A Carnegie‐ranked Tier One research university and Hispanic-Serving Institution, UNT is one of the nation's largest public research universities with nearly 40,000 students and numerous programs internationally and nationally recognized for excellence. Ranked #7 in the nation and #1 in Texas for local government management by US News and World Report, UNT's Master of Public Administration (MPA) program prepares leaders for public and nonprofit organizations through innovative curriculum, interdisciplinary research, dedicated teaching and professional development.

With that in mind, we are excited to announce the creation of an endowed fund for a professorship to honor George R. Schrader, the 10th city manager of Dallas (from 1972 to 1981), a pioneer for modern city management and a staunch champion for the council‐manager form of government. At the time of his retirement, Mr. Schrader was managing the seventh largest city in the U.S., and the largest U.S. city that was governed by the council-manager form of government. During his tenure, Mr. Schrader planned, completed or set into a motion a long list of developments or improvements, including:

  • Dallas City Hall
  • The expansion of the Dallas Public Library
  • Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
  • The Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Garden
  • The Dallas Arts District
  • Reunion Station, the first Public-Private Partnership in the U.S.

Our goal is to raise $1.5 million to fund the George R. Schrader Professorship of Practice in Local Government Management, which will address a critical need to provide effective, practice-oriented instruction, research enhancing activities and mentoring to advance the quality of future local government management. This will be a new, non-tenured faculty member who has distinguished themselves through research excellence, and extensive and exceptional experience in practicing within the local government management profession. Along with conducting research and providing exceptional educational experiences, they will be responsible for mentoring and providing professional advice to students interested in pursuing careers in local government management, and nurturing MPA program alumni relationships through ongoing and enhanced engagement.

If you are interested in supporting the George R. Schrader Professorship, please contact: Shelly Lane, Executive Director for Development, or Mark McDaniel, UNT ’84, ’87. If you would like to make a gift via credit card, click here: https://one.unt.edu/george-schrader.