University of North Texas at Dallas

SITUATION OVERVIEW:

ZRG has been engaged to recruit a Chief Financial Officer for the University of North Texas at Dallas.

ABOUT UNT DALLAS:

Perched on a hilltop, overlooking the Downtown Dallas skyline, the University of North Texas at Dallas is the only public, accredited 4-year university in the City of Dallas. Serving Dallas Fort-Worth – the No. 1 job market in America, according to Forbes – UNT Dallas has served as a pathway to social mobility since its establishment in 2010.

UNT Dallas offers their students the most affordable tuition plans in the Dallas region, helping them blaze their trail toward a bachelor’s, master’s, or juris doctoral degree while minimizing student debt. Their value-based education is accompanied by innovative, high-quality academic programs that include opportunities for rich experiential learning.

At UNT Dallas you can expand your worldview, positively impact the local community, learn leadership skills, play sports, and more. The Office of Student Life provides students an educational, holistic, and innovative environment to discover more about themselves, their peers, and the world they live in.  An intercollegiate athletics program launched in the 2020-21 academic year with men’s and women’s teams in basketball, cross country, and track.

Their students also benefit from their many partnerships with non-profit organizations, school districts, community colleges, and local business partners, which allow them to expand educational access and provide unique learning opportunities for their students.

UNTD isn’t just growing from an enrollment standpoint – their tree-lined, 264-acre campus is evolving physically, as a thoughtfully-designed campus master plan fills out to accommodate more trail-blazing students. The university’s first residence hall opened in 2017, and a new $63 million student center opened in 2019. In January 2026, the University will open its new state-of-the-art 120,000 sq. ft. STEM Building. Plans for future expansion include 180-foot Ryan Tower that will be visible for miles in each direction, a beacon to celebrate the transformation of an entire region.

In Downtown Dallas, the UNT Dallas College of Law’s historic home – the former Dallas City Hall at 106 S. Harwood St. – is the city’s only public law school. This historic repurposing of one of Dallas’ most cherished landmarks – a $56 million interior restoration – was completed in 2019 and was accompanied by a $15 million exterior facelift of the building by the City of Dallas.  

Students are at the heart of everything UNT Dallas does… whether you’re the first in your family to attend college, or a professional looking to take the next step in your education and career. UNT Dallas graduates don’t just leave UNT Dallas with a diploma – their alumni are equipped with practical skills and knowledge needed to land a job. UNTD has a dedicated career center and partnerships in the business community designed to place our graduates directly into the workforce after commencement.

MISSION STATEMENT

Empower. Transform. Strengthen.

UNT Dallas empowers students, transforms lives, strengthens communities.

VISION

By 2030, UNT Dallas will become the leading public regional university in the area by delivering a holistic educational experience that integrates career-ready skills, leadership development, and experiential learning.

VALUES

• Courageous Integrity: Model exceptional standards and act in the best interest of our community.
• Be Curious: Cultivate opportunities for learning, creating, discovering, and innovating.
• Care: Champion a people-first approach to building relationships and community.
• Better Together: Foster an environment of respect, belonging, and access for all.
• Show Your Fire: Exhibit passion and pride in the experiences created.

STRATEGIC THEMES

• Rooted in community. Become the leading university in metro Dallas and the inner-ring suburbs.
• Growth. Increase enrollment, retention and completion rates with experiential learning while developing critical thinking and marketable skills for every student.
• Commitment. Relentless focus on student success.

POSITION:

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) reports to the President for UNT Dallas and provides stewardship over all financial operations of the University, advises the President on all financial matters, and is responsible for delivering support services to enhance the educational mission of the campus. The CFO will serve as a senior member of the President's Cabinet and is a member of the UNT System CFO Council.

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

• Manages all financial planning and financial analyses, the handling of investments, and appropriate controls and reports.
• Coordinates and supervises the development of institutional operating budgets.
• Develops and executes an integrated budget formulation in conjunction with the President, Provost and other senior leaders and administers the approved budget, authorizing appropriate budget adjustments as needed to carry out the normal operations of the campus.
• Coordinates the development of the Legislative Appropriations Request with the President; develops evidence and testimony in support of the request to various state agencies and the Legislature.
• Provides leadership and direction to the Central Business Office (CBO), ensuring efficient, accurate, and compliant personnel and purchasing transactions through the development of subject-matter experts and standardized processes across campus.
• •Administers all business and financial aspects of the campus to include development and administration of interagency contracts and financial relationships.
• Recommends ways to link appropriation and operating budget requests to campus planning.
• Integrates major business and related operations, including areas not directly managed, to ensure a transparent and seamless team including areas such as budgeting, controller/accounting activities, purchasing, and human resources.
• Ensures that monitoring systems are in place to track compliance with all federal and state laws and regulations, and that all staff have the training that they need to comply with relevant laws and regulations.
• Adheres to and fosters high standards of ethical conduct, compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, and appropriate financial oversight and controls.
• Exercises prudent management practices and authorizes exceptions to purchasing and payment policies when appropriate and within existing laws.
• Ensures strong collaboration with centralized service areas to improve delivery of services across the institution.
• Works effectively in a collaborative and teaming manner with other key leaders across the institution, the system and external partners and stakeholders
• Represents UNT Dallas in matters related to the financial management of the institution.
• Supports campus programs and initiatives aimed at fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for all students, faculty, and staff.
• Hires, trains, monitors, and conducts scheduled evaluations of the work performance of employees supervised.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum Qualifications

• Masters degree with specialization in Business Administration or related field; and 10-years' experience in Finance and Administration or related work; or any equivalent combination of experience, education, and training.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license.
• Experience and familiarity with higher education finance, reporting, and budgeting, especially public universities in Texas.

Knowledge, Skill, & Abilities

• Proven track record of successfully leading and managing complex projects and initiatives.
• Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and engage stakeholders at all levels.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Commitment to the mission and values of the university.

SENIOR MANAGEMENT:

Warren von Eschenbach, PhD
President, UNT Dallas

Dr. Warren J. von Eschenbach is a distinguished academic leader and philosopher, currently serving as the President of the University of North Texas at Dallas. In this role, he oversees the university’s academic, administrative, and financial operations, setting strategic visions, ensuring financial stability, and fostering a robust academic environment. His tenure has seen significant achievements, including the establishment of the University’s Inaugural Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning, and the implementation of strategic budgeting processes aligning unit-level budgets with key performance indicators.

Prior to his current position, Dr. von Eschenbach served as Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of North Texas System, where he supported curricular and programmatic innovation across campuses. Before coming to the UNT System, he spent nearly 14 years at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, as a faculty member and administrator. He served in various leadership roles within the Provost’s Office at Notre Dame, including as the Associate Vice President and Assistant Provost responsible for overseeing Notre Dame’s 11 international locations and 48 study abroad programs, Academic Director of the Notre Dame London Global Gateway, Senior Advisor to the Provost, and was instrumental in launching the Notre Dame Technology Ethics Center as the Inaugural Managing Director.

During his tenure at Notre Dame, he successfully created the University’s first multidisciplinary minor in technology ethics; fostered partnerships internationally to support faculty research and collaborations across campus; implemented a new core curriculum for international programs; opened the University’s Center in Rome; and increased experiential learning and research opportunities for students and postdoctoral fellows. In 2015, Dr. von Eschenbach and his team in London were awarded the Presidential Team Irish Award for exemplifying the University of Notre Dame’s core values.

Dr. von Eschenbach’s academic journey is marked by his profound engagement with ethical and normative issues, particularly in the realm of technology. As a faculty member at the University of Notre Dame, he taught a wide array of courses including “Existentialist Themes,” “Ethics & Politics,” “British Moral Philosophy,” “Philosophy of Art and Aesthetics,” and specialized courses in the ethics of data and business analytics. His teaching extends to the Business School, where he developed and taught courses such as “Ethics of Data Analytics”, “Ethics of Business Analytics” (MSBA), and “Ethics of Business and Data Analytics” (MBA).

His scholarly contributions are extensive and impactful. Dr. von Eschenbach has published articles in Philosophy & Technology, The Journal of Global Ethics, Culture e Fede: Journal of the Pontifical Council for Culture, The Journal of Value Inquiry, America Magazine, and Indigo Humanities Journal. He is a contributing author to Encountering Artificial Intelligence: Ethical and Anthropological Explorations (Pickwick Press, 2024) and Virtues in the Public Sphere: Citizenship, Civic Friendship, and Duty (Routledge, 2019). These publications reflect his commitment to advancing philosophical discourse and ethical practices in technology and education.

Dr. von Eschenbach holds a PhD in Philosophy from The University of Texas at Austin, specializing in ethics and 19th and 20th-century European philosophy; an MA in Philosophy from Marquette University; and a BA in Philosophy from Trinity University. He is a member of the executive committee of the North America Association for Philosophy & Education; a member of the AI Research Group at the Vatican Center for Digital Culture, Vatican Dicastery for Culture and Education; and a reviewer for Philosophy & Technology, Synthese, and the Journal of Philosophy. His dual citizenship in the United States and Italy underscores his global perspective and dedication to international collaboration.

Dr. von Eschenbach and his wife, Rachael, who is co-founder of Mindful U, LLC., have been married for 25 years and have three wonderful children.

LOCATION:

Dallas, Texas is a dynamic metropolitan hub known for its robust business environment, diverse economy, and strong culture of innovation. As one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States, Dallas offers a strategic central location, a highly skilled workforce, and excellent transportation infrastructure, including major highways, rail networks, and one of the nation’s busiest airports. The city is a leader in sectors such as finance, technology, healthcare, logistics, and telecommunications, while also fostering a thriving ecosystem for startups and entrepreneurs. With a pro-business climate, abundant corporate headquarters, and a vibrant mix of culture and lifestyle amenities, Dallas continues to be an ideal destination for growth-minded companies and professionals. Its forward-looking approach to economic development ensures that businesses have the support and resources needed to scale and succeed.

UNT DALLAS IN THE NEWS:

November 17, 2025

New 100% Online Bachelor of Social Work Degree Launches in Jan. 2026

November 10, 2025

UNT Dallas Ranked Among Best Online Colleges by Newsweek

October 28, 2025

Center for Technology, Innovation, Development and Entrepreneurship (TIDE) Unveiled to Business Leaders

October 24, 2025

“Understand the Importance of a Degree": Top Public Safety Leaders Address Students on College and Career

October 13, 2025

Dr. Ali Shaqlaih Selected for AASCU Millennium Leadership Initiative

October 07, 2025

UNT Dallas Receives Largest Private Donation Ever: $17 Million

September 19, 2025

UNT Dallas #1 for Student Outcomes in New College Rankings

INTERVIEW PROCESS:

ZRG provides our global Clients with a rigorous and patented assessment platform grounded in data and analytics. Our interview process includes the following:

1. Initial interviews with ZRG

2. ZRG presentation of candidates to Client for calibration and discussion; Client selects candidates for consideration and initial interviews

3. Candidates complete ZRG’s on-line assessment

4. Finalist candidates advance to second and third round interviews with broader leadership team

5. Formal referencing

6. Offer extended

ABOUT ZRG PARTNERS:

ZRG is a global talent advisory firm that is changing the way companies hire and manage talent. ZRG’s data-driven approach to executive and professional search has been changing the way clients think about how to find top talent. The company’s digital Zi platform combines talent intelligence, candidate insights, and process improvement to dramatically deliver executive searches quicker and with proven better results.

Dakota Doman
Managing Director
ddoman@zrgpartners.com

Dakota Doman is a dynamic and visionary executive with more than 15 years of leadership experience spanning higher education administration, executive search, organizational strategy, and governmental affairs. He is a Managing Director in ZRG’s Education Practice, bringing a comprehensive perspective on leadership needs within academic institutions, especially Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

Before ZRG, Dakota was the President and Managing Principal of TM2 Executive Search, the only search firm founded to provide executive talent solutions to HBCUs, where his work focused on inclusive leadership recruitment, strategic talent pipelines, and governance transformation, contributing to successful placements in C-suite and senior academic roles across the country.

Under his leadership, TM2 was nationally recognized for reshaping the executive hiring landscape for historically underserved institutions, and Dakota was featured in the February Black History Month edition of Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, a national publication spotlighting leader advancing equity and access in higher education.

Prior to leading TM2, Dakota was unanimously appointed by the Texas Southern University (TSU) Board of Regents as the Acting Chief Executive Officer. He joined TSU initially as Chief of Staff and Chief Governmental Affairs Officer, where he spearheaded critical university initiatives including legislative engagement at municipal, state, and federal levels, Title III program development, institutional effectiveness, strategic partnerships, and transformative planning.

Jerel Booker
Principal
jbooker@zrgpartners.com

Jerel Booker is a seasoned executive specializing in talent strategy, organizational growth, and executive search, with over two decades of leadership experience across higher education, K–12, and nonprofit sectors. Most recently, he served as Associate Managing Principal and Chief Operating Officer at TM² Executive Search, where he conducted national executive searches and oversaw enterprise operations—aligning people, processes, and performance to drive organizational growth and client impact. Previously, Jerel held senior executive roles in government, education, and nonprofit leadership, including Assistant Deputy Commissioner at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, where he oversaw internal division operations, staffing, and institutional statutory compliance within core functions. His leadership spans core operational domains including finance, human capital, technology, contracts, marketing, and enterprise risk management.