UTA In The News — Friday, May 16, 2025
Women’s flag football
UTA will add women’s flag football to its intercollegiate athletics program, becoming the state’s first D-1 program to add the growing sport, which will make its Olympic debut in 2028. President Jennifer Cowley and Director of Athletics Jon Fagg broke the news Thursday morning in an exclusive interview on NBC 5. Following Cowley’s public announcement later in the day, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, The Dallas Morning News, Yahoo! Sports, SB Nation, and Total News reported on the addition.
State of Higher Education
President Jennifer Cowley and Elva LeBlanc, Tarrant County College chancellor, addressed an audience of faculty, staff, business leaders and community partners at the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce’s third annual State of Higher Education, reported the Fort Worth Report, Tarrant County College, and Spot on Texas. President Cowley spoke on UTA’s 130-year history of pursuing opportunity and innovation.
Arlington Study of Healthy Aging
The Fort Worth Report covered UTA researchers enrolling volunteers for the Arlington Study of Healthy Aging, which will use advanced imaging, genetics, exercise science, neuroscience and remote monitoring to investigate age-related health decline.
John Shirley commencement story
Spectrum News Louisville and KDFI-FM featured John Shirley—the 60-year-old Navy veteran who graduated last week from the College of Business. Shirley is a first-generation college graduate who has overcome homelessness and colon cancer. He earned his degree in real estate and will work toward alleviating homelessness.
Autonomous food delivery
UT Arlington faculty and students were partners in the city of Arlington’s pilot autonomous food delivery program, the Fort Worth Star Telegram and Dallas Innovates reported. The city held a demonstration of the self-driving vehicles. Yahoo! News reshared this news story.
Fort Worth population
The Fort Worth Star Telegram mentioned UTA West in a story about Fort Worth surpassing 1 million residents. Yahoo! News and MSN reshared this news story.
Industry opportunities in higher education
President Jennifer Cowley spoke with D Magazine about what industry opportunities await higher education.
Innovation in higher education
UT Arlington was mentioned in an opinion piece in The Dallas Morning News about innovative leadership transforming higher education in Texas.
Wildfire smoke warning system
Sciencemag reshared a UTA news release about Yunyao Li, assistant professor of earth and environmental science, being selected by NASA to develop a system that gives communities early warning when wildfire smoke may make the air unsafe to breathe.
Expert Interviews
Mark Hand, assistant professor of political science, spoke with the Texas Standard about the 89th Texas legislative session.
Sahadat Hossain, professor of civil engineering, spoke with Waste Management World about his work to advance sustainable waste management through the reuse of recycled plastics in concrete roads.