Category Archives: Uncategorized

On Race and Identity — May 11

Intersections of Identity: Racial, Academic and Christian

Dr. George Yancey is a Professor of Sociology at Baylor University. He has a Ph.D. and M.A. from the University of Texas at Austin and was professor at UNT for 19 years. He has published on the topics of institutional racial diversity, racial identity, academic bias, progressive Christians and anti-Christian hostility.

Dr. Tamara Brown is Executive Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. She has a Ph.D. and M.A. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Masters of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary.

Join us on Zoom @ https://unt.zoom.us/j/85089704576

Congratulations to 2021 Award Winners!

Congratulations to these 2021 Award Winners!
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” Col 3:23 (ESV)

Research Leadership
Dr. Wonbong Choi
Materials Science and Engineering

University Distinguished Professorship
Dr. Renee Bryce
Computer Science and Engineering

President’s Council University Service
Dr. Christy Crutsinger
Merchandising and Digital Retailing

Bertina Combes (1958-2021)





As the 2020-2021 academic year draws to a close there is a sense of loss. More than on an existential level, it is the loss of Bertina Combes that hits so many of us within the UNT community. Bertina was more than a skillful professor and administrator — she was someone whose care and faith always affected others.

Colleen Eddy (Teacher Education) said “Bertina, Dr. Combes, was a shining light. When she entered a space, she filled it with love, grace, peace, and intention. I will miss her as a friend, colleague, mentor, and sister in Christ.”

Nandika D’Souza (Mechanical Engineering) said “Bertina brought joy, hope, and passion to everything she did. For me personally, she brought Christ’s presence into the academic secular world to help reason through many things.
“There are leaders who work for advancing position titles to communicate power and capability and those that seek positions to ensure serving through their God-given capability. Bertina was very much the latter. She exemplified servant leadership, bringing humility, a quick happy laugh, sincerity through prayer, and the advancement of others at every occasion.”

What Racism Means for Christians In the Academy




We partnered with Oklahoma State University’s Christian Faculty-Staff Network in November.

Dr. Andra Gillespie talked about how we should respond as believers. She is an associate professor of political science at Emory University and is the author of The New Black Politician: Cory Booker, Newark and Post-Racial America.

Worship Service Highlights Sept 4

Dr. Phillip Bishop (Alabama,Kinesiology) spoke on Friday, Sept 4 about reasons for hope.

Bishop talked about those who have mentored him in academia, as well as those he has mentored, both as graduate students and as young faculty. Over time he realized that he would not be the greatest instructor at the University of Alabama, nor the most prolific writer, though he did win recognition from the university for both during his career.

Phil encouraged people within the university to look for ways to show grace to students, particularly in this difficult environment. And, he added, to recognize our calling: “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked” (Luke 12:48) The university, he said, is a place of tremendous possibilities and one way to help others is to extend the grace that Christ has shown us to others.