At the National Rehabilitation Association Conference held this fall in Corpus Christi, Texas, Martha Garber, director of UNTWISE, and Crystal George, program manager of UNTWISE, received awards for their contributions to the field of rehabilitation.

As part of the College of Health and Public Service Rehabilitation and Health Services (RHS) department, UNT’s Workplace Inclusion & Sustainable Employment (UNTWISE) delivers information, continuing education and technical assistance in areas that affect the employment and inclusion of individuals with disabilities.

Martha Garber (left) received the Research, Project Demonstration, and/or Special Program Award for her development and maintenance of the Texas Credential Program for Community Rehabilitation Program (CRP) Providers of Employment Services. The first and...

Last fall, HPS’ Public Administration department welcomed a group of 22 juniors and seniors from North Forney High School (NFHS) to UNT to learn about peer mediation and life as a college student.

“These students are candidates for leadership roles in the peer mediation program that our Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) program faculty and students are co-developing with NFHS administration,” said Leslie Roberts, ADR program coordinator & principal lecturer, who organized the daylong event.

“Forney is a high growth city in Kaufman County and schools are expected to feel significant impact,” she said. “Consequently, conflict management is a high priority at NFHS.”

While most of the day was spent discussing conflict, negotiation and mediating conflicts among their peers, the students were also exposed to campus life at UNT. They enjoyed a campus tour, dining in Kerr...

"I feel like I didn't choose Emergency Management, Emergency Management chose me. When I was in high school I got involved with the Civil Air Patrol. Oddly enough, the day after I got my membership card in the mail was September 11, 2001. During Katrina in 2005, I found myself in a Salvation Army Shelter, advising the Command team on best practices to organize and manage the large influx of donations, volunteers, and unique medical needs of evacuees. In all of that, I found a passion and excitement of trying to create order of chaos. By 2007, I was enrolled in the UNT EADP program.

I probably had a more unique experience while earning my EADP degree. I was the very last UNT student that had to travel to UT Arlington to earn a Commission in the U.S. Army through the ROTC program. When I graduated, I commissioned onto Active Duty with the U.S. Army as an MP Officer thinking that would get me in the middle of the action for using my Emergency Man-agement skills. I was right and wrong. I was in...

University of North Texas student Rusty Carter struggled with alcohol abuse, post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury and a failing marriage, a few months after he was honorably discharged from the Army. He knew that something needed to change in his life after a failed suicide attempt in June 2013.

“I hated who I was,” he says. “I spent years hiding behind a bottle in a feeble attempt to suppress my thoughts and drink my pain away. I created a façade to shield others from the truth, and worst of all, I lied to myself.”

Four years later, he graduated with honors from the University of North Texas to serve those who face some of the same issues as he did. With his bachelor’s degree in social work, he plans to become a mental health counselor to fellow veterans. Rusty also plans to earn a master of social work degree, to prepare for doing research on adjustments veterans face when they leave the military

Rusty says he started to turn his life...

Richard G. Smith, Ph.D., an associate professor in HPS’ Behavior Analysis Department, received the UNT Special Recognition Award.

“Rick has spent a lifetime bringing grace to the world of adults with severe and profound disabilities, one of the most forgotten populations,” noted Shahla Ala'i-Rosales, Ph.D., BCBA-D, associate professor in the Behavior Analysis department, who nominated Smith for recognition.

The Special Recognition Award honors an extraordinary student, faculty or staff member (or group) who has contributed momentous, unique talent or service to the university and cultivated UNT pride.

This award is given where no usual award or recognition is available due to unique quality of the contributions. The president selects the recipients and presents the...

Robert L. Bland, endowed professor of local government in the University of North Texas Department of Public Administration, has been named an honorary member of the International City/County Management Association. He will be honored at the association's annual conference October 22-25 in San Antonio.

Founded in 1914, ICMA provides training and professional development to more than 11,000 city, town and county managers, their staffs, and other individuals and organizations throughout the world. Honorary membership is awarded to an individual who is not a professional in local government management, but who has achieved distinguished public service and contributions to the improvement and strengthening of local government.

Bland has devoted 35 years to advancing the study and practice of local government management through service, teaching and research. He joined the UNT faculty in 1982 as a faculty member in the Department of...