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Multiple education and career paths as southern Dallas region grows

There’s a saying that goes, “A rising tide lifts all boats.” That was the inspirational undercurrent of the Southern Dallas Region Innovation Summit held at UNT Dallas on Oct. 21, 2025.

“UNT Dallas is one of the most important institutions in the city of Dallas,” said Peter Brodsky, CEO of the Shops at Red Bird, and the visionary entrepreneur who is changing the face of southern Dallas, specifically inside the city limits.

Brodsky, together with Dr. Jason Garrett, Dean of the UNT Dallas School of Business, set an optimistic and opportunistic tone. “This set of students is the most resilient and agile set I’ve ever seen by a long shot,” Dean Garrett said, comparing UNT Dallas students to those at the six other universities where he has studied and worked.

The goal of the gathering was to sell the benefits of the Southern Dallas Region to business leaders, investors, entrepreneurs, government officials, educators and other stakeholders who want to harness the expected growth.

And there’s plenty of room to grow, both inside and outside the boundaries of the city. Southern Dallas within the city encompasses 208 square miles, representing 54% of the municipal geographical area and 40% of its population. While the other half of Dallas (north of I-30) exploded with growth – residential, commercial, recreational, industrial – southern Dallas was ignored for many decades by developers, businesses and government.

It created what Brodsky called a “supply-demand imbalance” where the needs and wants of the community were not being met. Hence, the current opportunity for those who want to be at the forefront of something big. “In capitalism, that’s how you make money,” Brodsky said.

Dean Garrett said UNT Dallas students are part of the change now and they will be for years to come. “Your best future employees are coming from UNT Dallas,” he said, noting that the School of Business is educating about 1,200 students at the moment. It is the fastest-growing of the university’s four schools.

Dean Garrett listed the many majors and programs in the School of Business aimed at students who want to ride the wave of innovation in the region. “There’s a rising tide of activities,” he said, that will benefit students, faculty and a variety of stakeholders, many of whom were in the audience.

Brosky agreed and made a shocking revelation to prove his point. For many years, in all of southern Dallas, all 208 square miles within the city limits, there was only one Starbucks. It wasn’t even at his own mall. It was on the UNT Dallas campus. “UNT Dallas will change the face of Southern Dallas and Dallas (as a whole),” he said. “How many big cities can you think of with only one Starbucks in a 208-mile area?” Brodsky asked rhetorically. His point resonated with the room. Recently, Starbucks has expanded, adding stores in southern Dallas and surrounding cities, making Brodsky’s story outdated, but still historically relevant.

Dean Garrett unveiled plans for a new Center for Technology, Innovation, Development, and Entrepreneurship (TIDE) at the School of Business. TIDE will bridge theory and practice. The Center is already designing a curriculum to educate and train students through a “hub of knowledge.”

President Warren von Eschenbach called TIDE a game-changer. “It will demonstrate that our supply chain and logistics learners are future-ready and technology-savvy,” he said. “TIDE will have the unique opportunity to foster progress by linking our academic expertise with your industry needs.”

TIDE will partner with businesses to offer experiential education – hands-on internships and learning opportunities. The Center demonstrates the university’s increasing commitment to “Classroom to Career” initiatives, which build a robust pipeline of talented, qualified professionals.

TIDE aims to play an integral role in workforce development for our rapidly growing region. “With the Southern Dallas Region positioned as a major logistics hub that’s continuing to expand, we’re ensuring our students graduate workforce-ready with the skills and knowledge that local employers need,” said President von Eschenbach.

Fellow higher education leaders agree. “We can’t afford to leave any underdeveloped talent on the table at the rate we’re growing,” said Dr. Joseph Seabrooks, President of the Dallas College Cedar Valley campus.

The region expands far beyond the city, including suburbs such as Lancaster, Duncanville, Desoto, Red Oak, Hutchins, and more.

The Southern Dallas Region Innovation Summit was funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Much of the discussion focused on technological innovation driving our economy, including AI, especially related to logistics and supply chains. The event featured four panels, which tackled topics that were all interconnected:

• Artificial Intelligence and Logistics Innovations
• Autonomous Systems
• Innovative Technologies: Emissions and Energy
• Aerospace Innovations

“We want to be the world leader in logistics innovation,” said Dr. Terrance Pohlen, Senior Associate Dean at the G. Brint Ryan College of Business at UNT. He then asked, “What are the career paths? What are the educational requirements?” The answers would come as the day progressed.

Logistics innovation comprises many areas, which create countless opportunities for students, as well as faculty who want to conduct research. Including:

• Automation (Vehicles, Drones, Robotics)
• Digital Logistics (Cybersecurity, Sensors, Software, Data)
• Electrification (Renewable Energy, EVs)

Those three keys are connected by three others at the heart of UNT Dallas’ mission:

• STEM Education
• Research and Experiential Learning
• Workforce Development

“I hope each of you leaves here with a renewed commitment to collaboration—to reach across sectors, to share resources and expertise, and to keep southern Dallas at the forefront of innovation and economic growth," said President von Eschenbach in his closing message.

Another anecdote from Peter Brodsky illustrates the past and exemplifies the future of southern Dallas and the expansive area outside the city itself. Brodsky said the Bank of America building, known as Oak Cliff Tower, is the only structure south of I-30 taller than 10 stories. With the region poised for dramatic growth in the coming decades, that anecdote soon may no longer be true, either.

DENTON – For the first time since opening in 2011, DATCU Stadium will host a complete sellout as the North Texas Mean Green football team takes on USF on Friday night at 6:30 p.m.

The sellout marks a historic milestone for UNT Athletics, underscoring the growing energy around the 5-0 Mean Green, the best start for the program since 1959. Fans in attendance are encouraged to Wear Black.

“This is a tremendous moment for our program, our fans, and the entire Mean Green family,” said Vice President and Director of Athletics Jared Mosley. “The passion and support we’re seeing across Denton and beyond show what’s possible when our community rallies behind this team. DATCU Stadium is going to be rocking.”

All available tickets, including student, season, and single-game allotments, have been claimed. […]

The sellout adds to what’s shaping up to be one of the most exciting weekends in recent UNT history. With Friday afternoon classes canceled after 12:00 p.m., students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to join in pregame festivities. Tailgating on The Hill begins at 1:30 PM.

Fans attending the game are encouraged to arrive early to avoid traffic and enjoy pregame festivities, which begin at 1:30 p.m. in and around DATCU Stadium. Gates open at 5:00 p.m.

-- GMG –

UNT Dallas has received the largest private donation in its history, $17 million, from the Commit Partnership, on behalf of the O’Donnell Foundation. Both are Dallas-based organizations dedicated to improving education and economic opportunity.

The record-breaking contribution was announced at a special event on Oct. 6, 2025, at the Dallas Museum of Art. UNT Dallas President Warren von Eschenbach and several members of the university’s cabinet attended the award presentation.

“UNT Dallas accepts this generous and transformational gift, which is the largest in the university’s history, with deep gratitude and appreciation,” said the President. “It will support expanded classroom-to-career initiatives and ensure UNT Dallas students have access to the resources they need for a successful, purpose-driven, career-ready future.”

UNT Dallas will use a significant portion of the $17 million to establish a new team of Student Success Coaches, who will support students from admission through graduation, helping them navigate college and ensuring they have the necessary resources to succeed.

The coaches are one of several university-wide initiatives announced by President von Eschenbach at the start of the 2025-26 academic year. He said they will be “the connectors” between students and resources that help them thrive – and graduate fully prepared for a competitive, evolving workforce.

The $17 million is part of a $50 million O’Donnell Foundation gift that also includes Dallas College, the University of Texas at Dallas, and Southern Methodist University, with the goal to expand opportunity and improve degree completion for Dallas County students. In conjunction with the O’Donnell Foundation’s investment of $60 million late last year to the Dallas County Promise, this collectively represents one of the largest philanthropic investments to grow postsecondary success in the history of our region and perhaps our state and country.

Dallas County Promise is an innovative, life-changing program that aims to send students in Dallas County to college tuition-free. The UNT Dallas-Dallas County Promise Scholarship covers the remaining balance on the full cost of tuition for up to four academic years or bachelor’s degree completion (whichever comes first) that is not covered by other grants, scholarships, exemptions, benefits, and/or waiver programs received by the student.

Sergio Barrera, a 2024 UNT Dallas School of Business Graduate, is among many Dallas County Promise recipients who attend UNT Dallas at a Trailblazer Elite Recognition Event is receiving an award from UNT Dallas’s Dr. Kimberly Riddick, Director of Student Leadership and Success

“By aligning school districts, higher education institutions, philanthropy, and community partners, we can absolutely change the trajectory for Dallas students and our region," said Commit Partnership CEO Todd Williams. “These investments are not just in institutions—they represent investments in the lives of our young people who will fuel the future prosperity of North Texas.”

The late Edith and Peter O’Donnell Jr founded the O’Donnell Foundation in 1957. Its primary mission was – and still is – to support educational institutions at all levels and strengthen math, arts and science programs throughout Texas. To date, the foundation has invested approximately one billion dollars in philanthropy.