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!

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