TribBlog: The Once and Future UNT President

Today, University of North Texas System Chancellor Lee Jackson announced his intention to nominate V. Lane Rawlins as the sole finalist for the presidency of the University of North Texas.

Rawlins currently serves as interim president at UNT, a post he assumed in May of this year. He formerly served as president of Washington State University and the University of Memphis. 

"Dr. Rawlins is aligning the university’s strategic plans and putting the necessary steps and measures in place for UNT to fulfill its aspirations,” Jackson said in a press release.

UNT is one of seven emerging research universities vying for tier-one status, an effort Rawlins has been overseeing as interim president.

“UNT is at an exciting and pivotal point in its history, and I’m pleased to be playing a role in shaping UNT’s future,” Rawlins said in a release. “I believe that my experience and commitment are a good fit for UNT at this time. This university is a place that truly values students and is committed to the challenge of becoming a national research university. We will meet our goals while preserving who we are and strengthening our traditional areas of excellence.”

If the University of North Texas System Board of Regents accept Jackson's nomination of Rawlins at their meeting on Friday, Texas law requires they wait a minimum of 21 days to take a vote officially appointing him to the presidency.