Fall 2023 - On The Move

The Official Publication of • UNTDallas.edu
BLAZE YOUR TRAIL
NEW
STEM Building
Will Transform
Healthcare
Education
PAGE 8
ALUMNI VOICE
OPINIONS ON PAST
AND FUTURE
PAGE 5
First-Year and Graduate Students Drive Enrollment Growth
PAGE 1
Fall 2023 Second Editon

A MESSAGE FROM THE
PRESIDENT
We are off to a good start this school year.
Enrollment is up this fall, with spring and fall numbers next year
looking very promising as well.
We recorded the largest number of applications in our history at
our main campus and at the College of Law downtown. We expect to
eclipse this record again next fall.
These increased numbers reflect a strong outreach that UNT Dallas is
making in the community. In high schools, community colleges, at job
fairs, we are telling our story as never before.
You could see the surging numbers at our True Blue Preview Day in
early November. The day before, hundreds of students spent the
morning on campus learning about careers in law enforcement.
We continue to be recognized by Money magazine and Washington
Monthly as affordable and welcoming places to go to school. Our U.S.
News regional ranking improved again this year, too.
I am also pleased to see vastly increased engagement as reflected
in our annual Gallup survey. Our participation led the entire UNT
System this fall. Thanks to all of you for answering the survey.
Finally, we are turning dirt for our new STEM building. Once opened
in the 2025-26 academic year, the four-story L-shaped structure will
reshape how science training is conducted in urban Metro Dallas.
Thanks to each of you for making UNT Dallas what it is today and
what it will become tomorrow.
Bob Mong
2 ON THE MOVE | FALL 2023

ENROLLMENT
ON A ROLL
478
NEW FRESHMEN
Up 36%
ON THE MOVE | FALL 2023 1

“Life-changing” is how UNT Dallas
senior Lauren Herrera describes
her college experience. More than
rigorous academics, more than
campus activities, Herrera’s time here
can be described as a family affair.
Her graduation in December 2023 will
be a full-circle moment.
As a child, Herrera sometimes
accompanied her mother to school.
She attended UNT Dallas as a
first-generation college student
and graduated in 2013. Now, a
decade later, Herrera will walk the
commencement stage and receive
her diploma, too.
“It’s been an inspiration being here at
UND Dallas,” Herrera said.
But that wasn’t exactly Herrera’s
original plan. Instead of following in
her mother’s footsteps, the Oak Cliff
native wanted to join the military
after high school. But something
changed, and her journey took her to
UNT Dallas, instead.
“I learned about Dallas Promise and
enrolled here,” Herrera recalled.
The key moment occurred when she
learned about the Dallas County
Promise Program, which provides
tuition assistance, guidance and
support for aspiring college students.
The program’s goal aligns with the
Texas Higher Education Coordinating
Board’s 60x30TX initiative. Their aim
is to ensure that 60% of Texans ages
25-64 will receive a degree, certificate
or other postsecondary credential
by 2030.
Herrera’s ahead of the game. She
went to a Dallas ISD Early College
High School (ECHS), earning an
associate degree, which meant she
was already a sophomore when she
officially registered for courses at UNT
Dallas. Next, she plans to attend UNT
Health Science Center (HSC) in Fort
Worth for a master’s degree, followed
by medical school. She plans to
become a dermatologist, something
also rooted in her family life.
“I’m one of three siblings,” Herrera
explained. “We all got acne in middle
and high school. It sucked, but it
was fun experimenting with different
medications and treatments.” Seeing
improvement in their skin inspired
her to do more.
Mom-daughter bonding helped,
too. “We tried lots of skin and
hair products together,” Herrera
said, especially Korean skincare
techniques. “I was always into beauty,
and my mom was encouraging.”
Motivation from her mother, coupled
with her own desire to help others,
has led Herrera along a path that
includes STEM studies (she is a
biology major and a chemistry
minor), stretching herself to learn
new disciplines and connecting with
people who share her passion.
Over the summer, she had the
opportunity to conduct medical
research during an internship at
Purdue University, an institution ten
times the size of UNT Dallas. Herrera
learned a lot more than she expected.
“It was the first time living by myself.
I felt isolated. I had to go out of my
way to meet others,” Herrera said.
“The best part was meeting likeminded
people.”
2 ON THE MOVE | FALL 2023
2023 SENIOR SHOWCASE
LAUREN HERRERA
As she finishes up her senior year,
Herrera now has the perspective
to compare a large university
with a smaller one. “UNT Dallas is
interconnected,” she said. “Nothing
feels out of reach. It’s the best.
There’s a sense of community.”
Herrera credits her mentors, including
Drs. Kimberly Riddick and Muhammed
Yousufuddin, with guiding her
through the past three years.
In addition to her academic
requirements, Herrera has served as
president of the Pre-Health Club. In
her spare time, she also volunteers
at a local hospice. “There’s nobody
over their 60s in my family,” she
said. “I like connecting with older
generations.” Herrera has done a lot
of reading about geriatrics, and death
and dying. “You don’t think you’ll get
old one day,” she said. “People can be
forgotten.”
Whether assisting an octogenarian
in hospice care or a teenager in
high school, Herrera is dedicated to
making life better for others. “I don’t
want to just be a doctor,” she said. “I
want to be a bridge for people who
need it. I want to help close the gap”
in the healthcare system.
So what does her mother think now?
“She’s excited,” said Herrera. Her
mom’s stepdad and two brothers
all got master’s degrees as firstgeneration
students. “Mom wants
that for us, too.”
Herrera is well on her way to
achieving that goal and her dream of
being a dermatologist. Who knows
what else she will accomplish and
how many lives she will touch along
the way?

TRIPLE
PLAYTHREE NATIONAL REPORTS LIST
UNT DALLAS AS A TOP CHOICE
AMONG PUBLIC, 4-YEAR COLLEGES
In 2023, UNT Dallas scored the best in North Texas on
three respected evaluations of colleges and universities
in Texas and across the country. U.S. News & World
Report, Money and Washington Monthly all positioned
UNT Dallas as a top choice among public, four-year
universities in the region.
On the U.S. News & World Report listing of the 2024 Best
Colleges, released in September, UNT Dallas earned
high marks in four categories:
REGIONAL UNIVERSITIES WEST: #44
TOP PUBLIC SCHOOLS – Regional Universities West: #22
SOCIAL MOBILITY – Regional Universities West: #30
BEST VALUE – Regional Universities West: #35
The #44 overall ranking among Regional Universities
West is the highest ever for UNT Dallas, up from #48
last year. The list includes 120 public and private
universities in 14 states. It looks at the top reasons
students attend a particular college, such as general
academic reputation, cost of attending and return
on investment.
Similarly, UNT Dallas scored high in affordability
and social mobility in North Texas on the Washington
Monthly college rankings, which were published
in August.
UNT Dallas ranked the highest out of 11 North Texas
colleges and universities on the list of “Best Bang for
the Buck” colleges in the South region. Seventy-seven
Texas colleges and universities made the list out of a
total of 228 in the region. UNT Dallas ranked #14
out of 228.
Washington Monthly’s methodology consists of three
equally weighted portions: social mobility, research and
community and national service. The “Best Bang for the
Buck” rating is the social mobility score
by itself.
According to the publication, “The ‘Best Bang for the
Buck’ colleges across each of the five regions include a
few incredibly wealthy and highly rejective colleges, but
they are matched and surpassed by regionally focused
public and private colleges that focus on providing
value to their students.”
Credible college assessments have rated or ranked
UNT Dallas #1 in North Texas in key categories for three
consecutive months. In July, Money magazine gave UNT
Dallas the highest rating (not ranking like the others) of
all North Texas colleges and universities in its annual
“Best Colleges in America” report.
UNT Dallas is the only college or university in the
Dallas-Fort Worth region to receive a 4.5 (out of 5)
score from Money, and one of only six colleges or
universities statewide to receive that number. Money
cited affordability, diversity and social mobility in its
very favorable review of UNT Dallas.
While some colleges do well in one of the ranking or
rating lists, it is unusual for the same public, four-year
regional institution to perform so well in all three
the same year. These three important achievements
align with UNT Dallas’ mission to empower students,
transform lives and strengthen communities.
“The trend for these rankings and ratings is crystal
clear,” said Bob Mong, UNT Dallas president. “UNT
Dallas is on a significant upward trajectory fueled by its
value, low student debt and the success of
its graduates.”
ON THE MOVE | FALL 2023 3

VALERIE TORRES RECEIVES FIRST MONG SCHOLARSHIP
UNT Dallas sophomore Valerie Torres has been chosen
as the first recipient of the Robert Mong Endowed
Scholarship, which was established this year in honor of
university president Bob Mong.
Torres is a first-generation college student majoring in
biology and minoring in chemistry. She almost decided
against college. Her three older brothers chose not to
go, and because of the pandemic, she didn’t want to go,
either. She thought she was ready to enter the workforce.
But now, Torres is on track to attend medical school. Her
goal is to become a reconstructive cosmetic surgeon
treating burn victims.
“Many low-income families don’t know how to treat
burns,” Torres said. “They think water or a cold press,”
which can do more damage.
Her journey to becoming a doctor started in elementary
school. As a child, Torres watched Bill Nye the Science Guy
on television.
In the seventh grade, Torres made a decision. “I wanted
to have an impact on people’s lives,” she said. Torres
remembers seeing children with cleft palates and hoping
she could help them.
After high school, as Torres contemplated getting a fulltime
job and skipping college, she discovered UNT Dallas
and its proximity to where she lived.
4 ON THE MOVE | FALL 2023
Torres changed her mind about passing up college. She
enrolled at UNT Dallas, attended summer bridge classes,
and was accepted into the Trailblazer Elite program. Her
parents were delighted, and her brothers were excited.
“My family is my biggest support system,” Torres said.
“Better than expected” is how Torres describes her
experience here so far. She is impressed by our STEM
curriculum and is excited to be part of the BAT-LSAMP
Scholarship Program, which offers experiences and
resources to students pursuing STEM careers. Torres
is enthusiastic about joining JAMP, the Joint Admission
Medical Program, which provides undergraduates a path
to medical school.
Torres will put her $5,000 in scholarship money to good
use. For “STEM stuff,” she said, including books, research
materials, a chemistry kit, and clothes to wear when
making presentations.
The Robert Mong Endowed Scholarship was created
through funding from The Dallas Morning News, where
President Mong spent much of his distinguished
journalism career. “I am honored by this endowed
scholarship in my name, especially coming from an
institution to which I devoted so much of my life,” said
Mong. “More importantly, I thank them for providing
much-needed scholarship dollars to our students.”

LISTENING
TO ALUMNI
UNT Dallas values feedback from alumni and seeks their
advice to help guide our future path. In our 2023 Alumni
Attitude Survey, they answered a detailed list of questions
and shared opinions about an important range of topics.
The survey was conducted by the Performance
Enhancement Group (PEG, Ltd.), a Texas-based research
and consulting firm. Since 2001, PEG has collected data
from more than a million alumni of hundreds of colleges
and universities nationwide, both public and private. Their
findings allow UNT Dallas and UNT Dallas College of Law
to compare our alumni survey results to a broad spectrum
of other higher education institutions.
The 2023 Alumni Attitude Survey yielded clear, actionable
feedback about what UNT Dallas does well and how
we can do even better. Alumni care deeply about this
university and feel a unique connection to it; they are
glad they earned a degree here and want us to reach new
heights. Many also plan to support UNT Dallas financially
through donations in the coming years.
UNT Dallas alumni describe themselves as hardworking,
self-motivated, resilient, and adaptable. They want to
know that the value of a UNT Dallas degree will increase
over time. They want to hear about how the student
experience is improving and how graduates are being
equipped for lifelong prosperity.
Among the key findings:
• Nearly 90% rate their decision to attend UNT Dallas
as “great” or “good”, with almost 70% responding
as “great.”
• Two-thirds describe their experiences as an alum
“great” or “good.”
• Nearly 90% say their overall current opinion of UNT
Dallas is “excellent” or “good.”
Those questions were part of the Affinity Index. UNT
Dallas scored 78% percent, which is very strong for a
public university so young. By comparison, the Affinity
Index combining all participating institutions nationwide,
including prestigious private colleges and universities and
well-established public colleges and universities, is 79%.
Here are some additional findings regarding the time
survey respondents have spent at UNT Dallas:
• 90% say their experience as a student was “excellent”
or “good.”
• On a loyalty scale, alumni felt most loyal to these three
areas of the university:
1. Their major or degree program,
2. A faculty member or instructor,
3. Their school/college within UNT Dallas
• The skills alumni feel UNT Dallas best prepared them for
include:
⭘ Effective writing
⭘ Critical thinking
⭘ Ethical reasoning
and action
⭘ Problem-solving
• On a scale of 0-10, two-thirds (66%) are likely to
recommend UNT Dallas to a prospective student
Looking ahead:
⭘ Effective oral
communication
⭘ Quantitative reasoning
⭘ Collaborating
with others
⭘ Decision-making
• 62% of respondents say that they plan to provide future
financial support to UNT Dallas through donations, even
though they have not yet done so.
• Top action items most important to alumni include:
⭘ Networking opportunities and mentoring
⭘ Staying connected with fellow alumni and the
university
⭘ Supporting UNT Dallas by giving back through
monetary contributions, volunteering and advocating
for the university
⭘ Career opportunities and job search support
⭘ Building a stronger alumni community and network
The UNT Dallas Alumni Association hosts activities and
events throughout the year. Anyone who has ever been a
student at UNT Dallas is welcome to participate. Whether
you completed your degree at UNT Dallas, attended UNT
Dallas but have a degree from UNT (Denton) or took
classes here but did not graduate – you are a member of
our alumni family. We also encourage the involvement of
non-alumni friends of the university.
ON THE MOVE | FALL 2023 5

60 YEARS LATER
HOW JFK
CHANGED
DALLAS
As the United States solemnly marked the 60th
anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s
assassination, a group of esteemed Dallas
journalists gathered at the UNT Dallas College
of Law to share their memories, insights and
experiences. A pioneering business leader and
former Texas state legislator joined them in a
provocative and enlightening discussion.
The College of Law houses an interactive exhibit
tracing the tragic events step-by-step, hour-byhour.
The college is located in the former Dallas
City Hall, which included Police Headquarters,
where Lee Harvey Oswald was taken after his arrest,
interrogated by investigators, and shot and killed
by Jack Ruby. “It was and is important to preserve
this piece of history, not only to document what
happened at the time but to show how things have
changed dramatically since, including presidential
security and media access. Presidents no longer ride
in convertibles and the press is more restricted than
it was to Oswald and Ruby to avoid jeopardizing a
defendant’s right to a fair trial.” said Dean
Felicia Epps.
A unique partnership led to the building’s
meticulous renovation while preserving significant
elements related to the assassination, including
evidence found by police, clips of television news
coverage and Oswald’s jail cell.
“JFK inspired a generation of young people,”
said Tom Huang, Assistant Managing Editor for
Journalism Initiatives at The Dallas Morning News,
which cohosted the event. “His death shattered
dreams and had a lasting impact.”
Participants recalled a special edition of the
newspaper, published 20 years after the killing,
which included a sobering, reflective message from
the editor. “The enormity of the crime etched an
enduring sorrow on the national consciousness.
Consumed by uncertainly, with the world looking on,
6 ON THE MOVE | FALL 2023

the city of Dallas examined itself and was examined; judged
itself and was judged,” wrote Burl Osborne, who later
became publisher.
At the time JFK was assassinated on November 22, 1963,
Dallas was a tenth the size it is today. It was a place of
“wide-brimmed hats and narrow viewpoints,” said Carolyn
Barta, former Dallas Morning News reporter. “It was a
gunslinger city and a patriarchal society that excluded a lot
of people.”
“Dallas was seen as right-wing and a city of haters,” recalled
Helen Giddings, entrepreneur, community advocate, and
former Texas state representative.
Their comments set the scene for a deeper conversation
about Dallas then and now, the profound effects of
President Kennedy’s death and his connection to the civil
rights movement.
“JFK was killed because of his position on civil rights,”
Giddings said emphatically. “In the homes of Black families,
you would see three photos: Jesus, MLK and JFK.” In the
1960 presidential election, nearly 70% of African-American
voters chose Kennedy, according to the John F. Kennedy
Presidential Museum.
Former Dallas Times Herald reporter Darwin Payne said
Dallas was viewed poorly by outsiders for years after the
assassination, including internationally. Tourists to the city
or Dallasites visiting other states and countries would often
ask or be asked, “Who shot JFK?” he said. But by 1983, the
question became, “Who shot JR?”, referring to the hit TV
show Dallas, in which someone shoots wealthy oilman,
J.R. Ewing.
Payne said the assassination prompted the Dallas Mayor
J. Erik Johnson, elected in 1964, to create new goals for
the city, which led to public school kindergarten and
other important programs. “The city had an 81% white
population,” Payne said. “Now white is the minority.”
That change in demographics was a transformation that
took decades. Not just in population, but in power. “There
were no Blacks in any political structure,” said Barta.
Following the assassination and the city’s self-assessment,
the first Black citizens were elected to the Dallas City
Council, Board of Education and state legislature. “Now,
Dallas is such a different place. There’s no comparison,”
Barta told the audience.
After his killing, Giddings remembered, “It was a frightening
time for Blacks. They were worried the hands would turn
back (on civil rights).”
Dallas Morning News reporter Michael Granberry shared his
vivid childhood memory of the day JFK was assassinated.
It was a week before his twelfth birthday. His mother had
promised they would go see the president’s motorcade, but
his father refused to let them go because of a controversial
anti-Kennedy advertisement by a right-wing group he saw
in the morning paper.
The death of President Kennedy was “very personal” for
Granberry, as he recalled. “A loss of innocence, the death
of innocence.”
Barta said, “When the Cowboys played on TV, they
(announcers) just called them the ‘Cowboys,’ not the ‘Dallas
Cowboys’.” Just as the Cowboys represented what some
believed was a dark cloud over Dallas, they also came to
symbolize harmony. “The Cowboys helped unite (us),” said
Granberry. “The Cotton Bowl, where black and white, rich
and poor, sat side-by-side” watching Cowboys games, sent
a message to the nation.
ON THE MOVE | FALL 2023 7

UNT DALLAS
BREAKS GROUND ON
INNOVATIVE, STATE-OF-THE-ART
STEM FACILITY
On September 29, 2023, university leaders, healthcare
professionals, elected officials and community partners
broke ground on an innovative, state-of-the-art STEM
complex at UNT Dallas. The ceremony marked a milestone
for the university, as the facility will pave the way for a
new level of instruction, research and collaboration. The
building is expected to open for the Spring 2026 semester.
“When completed, this building will stand as the
most consequential addition to the UNT Dallas main
campus, bringing with it expanded opportunities for our
current and future students to be trained for significant
healthcare careers,” said Bob Mong, UNT Dallas president.
“For employers, our graduates will help solve urgent
healthcare shortages in our community. This is a win for
our students, our industry partners and the future of
healthcare in North Texas.”
The culmination of years of planning, the new $100
million, four-story structure will include 18-20 classrooms,
nine teaching labs (biology and chemistry), three research
labs and a large event venue. It will also contain multiple
study and work areas, faculty and staff offices, a student
STEM center and a Joint Admission Medical Program
(JAMP) space with resources for students interested in
attending medical school.
The cutting-edge complex is the next step in UNT Dallas’
long-term plan to expand STEM opportunities for students
and bolster the pipeline of highly skilled candidates
to North Texas employers seeking STEM professionals.
Specifically, it will provide a pathway for healthcare
careers, including advancement to medical, nursing and
pharmacy schools, and other post-graduate educational
institutions focused on science, health, medicine
and wellness.
8 ON THE MOVE | FALL 2023

“This is tremendous for UNT Dallas. I’m thankful and
grateful,” said Dr. Betty Stewart, UNT Dallas provost, who
is the project’s driving force and greatest champion. “This
STEM building will be transformational to our campus.”
The Texas Workforce Commission says these are “highdemand,
high-wage” occupations that are expanding
rapidly. Moreover, the Bureau of Labor Statistics says
STEM-related healthcare positions pay more than the
average American job. In fact, STEM careers are projected
to grow nearly 11% in the next decade.
By collaborating with industry partners and local
educational and community institutions, UNT Dallas
and the new STEM facility will catalyze investment and
development in southern Dallas. Projects are already in
the works nearby, including University Hills and Rivulet.
UNT Dallas is a Tree Campus USA, recognized by the Arbor
Day Foundation. As such, the new STEM building will be
green, sustainable and energy efficient. It will also be
full of windows and natural light to take advantage of
the landscaping around it, bringing the outside in. An
area behind the structure will become a green space for
student gatherings, study and quiet reflection.
Two firms, Stantec and Harrison Kornberg, designed the
building to reflect the university’s mission and achieve the
STEM project’s goals. They include empowering students
by providing upward mobility to a diverse community
of learners through STEM education; transforming lives
through STEM programs that will improve the vitality of
students and their families; and creating a sense of place
and belonging is student-centered, inclusive, welcoming,
accessible and flexible.
ON THE MOVE | FALL 2023 9

NEW CPI PROGRAM
OFFERS FREE MENTAL
HEALTH SERVICES TO LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
Texas leads the nation in suicides by law
enforcement officers. The stress of the job and
the perceived stigma of seeking assistance can be
overwhelming. To address those issues and the urgent
need for solutions, the Meadows Mental Health Policy
Institute (MMHPI) and the Caruth Police Institute (CPI) at
UNT Dallas launched the Texas Blue Chip Program.
This groundbreaking initiative offers law enforcement
officers confidential and free mental health services.
The program is now operational for police officers
across the Dallas-Fort Worth and greater North Texas
area.
The Texas Blue Chip Program uses specially designed
poker chips accessible at police stations and virtually
through the Texas Law Enforcement Peer Network
(TLEPN) app. Officers can use the chips to receive
discreet, confidential counseling with selected mental
health providers at no charge. Funding is provided
by the Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT) via its
Support for Allen (TX) Fund.
The CPI at UNT Dallas operates the TLEPN, an
innovative, statewide peer support program accessible
around the clock to all law enforcement officers in
Texas. This confidential and anonymous network
seamlessly connects officers with trained peers
equipped to assist with managing stress, trauma,
fatigue and various other challenges.
“Whether confronting extreme weather events, mass
shootings, fatal traffic incidents or the chronicity of
day-to-day police work, the Texas Blue Chip Program
is designed to provide support precisely when officers
need it the most,” said Jeff Spivey, CPI executive director
and chair of the IACP Officer Safety and Wellness
Section. “It is our duty to offer resources and support
to those who dedicate their lives to ensuring the safety
and well-being of our communities.”
Shortly after the tragic mass shooting at Allen Premium
Outlets in May 2023, CFT saw an outpouring of support.
Because law enforcement officers are deeply affected by
both short- and long-term trauma in the wake of a mass
shooting event, CFT earmarked money from the Support
for Allen Fund to support those on the frontline as they
continue to process and heal.
Following its introduction throughout North Texas,
MMHPI and TLEPN hope to extend the program’s reach
statewide.
According to B.J. Wagner, senior vice president of health
and public safety at the Meadows Mental Health Policy
Institute, “Many (officers) hesitate to seek help, even
in the aftermath of traumatic incidents. The Texas Blue
Chip Program offers an additional anonymous channel
through which officers can obtain assistance on their
own terms.”
10 ON THE MOVE | FALL 2023

CHIEF SHAW
40 UNDER 40
He is sworn to serve and protect UNT Dallas students,
faculty and staff at the main campus and the College
of Law. Police Chief Christopher Shaw has been recognized
for his commitment by law enforcement peers. The
International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) named
Chief Shaw one of its “40 Under 40” for 2023.
The IACP annually recognizes 40 law enforcement
professionals under age 40 from around the world who
demonstrate leadership, exemplify commitment to their
profession, and positively impact their communities and
the field of policing.
Shaw, who has served as the UNT Dallas police chief since
2018, is one of only two North Texas officers and four in
Texas chosen this year for the honor.
“Chief Shaw is not only widely respected and well-liked
by his fellow officers and the UNT Dallas faculty, staff and
students, but also by his peers and community members,”
said UNT Dallas President Bob Mong. “He is known for
his impeccable values and deep desire to bring the most
effective safety and policing strategies to our campus and
the surrounding community.”
According to IACP, the 2023 40 Under 40 each brings their
own talents, personalities and motivations to the policing
profession while all sharing a spirit of collaboration,
a drive to help others, innovation and creativity,
leadership and the desire to make a difference in their
communities and profession. These individuals “emit
positivity, compassion and energy, despite the challenging
circumstances that all law enforcement personnel face.”
Shaw began his career as a correctional officer while
completing his bachelor’s degree in Arkansas. After
college, he moved back to his hometown of Dallas, where
he became a police officer at the University of North Texas
in Denton in 2009.
In 2012, Shaw headed to UNT Dallas, where he was
promoted in 2016 to Interim Chief of Police and Emergency
Management. Formally appointed Chief in 2018, he has
increased the hiring of officers and led the effort to obtain
certification for the department as a contractual training
provider for the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.
He has excelled at building relationships with surrounding
agencies and has led several innovations to ensure a safe,
secure, well-prepared campus.
“I entered this profession to be a change agent and
catalyst for professional policing,” said Chief Shaw. “We
will continue to work collaboratively to ensure a safe
working and learning environment for the UNT Dallas
community and our stakeholders.”
Shaw serves on a number of advisory boards, is an active
volunteer in his community and is a member of numerous
professional organizations. He is a 2022 graduate of the
FBI National Academy in Quantico and currently serves as
an ambassador to the program.
ON THE MOVE | FALL 2023 11

COLLEGE OF LAW RECOGNIZES WRONGFULLY
CONVICTED TEXANS WHO WERE EXONERATED
United in their fight to fix the judicial system, eight
wrongly convicted men, who were later cleared of all
charges, came together for an emotional candlelight
vigil at the UNT Dallas College of Law on October 2, 2023.
The inaugural event, honoring International Wrongful
Conviction Recognition Day, shined a light on the difficult
struggle to free innocent people, repair their reputations
and welcome them back into society after time in jail
or prison.
The exonerated men were joined by loved ones of other
exonerees, advocates, attorneys and criminal justice
leaders all working to prevent future wrongful convictions
and free others still incarcerated, whose convictions are
being challenged.
Among them was Richard Miles, who served 15 years
behind bars for a murder he didn’t commit. Miles’
conviction was thrown out and he was freed through
the efforts of UNT Dallas College of Law professor
Cheryl Wattley, a former criminal defense attorney
and federal prosecutor.
“We must amplify the message about wrongful
convictions,” said Miles. “People want to feel valued
coming out of prison, to be accepted.”
After being released from prison in 2009, Miles founded
a nonprofit called “Miles of Freedom” that helps
exonerees and others regaining their freedom adjust
to life after prison.
“I met Richard in 2007 (when I began work on his case),
and the relationship feels maternalistic,” said Wattley.
“When he was released, his focus became helping others.”
Wattley runs the college’s Joyce
Ann Brown Innocence Clinic,
which was founded in 2016 and
investigates claims of wrongful
conviction by Texas inmates.
Its lawyers have tirelessly and
persuasively worked on behalf
of Texans in need of a second
chance at freedom and justice.
According to the Innocence
Project of Texas, an estimated 3,000–9,000 Texans are
currently serving sentences due to wrongful convictions.
“We hear you. We believe you. We’re here for you. We
applaud you,” said Wattley.
Dallas County District Attorney John Creuzot, a former
judge, acknowledged the system isn’t perfect. “Even with
safeguards, people find themselves wrongly convicted,”
said Creuzot. “The judicial system will never be perfect.
But now it has new tools.”
Creuzot’s office maintains a Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU)
dedicated to investigating claims of innocence, wrongful
convictions, and systemic errors. It was the first
such office in the U.S. and has been replicated in
other jurisdictions.
Attorney Mike Ware, co-founder and executive director
of the Innocence Project of Texas, said, “Dallas is ground
zero, a model for the country,” referring to the CIU. He
said experts estimate 2–6% of Texas prison inmates were
wrongfully convicted and are innocent. “It’s a profound
injustice” that must be corrected, he said.
Guests included Koquice Spencer, the daughter of Joyce
Ann Brown, for whom the UNT Dallas College of Law
Innocence Clinic is named. Brown was cleared of all
charges and released in November 1989 after serving
more than nine years of a life sentence for robbing
a furrier. The court set aside her conviction, citing
prosecutorial misconduct.
Richard Miles credits Brown with helping him connect with
Cheryl Wattley through Centurion, a national nonprofit
dedicated to the vindication of the wrongfully convicted.
Brown died in 2015.
Also in attendance was Cory Session, whose brother,
Tim Cole, never regained his freedom. Cole died in
prison in 1999 while serving a 25-year term for raping
a young woman when he was a student at Texas Tech.
Ten years later, Cole was exonerated by DNA evidence
that implicated someone else. The Tim Cole Act, a Texas
statute, compensates individuals exonerated of their
false, unfounded offenses. They receive $80,000 per year.
After hearing the heartbreaking yet inspiring stories
shared by Miles and others, attendees walked to nearby
Main Street Park with candles in hand, where the names
of the eight exonerees and others were read aloud.
12 ON THE MOVE | FALL 2023

UNT DALLAS MEN
WALK A MILE IN
HIGH HEELS FOR AN
IMPORTANT CAUSE
Instead of their usual sneakers, slides or Crocs, UNT Dallas
men donned high heels on October 10, 2023, for a good time
and a great cause.
Supported by their female friends, classmates and colleagues,
male students, faculty and staff boldly confronted gender
stereotypes and expectations. Free high heels were provided,
making it easy for the guys to switch out their usual footwear.
It was all part of the university’s second annual “Walk a Mile
in Her Shoes” event, which called attention to the causes
and effects of sexualized violence by men and solutions to
preventing it. The walk recognized National Domestic Violence
Awareness Month and the need to make resources available
for victims and abusers.
UNT Dallas President Bob Mong and Chief Human Resources
Officer Tony Sanchez joined dozens of others as they carefully
balanced themselves and skillfully navigated the course
around campus.
The purpose for all participants, supporters and organizers
was to get people talking about sex and gender biases,
gender identity and gender relations in a safe environment
without judgment or stereotypes. They were among countless
men, women and families around the world who have
joined the award-winning “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes®: The
International Men’s March to Stop Rape, Sexual Assault &
Gender Violence” since 2001.
Experts say anyone can fall victim to sexualized violence
regardless of gender identity. Sexualized violence devalues
women, female practices, feminine ways of thinking, feeling
and being, feminine energy and femme presentation. The
target of sexualized violence can be a female body, the body
of someone presenting as female or femme or a malebodied
or male-presenting person insufficiently performing
masculinity.
To prevent it, organizers of the “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes”
movement believe we need to educate ourselves and others,
examine the sexual and gender biases that seed sexualized
violence and inoculate ourselves and our cultures against
them.
When the mile-long excursion ended, the UNT Dallas men
felt educated, enlightened — and sore. But this temporary
discomfort was worth it, knowing their actions and message
could help prevent much more serious and lasting pain.
Their high heels were donated to the Genesis Women’s
Shelter in Dallas.
ON THE MOVE | FALL 2023 13

CONGRATULATIONS
FALL 2023 GRADUATES
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School, Regional
Universities West
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