We’re pleased to welcome Dr. Laura Smith as the new dean of students for the University of North Texas. Dr. Smith brings an incredible wealth of experience with her to serve our UNT community.

She has worked in higher education for more than 25 years, with 22 of those focused on student affairs. Most recently, Dr. Smith served as associate dean of students at the University of Texas at Dallas. In this role, she oversaw students’ health and wellness initiatives, as well as crisis management, intervention and assessment. She served on the University Campus AccessAbility Committee, Title IX advisory group and Behavioral Assessment Intervention Team, and she chaired the Suicide Prevention Task Force. She also facilitated the Council for Advancement of Standards review of the Student AccessAbility Resource Center, Student Counseling Center, Student Conduct and the Military and Veterans Center. Prior to her role as associate dean of students, she served as interim director of the Student Counseling Center and judicial affairs officer for the Office of Community Standards and Conduct.

Dr. Smith also worked at UNT Dallas as acting director of Student Life, student development coordinator and student services coordinator. She began her career at Southern Methodist University as an admissions counselor before moving to El Centro College as an academic advisor.

She is an alumna of UNT’s graduate programs, earning a Ph.D. in higher education - student services administration and a Master of Education in counseling. She earned her undergraduate degree from SMU with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology.

Learn more about the Dean of Students Office.