Lane Rawlins named president of University of North Texas
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
December 7, 2010
A focused leadership style and experience in building academic research are among the reasons that V. Lane Rawlins was selected to become the next president of the University of North Texas.
On Friday, the UNT System board of regents approved Rawlins' nomination as sole finalist for the position. The nomination is expected to be confirmed next month after a mandated 21-day waiting period.
Rawlins, 72, was lured out of retirement by the challenge of leading UNT's efforts to attain Tier One status. He said he has also connected with the UNT community and students since taking over as interim president in May.
"We enjoy being here," Rawlins told the regents. "We enjoy the work."
After his nomination was approved, he jokingly told regents that he would allude to his age just once -- to explain that this is "a rare opportunity."
If approved, Rawlins would succeed Gretchen Bataille, who resigned in February, to become the school's 15th president.