UNT Celebrates Black History Month stylized text

Faculty Success Newsletter

February 2024

Greetings Mean Green Colleagues,


Denton and our surrounding communities are in full swing to celebrate Black History Month. Discover Denton has an excellent list of local activities celebrating the rich contributions of Black individuals and communities. I am excited to explore the National Museum of African American History and Culture Searchable Museum. Visiting this museum is on my list of to-do trips and a virtual sneak peek is a great way to plan what I want to see and do.


As part of our Better Together value and caring mission, I want to highlight UNT’s mental health and wellness resources. Some of you know that I lost both my parents in the last few months, and there are likely many of your colleagues and students going through different stages of grief. The UNT CARE Team (which includes referrals for faculty), Student Counseling and UNT Wellness — in addition to the Counselor Consultation Hours noted below — are some of the ways our community can support each other. A book that has been especially helpful to me is Grief Is Love by Marisa Rene Lee. Faculty Success has purchased copies available to any faculty or staff member who is interested. Please email Faculty Success if you would like a copy.


Your Faculty Success team has an exciting semester planned on our calendar, with a nest full of opportunities to grow your community, stretch your capabilities and advance your career. Be sure to grab some coffee and small bites in our Faculty Lounge (Union 249) when you drop in to meet with colleagues, do some writing or share lunch.


Finally, the 2024 Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education (COACHE) Faculty Job Satisfaction Survey launches next week. Unlike the Gallup survey, COACHE is specifically designed to assess 25 benchmarks predictive of faculty job satisfaction within an academic workplace, providing an invaluable opportunity for eligible full-time faculty (at UNT for at least one year, not in a senior administrator role, not in the terminal contract year) to share their insights. Visit UNT's COACHE website to see how we’ve used prior COACHE results to improve the work environment for all UNT faculty and how your participation helps us target our efforts to make UNT a great place to work.


From our nest to yours, we wish you a wonderful start to another great term.

Talons Up!

Holly Hutchins signature

Holly M. Hutchins, Ph.D. (she/her)

Vice Provost, Faculty Success

Faculty Success Workshops and Events

Feb. 6

New Faculty Network: Tuesday Talon Tidbits


Calling all first-year UNT faculty! Stop by the Faculty Lounge for this monthly event hosted by the New Faculty Network. You'll find a community of support and resources specific to first-year faculty needs. Light refreshments provided.

Feb. 21

Professional Faculty Promotion Workshop


Lecturers, clinical assistants, unit administrators and support staff are invited to attend this informal Q&A session.

Feb. 23

Promotion and Tenure Workshop


Learn about the criteria, policies and processes for P&T at UNT, get tips for planning for a successful review and leave with resources that can help you along the way.

Feb. 29

Incorporating Writing into Your Curriculum


Looking for tips and tricks on incorporating writing into your curriculum? Interested in learning how to write effective prompts that support increased student writing success? This workshop is for you!

March

6-8

Crucial Conversations – Faculty


Co-facilitated by UNT faculty Dr. Steve Wolverton and Dr. Sanjukta Pookulangara, this workshop delves into nine powerful skills for working through disagreement to achieve better results. *Seats are limited to 25.

March 20

Faculty Speed Mentoring


Join us for a fast, fun and focused event that will facilitate meaningful interactions between experienced faculty members and mentees. RSVP on the Faculty Success website.


Be a mentor! If you’re interested in leading short table discussions alongside other faculty mentors, please complete this brief survey by Wednesday, Feb. 20. Email Marcella.Clinard@unt.edu if you have any questions.

Faculty Spotlights

Dr. Shengqian Ma, Professor and Welch Chair in the Department of Chemistry, received the 2024 Edith and Peter O’Donnell Award in Physical Sciences from the Texas Academy of Medicine, Engineering, Science & Technology (TAMEST) in recognition of his innovative work in the field of decontamination. 

Still frame of video celebrating UNT faculty awardee Shengqian Ma
Colleen Bailey holding her award from the IEEE

Courtesy / Jason Dixson Photography

Dr. Colleen Bailey, Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering, received the IEEE/HKN C. Holmes MacDonald Outstanding Teacher Award during the IEEE EAB Awards Ceremony last November. Selected from an international pool of prestigious nominees, Dr. Bailey is the second UNT recipient of the award, the first being Dr. Gayatri Mehta in 2013. 

The Oxford Book of Choral Music by Black Composers, edited by Associate Professor of Choral Studies Dr. Marques L. A. Garrett, was named Presto Music's 2023 Choral Publication of the Year. The "landmark collection" was chosen for its "original and exceptional content, as well as its aim to improve representation within the choral sector."

Professional portrait of UNT faculty member Marques Garrett

Faculty Publications

UNT professor Heidi Strobel poses with her new book

Dr. Heidi Strobel

Professor of Art History and CVAD Associate Dean


Dr. Strobel published The Art of Mary Linwood: Embroidery, Installation, and Entrepreneurship in Britain, 1787-1845, the first book on the pioneering Leicester textile artist and the first and only catalog of her work.

Cover of John G. Peters book

Dr. John G. Peters

University Distinguished Research Professor of English


In his latest book, Silence, Space and Absence in Conrad's Works: Western and Non-Western Worlds, Dr. Peters explores the relationship between sound and silence in the works of Joseph Conrad, along with their ties to Western and non-Western spaces.

Did you publish a book in 2023?

The 2024 Salute to UNT Faculty Book Authors honors faculty authors and co-authors of first edition books, original translations or scholarly editions published in any format (hardbound, cloth, paper, e-book, etc.) in 2023.


If you published a book that fits these criteria, please fill out this short form by Feb. 29. Authors and co-authors will be honored at the 2024 Salute to Faculty Book Authors event on April 17.

Open book with pages shaped like a heart

Campus News

Soaring Eagle statue behind green and white text Faculty and Employee Resource Groups

Lead a new Resource Group! 

 

Resource Groups are voluntary, faculty- and staff-led groups designed to foster an inclusive workplace and offer support, mentoring and development opportunities to all UNT faculty and staff.

If you would like to start and lead a new Resource Group related to parenting/caregiving, interfaith support or a religious/spiritual group not already represented by a UNT Resource Group, email Marcella.Clinard@unt.edu.

Fulbright Faculty Week

Feb. 26-March 1


Attend UNT's third annual Fulbright Faculty Week to learn how Fulbright's faculty programs can help you advance your research, scholarship and creative activity while participating in international educational exchange.

US Fulbright Program logo of blue globe

Feb. 27

Fulbright Specialist Program

Virtual Info Session

Register now

Feb. 28

Fulbright Scholar Program

Virtual Info Session

Register now

Feb. 29

Faculty Development Leave Workshop

Register now

March 1

UNT Fulbright Faculty Workshop

with UNT Fulbright Scholar Liaisons

Register now

UNT Faculty and Staff Health and Lifestyle Expo logo

Faculty and Staff Health and Lifestyle Expo

Feb. 28


11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

University Union Jade Ballroom

  

Faculty and staff are invited to attend the Health and Lifestyle Expo, brought to you by Health Dimensions and presented by the Faculty and Staff Wellbeing Advisory Board.

The event includes over 25 health and wellness-related vendors, including UNT HR staff who will be on site to answer benefits questions, informational exhibits, health screenings, massages, goodie bags, prizes and more. See the full list of vendors and sign up for screenings. Be sure to bring your insurance card with you and be aware that vendors are subject to change.

UNT One Stop


Located on the second floor of the Eagle Student Services Center, UNT One Stop gives students access to a wide range of services in one convenient location. Encourage your students to drop in to UNT One Stop for assistance with:  

  • Admissions  
  • Financial aid  
  • Student accounting  
  • Money coaching  
  • Ordering UNT transcripts
  • And more!
Student walking under UNT One Stop sign

Students also can find answers to many common questions about these and other services at scrappysays.unt.edu.

UNT Counseling and Testing Services:

Wellness Support for Faculty, Students and Staff

Campus Connect decorative text

Campus Connect Suicide Prevention Workshops for Faculty and Staff


Increase your knowledge, awareness and skills regarding suicide prevention among college students in this two-hour training program presented by counselors from UNT Counseling and Testing Services. Register on Bridge to attend an upcoming workshop:

  • March 6 – 3 to 5 p.m. 
  • April 16 – 1 to 3 p.m.
Two quote bubbles with question marks

Counselor Consultation Hours


Drop in or log on to consult with a counselor about a specific concern or any of the following topics:

  • Mental health resources for faculty, staff and students 
  • Assisting students in distress 
  • Warning signs to be aware of 
  • Burnout prevention 
  • Suicide prevention

Faculty Lounge (Union 249)

Every other Thursday

11 a.m. to noon 

See UNT Calendar for details

Virtual (Zoom)

Every Wednesday

3 to 4 p.m.

See UNT Calendar for details

On the Calendar

Feb. 9

Faculty/Staff Appreciation Lunch

All UNT Dining Halls

Feb. 13

Better Discussion Boards with Packback (In Person)

DSI CLEAR

Packback Community Meet and Greet

DSI CLEAR

Feb. 14

Better Discussion Boards with Packback (Virtual)

DSI CLEAR

Feb. 22

Assisting Students in Distress

Counseling and Testing Services

Feb. 28

Research BREAKS – Overview of Institutional Grant Opportunities

Research and Innovation

Intro to Canvas Studio

DSI CLEAR

March 5

NSF CAREER Informational Session

Research and Innovation

Stay Connected

We want to hear from you!


Faculty Success supports our faculty in developing their professional community, enriching their capabilities and advancing their careers.


If you have questions for our team or suggestions for the newsletter, email us at faculty.success@unt.edu. You can also find us on X: @UNTFacSuccess.

UNT Faculty Success logo

CONTACT US

Hurley 121 | 940-565-3987

facultysuccess.unt.edu