Leslie Roberts has been named the 2021-22 UNT Foundation Outstanding Lecturer. DENTON (UNT), Texas
Leslie Roberts, principal lecturer in the University of North Texas College of Health and Public Service Department of Public Administration, has earned the coveted UNT Foundation Outstanding Lecturer Award. She was surprised with the designation, which is the university’s highest honor for a full-time lecturer and recognizes her for her “significant and sustained contributions to the university as evidenced by quality of teaching and service”, during a class on January 27.
“Ms. Roberts is in the elite group of faculty in the college who I would consider our best instructors. She is dedicated to her students’ success while also expecting rigor and hard work,” said Dr. Nicole Dash, dean of the college. “While it would be easy to expect students to learn and demonstrate the mastery of facts, she moves beyond that to instill a breadth of knowledge based on choices and behaviors. Her students are her priority, and as a result, she spends enormous effort building courses and materials to help them learn and succeed.”
Dr. Bob Bland, Endowed Professor of Local Government, Dr. Jennifer Cowley, UNT Provost, Mike Milnac from the UNT Foundation, Holly Hutchins, Vice Provost for Faculty Success and Dr. Chandra Carey, HPS Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, were on hand as she was presented with an engraved award and $5,000 check.
“I’m so honored to be recognized by the UNT Foundation for doing my job and I’m extremely grateful that my students value the skills they have when they leave our program,” Roberts said.
Prior to joining the faculty at UNT in 2011, Ms. Roberts practiced law for more than 20 years in both the U.S. and overseas. She has more than eight years’ experience working as a mediator in business, probate, employment, education and family disputes, and she regularly presents mediation training for large companies and area municipalities. Ms. Roberts also currently teaches in the UNT Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) program.