Presidents
UNT Presidents
1890-1893
Joshua Crittenden Chilton
The founding president, Chilton opened the private Texas Normal College and Teacher
Training Institute on the second floor of a hardware store on the Denton square with
70 students and nine full courses. Under his leadership, the school erected its first
building on its 10-acre campus west of town in 1891. Chilton supported opening the
doors of higher education to women. He was a principal in Indiana before coming to
Denton.
1893-1894
John Jackson Crumley
Crumley rescued the Texas Normal College from financial distress by convincing the
Legislature to allow it to confer state teaching certificates. Because the school’s
name was altered on the bill to North Texas Normal College, Crumley acquired a new
charter under that name. He first joined the faculty to teach ancient languages and
literature after serving as a principal at Pilot Point Institute.
1894-1901
Menter B. Terrill
Under Terrill, North Texas Normal College had its greatest financial success as a
private college. He made faculty income dependent on tuition and, to boost enrollment,
offered preparatory classes for a large number of students below the college level.
He was president until the school became funded by the state in 1901. He previously
taught at Terrill College, a school in Tennessee founded by his father.
1901-1906
J.S. Kendall
Kendall was the first person to hold the office of president after the school became
a state institution — North Texas State Normal College. When he arrived, the college
had an enrollment of about 500 students. He raised teacher preparation standards,
and the Main Building was erected during his presidency. He was the state superintendent
of public instruction for Texas before coming to Denton.
1906-1923
William Herschel Bruce
Eight major buildings were constructed during the time of “Dr. Bruce’s Normal,” including
the Library Building (now Curry Hall), the Science Building and the Education Building.
Previously a math professor at the school, he raised the standards for instruction
and the qualifications for faculty. It was at his suggestion that the Legislature
renamed the state normal colleges “teachers colleges.” The name changed to North Texas
State Teachers College in 1923. Bruce also had served as president of Tarleton College.
1923-1934
Robert L. Marquis
A former faculty member at the college, Marquis led the institution through the Depression
years. New structures during his tenure included the gazebo designed by O’Neil Ford.
He developed plans for the first dormitory, which was named Marquis Hall in his memory
when it opened in 1936. The college was admitted to the Southern Association of Colleges
and Secondary Schools in 1925. Marquis previously served as president of Sul Ross
State Normal College.
1934-1951
Weston Joseph McConnell
As president, Matthews guided the college through its desegregation, beginning with
the admission of the first African American graduate student in 1954 and undergraduate
students in 1956. The college awarded its first doctorate in 1953 and became North
Texas State University in 1961. Almost 15,000 students were enrolled when Matthews
retired. An alumnus, he was the college’s first education dean and had served as director
of the teacher demonstration school.
1951-1968
James Carl Matthews
As president, Matthews guided the college through its desegregation, beginning with
the admission of the first African American graduate student in 1954 and undergraduate
students in 1956. The college awarded its first doctorate in 1953 and became North
Texas State University in 1961. Almost 15,000 students were enrolled when Matthews
retired. An alumnus, he was the college’s first education dean and had served as director
of the teacher demonstration s
1968-1970
John Kamerick
The Faculty Senate was formed while Kamerick was president, and he also increased
student participation in university governance. He changed the regulations for housing,
expanding dorm hours and allowing women 22 and older to live off campus. He was previously
vice president and provost at Kent State University.
1970-1971, 1979-1980
John L. Carter
Carter was called upon twice to serve as acting president of the university. He
was a longtime vice president for fiscal affairs who also had served as chief accountant
and comptroller. He was known across the state for his financial integrity.
1971-1979
Calvin Cleave ‘Jitter’ Nolen
During Nolen’s time as president, major construction projects included Wooten
Hall, the Art Building, the General Academic Building and the expanded Union. The
Coliseum opened in time for the 1973-74 basketball season. The Texas College of Osteopathic
Medicine in Fort Worth was placed under Nolen’s direction in 1975. He previously served
as vice chancellor for development at Texas Christian University.
1980-1981
Frank E. Vandiver
Vandiver was appointed the first chancellor of North Texas State University and the
Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine in addition to serving as the university president.
He was a nationally known military historian and award-winning author who had served
as vice president, provost and acting president at Rice University.
1981-1982
Howard Wellington Smith Jr.
Smith served as ad interim chancellor and president after serving as associate vice
president and vice president for academic affairs. He led the College of Education
twice, as acting dean and as interim dean, and was the college’s first associate dean
from 1969 to 1976. He was nationally recognized for his work in the improvement of
teacher education and higher education.
1982-2000
Alfred Frances Hurley
Hurley served as chancellor and president, celebrating the name change to the University
of North Texas in 1988 and the Centennial in 1990, which ushered in the first capital
campaign. During his tenure, the Murchison Performing Arts Center was built, the Texas
Academy of Mathematics and Science was established, the Texas College of Osteopathic
Medicine became the UNT Health Science Center at Fort Worth, and UNT Dallas got its
start. Hurley was the UNT System’s first full-time chancellor from 2000 to 2002. A
retired U.S. Air Force brigadier general and noted military historian, he taught at
the Air Force Academy before joining UNT.
2000-2006
Norval Pohl
As president, Pohl focused on UNT’s role as a public research university and oversaw
the creation of Discovery Park and the College of Engineering. The Chemistry Building
and new athletic facilities and residence halls were built during his tenure. He also
helped build the recreation center that now bears his name. He joined UNT in 1999
as executive vice president and provost after serving as vice president for finance
and administration at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.
2006-2010
Gretchen M. Bataille
The first woman to be president of UNT, Bataille founded the Emerald Eagle Scholars
student success program and initiated the construction of what would become the Life
Sciences Complex, Apogee Stadium and the Business Leadership Building. She helped
move the university closer to its goal of becoming a national research university.
Prior to joining UNT, she was the senior vice president for academic affairs for the
University of North Carolina System and interim chancellor at the North Carolina School
of the Arts.
2010
Philip C. Diebel
Diebel served the university for 26 years, working as controller, vice president for
finance and business affairs and UNT System vice chancellor for finance. He came out
of retirement to serve as interim president. He was recognized for his expertise in
the state’s complex system of higher education funding.
2010-2014
V. Lane Rawlins
A three-time university president, Rawlins helped UNT grow as a public research
university focused on offering the state’s best undergraduate educational experience
and moving closer to the top tier. In his time as president and throughout his career,
he focused on maintaining strong connections between world-class research and top-quality
undergraduate education. Rawlins served as president of University of Memphis and
Washington State University before leading UNT.
2014-2024
Neal J. Smatresk
Smatresk became UNT’s 16th president in 2014, marking his second university presidency.
Smatresk helped to steer UNT to national prominence by providing high-quality education,
expanding research and innovation, and building strong partnerships with communities
and industry. Before joining UNT, Smatresk led the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
as president for more than four years and as provost for two years.
2024-present
Harrison Keller, Ph.D.
Harrison Keller became the 17th president of the University of North Texas in
August 2024, bringing with him a deep commitment to advancing student success and
elevating UNT’s rich tradition of academic and research excellence. Dr. Keller is
known as an innovator and leader with more than 25 years of experience in state educational
budget and policy, university administration, fundraising, and building coalitions
among higher education institutions, school districts, and policymakers to expand
opportunities through education.