Division of Planning

Debbie Rohwer

Vice President for Planning and Chief of Staff in the Office of the President

Dr. Debbie Rohwer began serving as Vice President for Planning and Chief of Staff in the Office of the President in June 2017 and is a Regents Professor of Music Education. Prior to her appointment in the Office of the President, she joined the UNT College of Music faculty in 1997 and was Professor of and Chair of Music Education. Dr. Rohwer’s position as Vice President for Planning and Chief of Staff includes a variety of duties such as:

• Advising President Smatresk and his executive leadership team on the conceptualization and execution of innovative organizational strategies and objectives
• Developing and leading strategic, cross-divisional presidential projects and initiatives that have potential impact for the future direction of the university
• Assembling teams from across the university that problem solve and work toward improved processes

Education

• Ph.D. in music education, The Ohio State University
• M.M. in music education, Eastman School of Music
• B.M. in music education and flute performance, Northwestern University

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Rhiannon White

Executive Assistant to the Vice President for Planning and Chief of Staff

The Executive Assistant to the Vice President for Planning and Chief of Staff provides support for the vice president and the Office of the President. The assistant is responsible for:

• Coordinating appointments, scheduling meetings and travel, and assisting with special projects for the Vice President for Planning and Chief of Staff
• Answering phone calls to the Office of the President and directing them to the proper destination
• Editing/preparing outgoing correspondence
• Managing requests to use 204 and 204A conference rooms

Education

• B.A. in English, Chapman University

Contact Info

Rhiannon.White@unt.edu 940-565-4030Hurley Administration Building 370

Jason Simon

Associate Vice President of Data, Analytics, and Institutional Research

With more than 28 years of higher education experience, Dr. Jason Simon serves as Associate Vice President of Data, Analytics, and Institutional Research (DAIR). He leads a comprehensive enterprise-wide data warehouse team that brings together data sources from enrollment management, finance, academic affairs, and student affairs to promote data-informed decision making for UNT. 

Dr. Simon joined UNT in 2008 and previously led teams in advancement, student affairs, academic affairs, and finance and administration. His varied experiences inform his diverse perspectives and fuel his work in using data to uncover solutions to some of UNT’s most critical challenges. 

Dr. Simon also serves as an affiliate faculty member in UNT’s Department of Counseling and Higher Education, and is a frequent speaker at local, regional, and national conferences on data, analytics, and institutional culture. Dr. Simon also is a frequent author and his research focuses on how campus culture can impact the success or failure of data and analytic projects. Dr. Simon was one of two institutional researchers to help draft the “Change with Analytics” statement, which promotes data-informed decision making in new ways across higher education. Finally, Dr. Simon was selected to serve on the Educause Analytics and Research Advisory Group, guiding strategy, research, and the analytic roadmap for 16,000 members across 2,300 institutions.

As Associate Vice President of Data, Analytics, and Institutional Research, Dr. Simon is responsible for:

• Leading a dynamic team of institutional researchers, business intelligence professionals, and data modelers responsible for the enterprise-wide data warehouse, analytics, and dashboard solution known as Insights 2.0. 
• Guiding development and implementation of UNT data governance structures, practices, and guidelines/policies as highlighted on data.unt.edu. 
• Advancing an institutional research culture that transitions to an agile planning model with a renewed focus on automated data delivery.
• Providing the President’s Cabinet and other top-level constituents with key data, while simultaneously ensuring that all state and federal reporting needs are met. 
• Collaborating with key campus partners in Enrollment, Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, Advancement, Finance and Administration, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Access, and Research to maintain relationships that move UNT forward on key strategies related to scope and function of department. 

Education

• Ph.D. in higher education, University of North Texas
• M.Ed. in higher education and student affairs administration, University of Vermont
• B.A. in environmental studies, Ramapo College of New Jersey

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Chelsea Bassett

Director of Student Initiatives and Assessment

Chelsea Bassett joined the Division of Planning in July 2020 after serving as Senior Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs in UNT’s College of Science where she directed the COS Advising Center and numerous student initiatives. Prior to joining the UNT family in April 2018, Chelsea worked as the coordinator for student success and in an advising role at Stephen F. Austin State University, and in the University of Nebraska’s Office of Admissions. The Director of Student Initiatives and Assessment’s responsibilities include:

• Serving as project owner and overseeing universitywide implementation of EAB's Navigate student success management system
• Coordinating rollout of the EAB Milestone Guidance application

Education

• M.Ed. in higher education, University of Nebraska
• B.A. in history, University of Nebraska

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Stacey Polk

Student Success Program Manager

Prior to joining the Division of Planning in July 2020, Stacey Polk served as a Gifted and Talented Education Specialist for Northwest ISD’s Advanced Academics Department. The Student Success Program Manager's responsibilities include:

• Researching external sources and analyzing internal data to formulate and implement student success initiatives aligned with the strategic plan
• Collaborating with faculty and staff to produce projects, programs, and events contributing to student success

Education

• B.A. in English, Tarleton State University

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