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UNT Dallas graduate students tell personal stories at UNT System Board of Regents meeting
Summary
Three UNT Dallas graduate students — a student veteran, a public leadership master’s candidate and a law student — addressed the UNT System Board of Regents on Feb. 13, describing pathways to higher education and urging support for nontraditional and international students.
Three graduate students from UNT Dallas shared personal accounts of educational pathways, resilience and service at the University of North Texas System Board of Regents meeting on Feb. 13 in Dallas.
Joseph Ante, a graduate student in clinical mental health counseling and student veteran senator, told regents his life and military service shaped his commitment to mentoring and advocacy. "Your story matters, your struggles have meaning, your dreams are worth pursuing," Ante said, urging regents to support students who juggle family, work and school.
Hannah Taylor Schlitz, a master’s candidate in public leadership who survived tuberculosis and was adopted from Ethiopia, described the university as "a place where transformation happens." She said her experiences led her to focus on emergency services administration and public health, and she encouraged the board to elevate student support programs that connect classrooms to careers.
Stan Borodininski, a third-year law student at UNT Dallas College of Law, credited experiential programs and faculty for opening internships and clerkships. Borodininski cited the law school’s practical training and recent bar passage improvements as key to student opportunity.
Board members responded with praise and questions about how the university can help students remain engaged after graduation. Regent Ethan Gilles asked how the students planned to stay involved with UNT Dallas; the speakers described mentoring, returning as coaches and participating in mentorship programs for first‑year students.
The regents identified the student‑spotlight segment as a highlight of the meeting and encouraged leaders to continue showcasing student outcomes. The board then moved on to campus updates and committee business.
