The Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service has named Larry D. Terry II its new Executive Director. Larry will take on the role July 1st along with a courtesy appointment in the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy.
Most recently serving as the founding director for the Urban SERCH Institute at the University of North Texas at Dallas, Terry brings over 20 years of experience in public service and higher education. Since 2014, Terry has made it his mission to improve the lives of citizens in the Dallas region and in Texas, creating practical partnerships with elected officials, public servants and community leaders to address poverty and other community issues. Under Terry’s leadership, last year SERCH launched the Community Leadership Academy, the nation’s first peer-based citizen police officer leadership training program. He also oversaw projects that fulfill UNT-Dallas’ mission to be a catalyst in its community’s transformation, by creating partnerships with municipalities and organizations ranging from the City of Dallas, local nonprofits and neighborhood associations, and the Dallas Police Department.
Terry earned a PhD in Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Dallas, a Master’s in Public Administration from San Diego State University, and a BA in Black Studies from the University of California at Santa Barbara. Prior to his position at UNT Dallas, Terry served as an assistant professor of Public Administration at both Long Island University-Brooklyn and Arizona State University.