Division of Finance & Administration News

Each week, we highlight the work being done in our departments or the people who work hard for UNT. We appreciate the efforts our staff members make that support UNT and make it a great place to learn and work!

Winners of the division cornhole tournament standing next to the North Texas mural at DATCU Stadium.Spotlight on learning something new

Each long semester (fall and spring), staff members in the Division of Finance & Administration gather for a lunch picnic that includes a highly competitive cornhole tournament. Each year, various staff members in Facilities seem to walk away with a first, second or third place (homemade) trophy and bragging rights.

In 2024, Vice President Clayton Gibson decided he wanted in on the game -- after all, everyone seemed to be having fun and he was interested in learning a new skill. His practice (and his patient teacher/teammate) paid off and he earned a second-place finish. 

The full set of team winners in the Fall 2025 picnic tournament:

  • First place: Facilities staff members Kevin Wilson and Kate Denton (middle of the photo, both in green shirts)
  • Second place: Facilities staff member Sammy Loyola and Clayton (both on the left)
  • Third place: Facilities staff members Jeremy Mills and Quincy Kemp (both on the right)

As he ponders retirement from this competition while still ahead, Clayton sent a message to staff about the value of continuing to learn new skills, saying: "There’s a certain excitement that comes from figuring things out on my own and seeing small improvements over time. Trying out this new skill reminded me that learning doesn’t always have to be about perfection or even about reaching the top. Sometimes, the greatest reward comes from stretching yourself, trying something unfamiliar, and discovering new confidence along the way."

Posted Nov. 3, 2025

VP Clayton Gibson laughs with some Budget Office staff members.Spotlight on volunteering efforts

The University Budget Office team, which includes Asset Management, enjoyed some sweet treats and time with Vice President Clayton Gibson as a thank-you for the volunteer efforts by their staff in the spring semester.

Our division hosts a UNT student food pantry collection each January and February. Departments within the division compete for a pizza party by bringing in non-perishable items for the pantry. The department with the most points (donations per full-time departmental staff members) wins. New this year, we gave points to those staff members who were able to volunteer their time with food distributions. Transportation Services won the pizza party by donating more than 2,000 items (totalling more than 100 donations per full-time staff member).

With 16 full-time staff, the University Budget Office is among our smallest departments but they volunteered more hours than any other department in our division. They helped with distribution of food to our students throughout the spring semester -- not just during January and February. That earned them a special reward of their own, for their efforts to go above and beyond to help our students. 

Posted Oct. 27, 2025

Police Chief Washington and other officers stand in front of hundreds of school supplies.Spotlight on our contributions to the community

The UNT Police Department has been greeting Denton ISD students on their first day of classes for the past few years. It’s a good way to show students that the safety of our entire community is important. Earlier this this year they did it again -- but this time they had some surprises for nearby elementary schools.

Over the summer, the department decided to do even more for our Denton community partners. The UNT Police Department held a school supplies drive to distribute to teachers. They collected 5,000 items that were divided among Sam Houston, Frank Borman and Newton Rayzor elementary schools.

Posted Oct. 6, 2025

image from the magazine article that shows Hannah TaylorSpotlight on a Cool Young Pro

Emergency Management and Safety Services Training and Exercise Coordinator Hannah Taylor, who works in Risk Management Services, was recently featured in North Texas Next magazine as a “Cool Young Pro.”

The magazine is distributed to more than 150,000 students in 30 North Texas school districts. The goal is to educate students on the types of careers they can aspire to after they graduate from high school.

Hannah is a graduate of UNT’s Emergency Management and Disaster Science program, having already earned her bachelor's degree in emergency administration and planning. She is also currently studying for her master's degree in sports entertainment management.

Read the story here: https://tinyurl.com/NTXNextHannahTaylor.

Posted Sept. 29, 2025

 

graphic showing the four top reasons our staff enjoy working for our divisionSpotlight on why we work at UNT

Over the summer, our departments conducted a survey about the reasons why staff members enjoy working for our division at UNT. Many times surveys look at what is lacking or needs to be done, but we wanted to assess what we are getting right and what keeps our staff devoted to their work. 
These are shown as the “Top 4 Reasons We Work Here” and include the ability to build positive interpersonal relationships; the autonomy and flexibility that our jobs offer; the feelings of purpose and impact that we get from our jobs; and opportunities for learning and growth. The survey also included actionable next steps that each department leader can take to best support our staff members.

Thank you to those who worked on the survey -- from Budget: Jimmy Grounds and Chad Ramsey; from Controller: Carol Lu, Kristel McClaran, Ruth Rubio; from Facilities: Hilary Liscano, Cassandra Nash, Peter Palacios; from Police: Chris Deaton, Jeremy Polk; from Risk Management Services: Chris Erickson, Diana, Nellessen, Scotie Selman; and from Transportation Services: Chris Hawke, Nikki Sparks.

Posted Sept. 16, 2025

Clayton Gibson hands a coin to staff member James Taylor as Facilities director Jeff Brown looks onSpotlight on going the extra mile

Recently, Facilities Grounds Crew Leader James Taylor received a challenge coin for Teamwork.

He does a great job supporting his team and keeping them motivated. James has also offered his services as a DJ at our division picnics. He also thinks of others, treating his coworkers not only with respect but also treating them to the delicious food he brings (we hear his barbecue is amazing).

Our division challenge coins honor those who have gone above and beyond in their work roles. There are several coins: Teamwork, Continuous Improvement, Humanity, Ideation, Professional Development, and Service. Each staff member who receives a coin must be nominated by a member of the division's leadership team. 

Posted Aug. 11, 2025