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Dr. Tonya Smith-Jackson, PhD, CPE, Chancellor of Rutgers University–Newark, is an industrial and systems engineer with extensive academic leadership experience. Formerly Provost at North Carolina A&T State University, she has also served in industry and government, including at the National Science Foundation, as well as other universities and community colleges in NC, NY, VA and Germany. A Fellow of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers and the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, she has directed research labs and centers focused on human factors in human-computer interaction, and human-systems design and evaluation for accessibility, consumer products, healthcare, construction, transportation, and communication technologies.
Harrison Keller serves as the 17th president of the University of North Texas, the third-largest university in Texas and flagship of the UNT System. Since assuming the role in August 2024, he has focused on advancing student success and elevating UNT’s national profile in academic and research excellence.
A recognized leader in higher education policy and innovation, Keller most recently served as Commissioner of Higher Education and CEO of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, where he led statewide efforts to improve college readiness and student outcomes, particularly for low-income and first-generation students.
Previously, he held multiple leadership roles at the University of Texas at Austin, including Deputy to the President for Strategy and Policy and Vice Provost for Higher Education Policy and Research. His career also includes experience in state government and teaching roles at Georgetown University, St. Edward’s University, and UT Austin.
Keller earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame and his master’s and Ph.D. in philosophy from Georgetown University. He also served as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve for a decade. He and his wife, Gena, have three children.
