Annual Report 2025 

This Year’s Progress, Backed by 130 Years of Dreaming Big. 

As we celebrate the 130th anniversary of The University of Texas at Arlington, we find ourselves reflecting not only on how far we’ve come—but also on where we’re going.  

This year’s progress stands as proof of the purpose that has guided Mavericks since 1895. From groundbreaking research and bold new programs to growing student support and expanding our physical and regional reach, UTA continues to transform lives and communities. We’ll remember 2024-25 as the year that we sharpened our focus on fueling student success and career readiness, doubled down on leveraging our research impact, and reaffirmed our commitment to expanding and enhancing learning spaces—ensuring our students have what they need to thrive.  

In the pages ahead, you’ll see stories of discovery, transformation, connection, and growth. You’ll also see the strength of our strategic plan, UTA 2030: Shared Dreams, Bright Future, reflected in real accomplishments and meaningful momentum. These aren’t just milestones; they’re markers of what’s possible when Mavericks come together with purpose.  

Thank you for being part of this extraordinary community. Here’s to the next 130 years—and the impact we’ll continue to make, together.  

Jennifer Cowley, Ph.D. 
President 

As part of our ongoing 130th anniversary celebration, members of our community shared their hopes and dreams for UTA’s next chapter. These messages, collected and shared here, speak to what unites us: a commitment to student achievement, impactful research, and learning environments that grow with our community’s needs. 

NUMBERS

Top 5%

of research institutions nationwide.

(Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, 2025)

No.1

most innovative university in the Metroplex.  

(U.S. News & World Report, 2025)  

No.1

in DFW for social mobility.

(U.S. News & World Report, 2025)  

One of 88

higher education institutions in the U.S. and Canada to be named an Innovation and Economic Prosperity designee. 

(Association of Public and Land Grant Universities) 

One of 24

public colleges and universities to be honored with the 2024 Veteran Education Excellence Award by the Texas Veterans Commission. 

Named the No. 1 University

in North Texas by The Wall Street Journal for the second year in a row.  

40%

increase in interdisciplinary grants in 2024.

23 Patents

UTA contributed 23 patents—an increase of 15% over 2023—to UT System’s No. 6 ranking of Top 100 Worldwide University Granted U.S. Patents.  

(National Academy of Inventors, 2024)  

One of Only 21

Carnegie R-1 universities in U.S. to be named an Opportunity university, meaning UTA has a high rate of student access and success as well as the highest designation for research output.  

(Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education) 

FINANCE AND INFRASTRUCTURE 

A Story of Growth

UTA began in a single wood-frame building, called Fish Hall, built by a community that believed in education. Local residents donated the land and raised money for building costs and scholarships. This year we extended our legacy of growth and impact with the construction of Maverick Hall. Built to accommodate projected enrollment growth and the rising demand for on-campus housing options, our newest residence hall will open in fall 2025. 

Also in 2024-25 

  • In the spring, we broke ground on UTA West—a new campus in Parker County designed to meet the educational and workforce needs of the fast-growing Fort Worth region. Spanning 51 acres, the campus will open its doors to undergraduate and graduate students in fall 2028. Once complete, UTA West is projected to generate nearly $300 million in gross product and support more than 2,200 jobs across Texas through campus operations and student spending. 
  • The Fraternity and Sorority Life Community Center, a new home for student engagement and leadership, officially opened in fall 2024. 
  • The refurbishment and expansion of the Life Sciences Building to enhance STEM research and learning capacity is underway, with a projected completion date of fall 2027. The finished project will complete our Health Sciences Quad on the south end of campus. 

Photo caption: Fish Hall rose in 1895 as UTA’s first building; Maverick Hall, the newest, is set to open in fall 2025. 

RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

A Story of Breakthroughs  

UTA’s innovation story took off in the 1930s, when students trained in aeronautics by building and flying crop dusters. Since then, we’ve launched aerospace programs, graduated astronauts, and expanded the frontiers of research. This fall we’re continuing our exploration of the skies with the opening of the Maverick Autonomous Vehicle Research Center, which is accelerating unmanned aircraft research. In addition, UTA was selected by the Federal Aviation Administration to offer specialized drone training as part of a national initiative to grow the future aviation workforce, and NASA awarded a $1 million grant to The University of Texas at Arlington Research Institute in Fort Worth to develop safety systems for unnmanned flying vehicles.  

Also in 2024-25 

  • In fall 2024, UTA opened a $6.2 million Clinical Imaging Research Center, featuring a 3-Tesla MRI, to advance research in neurocognitive sciences, physics, psychology, and more. 
  • The Amphibian and Reptile Diversity Research Center expanded into one of the world’s largest public herpetology libraries, fueling discoveries and supporting student and faculty research. 
  • Associate Professor Kayunta Johnson-Winters was named a 2025 fellow of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology for her scientific impact and commitment to mentorship. 
  • UTA’s Institute for Biomanufacturing and Precision Medicine for North Texas expanded its capacity by co-operating a new branch of the National Center for Therapeutics Manufacturing, a training hub for biopharma and gene therapy. 
  • UTA is also powering next-gen Navy energy storage with a new research facility and test site. 
  • Researchers are tackling plastic waste through microplastics studies and chemical recycling in separate projects led by faculty including Kevin Schug and Un-Jung Kim. 

Photo caption: From wartime aircraft work by North Texas Agricultural College students in the 1940s to cutting-edge unmanned aircraft research today, Mavericks continue to soar. 

STUDENT SUCCESS 

A Story of Opportunity  

When UTA joined The University of Texas System in 1965, it marked a turning point, as we focused on being a true university “of Texas” and strengthening our commitment to serving a broader population of students. This year, we expanded Blaze Forward, our tuition-assistance program that now supports over 8,800 students—removing financial barriers to enable timely degree completion and launch career-ready graduates into the workforce. This fall, 65% of our incoming freshmen will have their tuition and fees fully covered. 

Also in 2024-25 

  • With support from the Sid W. Richardson Foundation, the College of Education expanded its fully online Alternative Certification Program, increasing access for teachers across Texas. 
  • UTA tripled its paid undergraduate research opportunities, giving more students hands-on experience and a head start on their futures. 
  • Launching in fall 2025, UTA’s new business STEM degrees will prepare students for high-demand careers at the intersection of innovation and industry. 
  • To meet growing workforce needs, UTA introduced two new degree programs in hospitality management, training students for leadership in one of Texas’ fastest growing sectors.  
  • Jeremiah Joseph made history as UTA’s first-ever Truman Scholarship finalist, recognizing his leadership and commitment to public service. 
  • In partnership with 101 Studios, UTA is offering film industry certification—connecting students to careers in the state’s booming creative sector. 

Photo caption: Gov. John Connally (dark suit) signed the bill bringing Arlington State College to the UT System in 1965—paving the way for UTA’s continued commitment to student success. 

PEOPLE AND CULTURE 

A Story of Community

UTA’s strength has always come from the people who move it forward and from a culture that values their growth. That spirit has long taken shape in everyday acts of connection, from Sunday Suppers hosted by the Faculty Women’s Club in the 1960s to the creation of the Staff Advisory Council in 1993 to strengthen engagement and support across campus. This year, we expanded our collaborative spirit through the Maverick Momentum Program, UTA’s first staff mentorship initiative. The program is designed to support professional development, foster leadership, and build an even stronger Maverick community. 

Also in 2024-25 

  • UTA joined 1 Million Cups, connecting students, faculty, and local entrepreneurs to a global network that sparks ideas, offers networking, and fosters startups. 
  • The University is launching the MavUp MVP Employee Recognition Program, a new initiative to celebrate the contributions and achievements of faculty and staff. 
  • Employee Day at the Planetarium gave faculty and staff a stellar experience, inviting them to explore the cosmos and unwind under the dome.  
  • The Office of Talent, Culture, and Engagement overhauled student employment guidelines, establishing a centralized hub to streamline support and improve the student worker experience. 

Photo caption: UTA has always focused on promoting a culture of growth and belonging with programs like Sunday Suppers in the 1960s and today’s Maverick Momentum initiative. 

ALUMNI AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 

A Story of Connection

In 1936, North Texas Agricultural College brought the world to Arlington, hosting a lecture series that featured the U.S. minister to Denmark, the U.S. secretary of labor, a leading historian, and the superintendent of Chicago Public Schools. We’re still connecting our campus to big conversations. This year’s Maverick Speakers Series brought packed crowds to hear journalist and TV host John Quiñones and musician and actor Ice-T share funny, honest, and thought-provoking reflections on their lives and careers. 

Also in 2024-25 

  • MavsDay, the University’s annual day of giving, surpassed goals for both donors (885, including 345 employees) and dollars, raising more than $350,000.   
  • The Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation and Loews Hotels & Co. made a gift to create The Texas Rangers and Loews Hotels & Co. Endowed Scholarship in Hospitality Management.   
  • With more than 1,700 UTA tickets sold, UTA Night at the Rangers drew a spirited crowd of alumni and friends—highlighting the power of community partnerships to ignite Maverick pride.  
  • UTA’s community newsletter launched a special edition in Parker County, connecting residents with campus news and events in anticipation of the UTA West campus opening.   
  • Through Kids and Teens University STEAM summer camps, UTA welcomed over 700 learners to campus, sparking their curiosity and building early connections with higher education. 
  • In 2024-25, nearly 800 alumni were licensed to use Coursera—an online platform offering professional certificates and skills-based courses—at no cost through UTA’s partnership with Coursera Career Academy. 

Photo caption: UTA has long been a gathering place for the community—where meaningful connections happen and, every so often, a legend like Minnie Pearl (left) or John Quiñones (right) drops by to join the fun. 

ATHLETICS 

A Story of Reinvention  

From back-to-back Junior Rose Bowl championships in the 1950s to the final whistle in 1985, UTA’s football legacy remains a powerful part of our story. Now, that legacy takes on new life with the launch of women’s flag football—UTA will be the first NCAA Division I team in Texas— beginning play in spring 2027. The fast-growing sport will bring football back to campus in a fresh, dynamic format, expanding athletic opportunity, elevating Maverick spirit, and offering a new kind of comeback rooted in progress. 

Game-Changing Moments  

  • The Maverick women’s volleyball team earned its first regular season and tournament titles since 2002, winning the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) in 2024 and advancing to the NCAA Tournament.  
  • Austen Smith, aerospace engineering student, won a bronze medal in women’s skeet shooting and silver in mixed team skeet shooting at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. 
  • One student and nine alumni competed on behalf of Team USA and Team Canada in the 2024 Paralympics. Among the competitors, many medaled in their events: Fabian Romo (’20 BS, Kinesiology) and Paul Schulte (’05 BS, Mechanical Engineering) won gold with Team USA in men’s wheelchair basketball, while Josie Aslakson and Rose Hollermann (’19 BA, Interdisciplinary Studies) took silver with Team USA in women’s wheelchair basketball. Brent Lakatos (’04 BS, Software Engineering) brought home gold for Team Canada in the men’s T53 800m and silver in the men’s T53 400m. 
  • UTA men’s and women’s track teams earned top-three finishes in the WAC, with the men placing 2nd indoors and 3rd outdoors, and the women finishing 2nd outdoors. 
  • UTA women’s basketball finished as WAC Tournament runners-up and earned their second-ever WNIT victory in postseason play. 
  • UTA Athletics set a Maverick Club fundraising record for the second year in a row, with a 102% increase in annual giving. 

SEPTEMBER 

A $5 million gift from Raj and Indra Nooyi jumpstarted UTA’s new health informatics initiative, while a $1 million gift from the Harold Simmons Foundation and Thomas Connelly established a fellowship supporting social work graduate students and honoring alumna Serena Simmons Connelly. 

OCTOBER 

UTA received a $1.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation to support the development of a pioneering space weather program at UTA, laying the foundation for a future B.S. in space physics. 

NOVEMBER 

The College of Education launched a new initiative to better prepare future bilingual science teachers, expanding support for dual-language learners and helping meet critical workforce needs in Texas classrooms. 

DECEMBER 

UTA conferred more than 4,800 degrees at fall 2024 commencement ceremonies, a 4% increase over the previous year. 

JANUARY 

UTA was one of just three bachelor’s-granting institutions nationwide recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for exceptional student success and economic mobility. 

FEBRUARY 

Daniel Armstrong, Robert A. Welch Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, received the prestigious Pittcon Analytical Chemistry Award for his pioneering research. 

MARCH 

UTA reaffirmed its position as a Carnegie R-1 university—an elite designation achieved by just 5% of institutions nationwide. 

APRIL 

A gift from the Communities Foundation of Texas helped UTA expand the Emerging Mavericks Program, which supports students who have experienced foster care or homelessness in their pursuit of higher education. 

 MAY 

Grace Ellen Brannon, associate professor of communication and UTA alumna, earned a Fulbright U.S. Scholar award for 2025–26. 

JUNE 

UTA hosted the 2025 Glass Art Society Conference, bringing in artists, curators, educators, and scholars from around the globe. It was the first time the conference has been held in Texas. 

“We’ve spent the last 130 years proving what’s possible. Just imagine what the future holds.”

-Jennifer Cowley, Ph.D. 
President 

Special Thanks:

Archival photos are courtesy of UTA Libraries Special Collections.