoranda of understanding between the U.S. NSF and counterpart agencies in China, Australia, Japan, Singapore and South Korea, and managed a flagship research abroad program sending more than 300 graduate students to seven countries in Asia and the Pacific-Rim to conduct joint research.

Nader received a bachelor of arts degree in English from Sam Houston State University, and has a master’s degree in public administration and a doctorate in higher education administration from Texas A&M University