Barbara Sanders: Sharing her enthusiasm for UNT with the North Texas Exes

	Barbara Sanders, director of chapter development for the North Texas Exes, enjoys having the opportunity to help alumni reconnect with UNT by forming and growing alumni chapters.

Barbara Sanders, director of chapter develop-ment for the North Texas Exes, says she has been fortunate to hold two outstanding positions during her time at the university.

In January 2001, Sanders began working in the president's office as the assistant to the president. In this position she oversaw all the details for special events hosted by President Norval Pohl.

Sanders planned more than 200 events a year, including commencement brunches, faculty and staff convocations, dinners before UNT events, and an array of other parties, receptions and gatherings.

She says it wasn't only the work she was doing that made the job so enjoyable. It was the people she worked with.

"Working in the president's office was so outstanding because I worked so closely with Dr. Pohl and his wife, Barbikay," Sanders says. "I also enjoyed working with everyone in the office, especially my exceptional student employees."

Last September, while attending the board of directors meeting of the NT Exes, Sanders heard about a new position as director of chapter development.

"I wasn't looking for a different position when I initially heard about the new position, because I loved working in the president's office," says Sanders.

"But I started thinking about what a great opportunity that would be. I would get to help alumni connect to the university. So, after three interviews and almost five months, I became the first director of chapter development for the North Texas Exes on Feb. 1, 2005."

In the position, Sanders helps establish new alumni chapters and re-establish previously existing ones. She also works to help alumni create new scholarships.

"Since this is a new position, I can't refer to previous work done by someone else," Sanders says. "I have to determine long- and short-term goals, prepare a plan to accomplish these goals, and execute the plan to reach them, no matter what it takes."

Recently, Sanders helped the Austin chapter of the North Texas Exes plan a reception for about 40 people. The event brought together alumni living in the Austin area, state representatives and senators who are UNT alumni, and UNT Student Government Association members who had traveled to Austin to meet with legislators.

David Layton, executive director of the North Texas Exes, says Sanders' outgoing and energetic personality was evident at the reception.

"You could really see her enthusiasm while we were down in Austin," Layton says. "To see her so excited to meet new alumni and to introduce our SGA students to each one, all in efforts to build alumni and student relationships, was incredible."

BY MAGAN HENDON inhouse@unt.edu

Other featured articles in this issue

• UNT to receive about $4 million in general revenue funds from the state of Texas
• Scholarship honors a friend's commitment to promoting diversity
• Parking permits for 2005-06 now for sale
• Committee continues to examine Responsibility Center Management
• Work dress codes relax as summer temperatures go up
• Gift to help promote Czech music, culture
• Denton County Transportation Authority approves rail line favored by UNT
• Mean Green 2005 season ticket packages for sale
• Faculty Senate elects officers for 2005-06

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