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Dennis Burns joined the UNT System family on February 1, 2023, as the assistant vice chancellor and chief human resources officer for The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth. In this role, he will provide oversight for the human resources team that provides services such as employee relations, benefits, compensation, organizational development and engagement, talent acquisition, workforce planning & strategy, among other things. He will report directly to Dr. Donna Asher, vice chancellor for people, equity and culture and directly support HSC’s president, Dr. Sylvia Trent-Adams, her leadership team and the employees at HSC in their people initiatives and programs.

“I am so excited to have a person of Dennis’ caliber join our UNT System family and specifically, our human resources family. He will bring a wealth of knowledge, skills, abilities and experiences that will prove to be invaluable to the work that we do every day.” Asher said. “He understands and appreciates the importance of working in a values-based culture and will be instrumental in helping us realize the vision laid out by Chancellor Michael R. Williams, for the entire UNT System to be united as ‘one team, values-driven and customer-focused with an emphasis on excellence, curiosity, and innovation’ by 2026.”

Burns is a seasoned human resources leader and business partner with more than 25 years of tactical and strategic human resources experience in private, public and academic sectors. His practical experience spans functions in HR strategy, employee relations, total rewards, talent acquisition and management, succession planning, organizational learning and development, HR systems, data analytics and diversity and inclusion. His unique blend of experience in providing leadership across a spectrum of human resources service lines will lend itself to him becoming a collaborative partner in helping the institution to meet its goals and objectives.

“This is an exciting team to join the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth,” Burns said. “I’m looking forward to providing strategic HR leadership and support while elevating the role and scope of HSC human resources. Our collective efforts will benefit both our workforce and community.”

Prior to joining HSC, Burns served as the vice president of human resources for Steward Health Care in Dallas. He held prior HR leadership positions at Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina, Jacksonville Electric Authority in Jacksonville, Florida, Northwest Medical Center: LifePoint Hospital in Winfield, Alabama, Georgia Department of Human Services in Atlanta, Georgia and Community Hospice and Palliative Care in Jacksonville, Florida. He has also had the privilege to serve as a National Malcolm Baldridge Examiner for two years in the 2018 and 2019 cycles. Burns has multiple HR certifications including Senior Professional in Human Resources, Senior Certified Professional with Society of Human Resources Management, Certified Total Strength Deployment Inventory Facilitator and a Just Culture Certified Trainer.

“We are so excited to welcome Mr. Dennis Burns to the UNT System and HSC family,” Trent-Adams said. “Burns will bring to HSC a wealth of expertise and experience in human resources and business. His professional background and knowledge uniquely position him to provide strategic leadership in the planning and implementation of high-quality, integrated human resources programs for the university. I am thrilled to have him join our team and be a part of the important work at HSC.”

Burns received his Master of Science in Business Administration from Central Michigan University and his Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences from the University of North Florida.

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