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I think given the circumstances he has done a nice job. No incoming President should have to face the type of situation with the accounting fiasco we made him face when arriving here. He took it head on, he accepted it and did the best he could to correct it. Ultimately, he and all of us will have to rely on the mercy of the State of Texas to forgive the accounting blunders that occurred over the past decade. Once we determine how much we have to pay back and how long we have to pay it back we can budget for the future appropriately. I am frankly embarrassed that we left him such a mess to clean up and I have been very clear that I felt like the ones who allowed this to happen got off way too easily. There seems to be a sense in acadmia that mistakes - no matter how big - are ok so long as there was no intentional fraud or ponzi scheme tied to them. With the advent of online degrees and low cost alternatives Universities including UNT will no longer have the luxury of having a different standard than the rest of the real world. Those of us who have worked in corporate America know that there would have been a MUCH different outcome in terms of firings and house cleaning given the magnitude of this situation. I find Smatresk to be very friendly and engaging in person. He has jumped right into the social media which has become so important, especially for a school with our size and profile. He seems to be very focused on taking UNT to the next level and I appreciate his efforts. In watching his UNT Strategic Plan video he seems to understand where we have strengths and where we can improve. In terms of sports he is seen at the games and tweets a lot during the games. He cheers on the team good or bad and wears green, does the claw/talon and really seems to have embraced the spirit of being Mean Green. His spirit seems sincere. He also seems to show pride in all areas of the school, including academics and alumni. He seems to have a very positive, optimistic persona which is exactly what we need. I think that UNT made a real nice hire with Dr. Smatresk. I appreciate all of his efforts and look forward to see what he can accomplish in the future for UNT. GMG!

Neal Smatresk, the president of the University of Nevada at Las Vegas, was officially tapped Thursday to be the next president of the University of North Texas. He will assume the position Feb. 3. The Board of Regents voted unanimously to name Smatresk as the new president during a teleconference meeting Thursday morning. The appointment comes after he was named the sole finalist for the position Nov. 20. The university spent nearly a year searching for a replacement after President Lane Rawlins announced in March that he wanted to retire by the end of 2013. He will stay in the role of president until Smatresk takes over in February. Smatresk was in Denton for the vote. Afterward, he sat down with the Denton Record-Chronicle to talk about his upcoming transition. Q: What have you learned about UNT since you were nominated as the sole finalist for the presidency? A: Remembering that we spent 23 years in Arlington [at the University of Texas at Arlington], I knew quite a bit about the University of North Texas. To add to that history, obviously, Ive talked to a whole lot of the folks here, communicated with some of the deans with the provost, and Im beginning to have more talks with the vice president for research and Lane Rawlins, who has been absolutely terrific in this whole process. Read much much more: http://www.dentonrc.com/local-news/local-news-headlines/20131212-unanimous-decision.ece

t was hard not to get caught up in super salesman Neal Smatresk’s high-energy spiel. Wherever UNLV’s new president spoke, the air felt overcaffeinated. Smatresk was a drum major with a remarkable gift of gab, a genuine one-man pep rally. By the time the guy finished firing up the townsfolk, they were tempted to follow him down the street like rubes from “The Music Man.” When Smatresk said, “Ya got trouble,” he was very persuasive. Despite the obvious fiscal and political obstacles, he appeared supremely confident — even unflappable. He was so excited to lead UNLV through its economic storm and into its bright future, he couldn’t wait to get started. That was back in August 2009. Barely four years later, Smatresk just closed the deal on the president’s job at the University of North Texas, Denton. Las Vegas townies are still tuning up their trombones, but our music man is moving on. Read more: http://www.reviewjournal.com/columns-blogs/john-l-smith/unlvs-music-man-moves

Last week, UNLV President Neal Smatresk announced plans to become the president of the University of North Texas. The news came as a great shock to many Southern Nevadans, as the search process under way at the school 40 miles north of Dallas remained confidential. Smatresk said he would resign from UNLV after his likely confirmation next month by the University of North Texas Board of Regents. The decision to leave UNLV after four years at its helm came about, Smatresk said, because of his family in Texas. In a letter to the university community, the popular and well-liked president said his children and granddaughter in Texas have been “pulling on my heartstrings.” The Sun spoke with Smatresk after his announcement to talk about his decision, his legacy and his hopes for the university he leaves behind. Why did you decide to become president of the University of North Texas? I wasn’t looking for a job. I’ve been happy here. I love this city, I love this university and I really believe in our mission. I felt that (my wife) Debbie and I have been blessed with incredible support from this community. So when UNT called me for the first time about two months ago, I said, "I’m not sure I’m interested." I didn’t think a lot about it after. But then, they called a second time and worked hard to convince me that this was an opportunity I should take seriously. It was just after my grandbaby had been born, so I started thinking that would be a neat place to go back to. It’s a pretty good institution, like UNLV, but in a different setting. I liked what I saw in their leadership and the promise of their university. I feel that when you can take a skill set I’ve developed, which is connecting the university to the community, and the fact that my family could be whole again, it became an irresistible thought. I think it will be a good fit. Read more: http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2013/nov/26/outgoing-president-pinpoints/

When Neal Smatresk took the helm of UNLV four years ago, Nevadas largest university was embroiled in turmoil. Its former president had been ousted by the Nevada Board of Regents amid conflicting management styles and controversy. Moreover, UNLV was suffering from one of the worst recessions in American history, slashing programs and faculty while raising tuition and fees on students. Smatresk could have weathered the economic storm with his head down, hatches battened down. But he didnt. Instead, Smatresk dreamed large and created a transformative vision that many say gave the university and Las Vegas a reason to hope in the aftermath of the Great Recession. Neal carried us through a tough time, said Regent Cedric Creer, a Las Vegas advertising executive who chaired Smatresks evaluation committee earlier this year. Neal has done a good job, despite the budget constraints. He was the right guy at the right time for UNLV. Smatresks sudden announcement Wednesday that he intends to leave UNLV to become the president of the University of North Texas near Dallas came as a great shock to Southern Nevadans. Most understood the reason Smatresk gave for his decision, enumerated in a short letter to faculty sent mid-afternoon Wednesday. Smatresk, a Texas native who was educated and worked for two decades at Texas universities, wanted to live and work closer family in the Lone Star State, particularly his two children and a newborn granddaughter. Yet amid increasing turnover in Nevadas education leadership, some speculated that perhaps inadequate education funding, the states unique geopolitical strife or the slow pace of change had contributed in part to Smatresks decision to leave. Smatresk, who was in Texas on Wednesday, didnt return calls for comment. Whatever the reason, Smatresk will be leaving UNLV and Nevada with a legacy of big, half-finished dreams that a new leader will be entrusted to shepherd to completion. UNLV and state leaders say Smatresk will transfer his vision to capable hands: a strong team of university administrators handpicked by the president. However, most officials admit their charismatic and well-liked leaders departure represents a major loss for the aspirational university. Read more: http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2013/nov/21/charismatic-smatresk-leaves-legacy-bold-ideas-unlv/

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