UNT Alumni Association

💚 Happy , alumni! 💚

From campus days to career wins, Mean Green pride never fades!

💫 For David Schless (’89 M.S.), leadership has always been about people, families and dignity. Now, his decades of work advancing Alzheimer’s research and senior housing has earned him a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Alzheimer’s Association.

➡️ Read the story: https://bit.ly/4obrl24

✨ UNT Alumni Spotlight featuring Gabriel Puche ('18) ✨

➡️ Gabriel Puche is an insurance professional and is the epitome of Mean Green perseverance, success and legacy. With every project, task and event he participates in, he exudes the knowledge and confidence he gained while attending UNT. Gabriel graduated with a dual bachelor’s degree in economics and English literature in the fall of 2018. He was the recipient of multiple scholarships and awards, including three from the UNT Honors College.

Gabriel gives back to his community and has participated in various city programs and events, including the City of Richardson Citizen Police Academy and the City of Richardson Citizen Fire Department Academy. He is continuously involved in volunteer projects at his churches.

He is involved in the Economics Alumni Association and has attended the UNT Economics Banquet the past three years, where he has connected with alumni and supported current students receiving awards and scholarships, and has donated to UNT scholarship funds.

❓ What does being a UNT alumnus mean to you?
🟢 Being a UNT alumnus allows me to represent the success and recent growth of the university. As someone who graduated eight years ago, I have embodied UNT’s contemporary mission: to enhance and transform the metroplex and the world. When I started school at UNT, I had no clue who I was and what I wanted to be. UNT led me to discovery. One of the majors I graduated with chose me, employed me and awarded me multiple scholarships. The feedback and guidance I obtained from the Career Center and the College of Business helped me land my first internship in an industry I am still working in today! Ultimately, being an alumnus means showing gratitude toward my alma mater and its community — a community I am still part of and will continue to be for the rest of my life.

❓ How has your experience at UNT shaped your personal or professional goals?
🟢 My experience at UNT equipped me with the confidence and resilience to achieve my goals. Whenever I had a moment of uncertainty and/or insecurity, I was lifted by my rigorous coursework, industry-preparation organizations and fellow students and alumni. UNT made me believe in myself and opened doors that I never thought would open for me. UNT also gave me the stability and belonging I lacked growing up. I went to a lot of schools when I was younger, so it was very important for me to attend the same college for four years. Not only did I meet incredible people, enroll in enriching courses and attend fun and exciting events in those years, but I was also able to see first-hand the exponential growth of the university, a growth mirrored by my career.

❓ If you could give your freshman-year self one piece of advice, what would it be?
🟢 I would tell my freshman-year self that this is just year one of four. Throughout your college career, you will learn lessons through highs and lows. You will meet people from all walks of life and majors. You will pick up things from them that will only build your knowledge and professional profile. You will make countless memories and look back at your college years with a smile. Graduating from UNT is a lifelong honor, so wear your green now and forever! You are in the right place and on the path toward success, so absorb as much as you can and enjoy the ride!

✨There’s no better way to start the week than by highlighting the success of our UNT alumni. If you know someone whose journey deserves the spotlight — send us a message or submit your nomination here: https://bit.ly/49yHyY8 ✨

✨ UNT Alumni Spotlight featuring Michael Wright ('98) ✨

➡️ Michael Wright graduated in 1998 and quickly started his career in a new industry called e-commerce. Michael has been fortunate to stay in that industry and supply chain for the bulk of his career and currently serves as the vice president of marketing and communications at GXO — the world’s largest pure-play contract logistics provider and a Fortune 500 company. Michael and his wife of over 25 years, who is also a UNT alum with an education degree, raised two amazing daughters. Michael and his wife currently live in historic downtown McKinney where they enjoy being empty nesters and travel often.

❓ How has your experience at UNT shaped your personal or professional goals?
🟢 My time at UNT and in Denton was so impactful. I truly met some great friends and was exposed to some brilliant professors. Without a doubt, my most impactful student experience was joining the UNT study abroad program which was a summer session in London led by Dr. Don Vann — amazing man. That experience with students traveling around Europe and learning from Dr. Vann and other experts shaped me and helped build my resume as my first job indicated my international experience helped me stand out from other candidates. I would encourage every student to pursue a study abroad program with UNT — it develops you in ways you cannot always get from the classroom.

❓ Where's the most unexpected place you’ve run into another UNT alum?
🟢 I have actually seen UNT gear around the globe, which is a testament to the size and influence of our university. However, the most unexpected was seeing someone wearing a UNT sweatshirt on the subway platform in Shanghai, I was on the train and wasn’t able to speak to him but seeing the logo was a great surprise and a nice reminder of home.

❓ If you could give your freshman-year self one piece of advice, what would it be?
🟢 Take advantage of the experiences, the support system and expertise that UNT has to offer. Absolutely use the Career Center — I did, and they helped me secure my first interview and job. Leverage the wisdom of the professors and staff, ask questions (even after class) and value the friendships you build. You can learn from those friends too. Finally, attend every UNT sporting event you can! What a great way to spend time with friends, support your university and have lasting memories that extend beyond the classroom — it is all part of the college experience!

✨There’s no better way to start the week than by highlighting the success of our UNT alumni. If you know someone whose journey deserves the spotlight — send us a message or submit your nomination here: https://bit.ly/49yHyY8 ✨