Dr. Warren von Eschenbach Appointed Fourth UNT Dallas President by UNT System Board of Regents

Today, August 14, 2025, marks another important milestone for UNT Dallas. Just a short time ago, the UNT System Board of Regents appointed Dr. Warren von Eschenbach as the fourth President of the University in its 15-year history. He will also hold the academic rank of full professor with tenure as Professor of Philosophy at UNT Dallas.

Dr. von Eschenbach has served as Interim President of UNT Dallas since April 2024 and was named sole finalist by the Board in June. Previously, he held the role of Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs of the UNT System.

"The UNT System could not have a more transformational leader than Dr. von Eschenbach,” said Chancellor Dr. Michael R. Williams. "His leadership will continue to foster an environment where our faculty excels and our students can realize their full potential."

Over the past 16 months, President von Eschenbach has led transformative efforts at UNT Dallas. Under his leadership, UNT Dallas has invested in bold strategies to grow enrollment, advance student success, and strengthen community impact. Among them:

• Launched the University’s Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CITL)
• Secured $7M increase for the biennium in state appropriations for our Classroom to Career Initiative
• Strengthened admissions criteria, which led to a 20-point average increase in TSI scores for the 2024 freshman class 
• Implemented a new strategic budget process tied to performance measures to increase transparency and accountability, and redirected more than half a million recurring dollars into faculty support and academic programs
• Negotiated a new Criminal Justice Center to house faculty and students as part of the City of Dallas’s Regional Law Enforcement Training facility on our campus
• Celebrated the College of Law’s 10^th anniversary and had the highest pass rate for graduates taking the Texas bar exam for the first time

"I am profoundly grateful to Chancellor Williams and the University of North Texas Board of Regents for entrusting me with the privilege of leading UNT Dallas. As the University celebrates its 15th anniversary this year, it is humbling to reflect not only on past successes but equally as important on an exciting future full of promise,” President von Eschenbach said. “I look forward to advancing our mission of empowering students, transforming lives, and strengthening communities as we prepare our students for a purpose-driven, career-ready future." 

Dr. von Eschenbach holds a PhD in Philosophy from The University of Texas at Austin, an MA in Philosophy from Marquette University, and a BA in Philosophy from Trinity University. He and his wife, Rachael, who is co-founder of Mindful U, LLC., have been married for 25 years and have three children. His formal investiture as UNT Dallas’ fourth president is tentatively scheduled for next spring.