Legacy
One measure of a university is the quality of its graduates. In 2007, the University of North Texas awarded more than 6,500 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees to talented students prepared to take the power of ideas with them into the world. These bright new graduates join more than 170,000 other former UNT students pursuing fulfilling lives around the globe. UNT alumni succeed in everything from the arts, education and business to law, medicine and research while contributing to their communities and building better lives for all.
UNT provides fertile, formative ground in which students can grow, and many UNT alumni have found fame. Multiple Grammy Award winner Norah Jones studied jazz in the College of Music before pursuing her career in New York. Phil McGraw (’76 M.A., ’79 Ph.D.) — also known as Dr. Phil, TV’s favorite self-help expert — earned his degrees from North Texas. Academy Award nominee Thomas Haden Church also studied here.
Other former students include journalist Bill Moyers and author Larry McMurtry (’58), actors Joe Don Baker (’58) and Peter Weller (’70), and artists Bill Worrell (’74 M.F.A.) and Jesús Moroles (’78), as well as Horatio Alger Award winner and California developer Ronald Waranch (’54).
By emphasizing writing, critical thinking and leadership skills, UNT produces graduates who are well equipped to succeed as the world’s next generation of scholars, performers and leaders.
Scores of musicians have attended UNT, ranging from legendary jazz guitarist Herb Ellis and School House Rock composer Bob Dorough (’49) to Metropolitan opera singers like Patricia Racette (’88) and rock ’n’ roll stars such as Don Henley. Former North Texas athletes include NFL Hall of Famer Joe Greene (’69) and American Football League star Abner Haynes (’62).
But the power of a UNT education doesn’t just belong to the famous. Constance Norris Lacy (’98), a 1998 Truman Scholar and manager of the Eddie Bernice Johnson Youth & Family Center in Dallas, supervises licensed clinicians who counsel students at 15 Dallas schools. Aaron Bonds (’72), a coach in the Agua Dulce Independent School District in South Texas, coordinates an after-school tutoring and life skills program. He also created a program to help high school student-athletes obtain athletic scholarships.
And with the help of UNT’s many alumni, the future for new generations remains bright. In 2006-07, the University’s endowment grew from $67 million to $91 million, providing necessary support to improve excellence.
View more of UNT's famous alums
2008 Grammy Award winners and nominees from UNT