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The College of Pharmacy has experienced a season of significant transitions, marked by leadership changes and new faculty appointments that reflect both growth and continuity within the college.

At the heart of this shift is the transition of Dr. Tina Machu, a foundational figure in the college. Machu has been instrumental in shaping the college’s identity, academic programs, and collaborative culture from the start. She has contributed significantly to its growth and success over the years.

Machu left her role as senior associate dean for academic affairs to focus on her responsibilities as senior advisor to the college and as admissions liaison to the university’s Office of Admissions and Recruitment.

“This year-long transition was something that I began discussing five years ago with our former dean, Suresh Madhavan. I envisioned that the best way for a new senior associate dean for academic affairs to seamlessly assume the new role would be to have me as an on-site resource for a full academic year before retiring,” Machu said.

She will also continue to serve as a professor during the 2025-2026 academic year before her long-awaited retirement. She looks forward to entering a new phase in her life.

These changes ahead of her retirement initiated a series of other transitions within the college, as leadership positions were thoughtfully realigned and new individuals stepped into key roles to ensure continuity and forward momentum. Dr. Kyle Emmitte who has been leading the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences for nearly a decade, has stepped into the senior associate dean role.

“It was a tremendous privilege and honor to lead the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences over the last seven-plus years. The Pharmaceutical Sciences faculty members are dedicated scholars and educators, and I am proud of what we accomplished together. In my new role as senior associate dean for academic affairs, I am most looking forward to working more closely with our students and to helping them reach their academic and career goals,” Emmitte said.

His excellent track record as chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, combined with his experience as professor, has well equipped him for this next chapter.

“My time as department chair and the last decade as a faculty member in the College of Pharmacy has provided me with a good and balanced perspective that enables me to evaluate situations from multiple angles and make decisions in the most thoughtful manner possible,” Emmitte said.

Dean Robinson is confident Dr. Emmitte will play a key role in advancing the College of Pharmacy’s continued progress, “Kyle brings years of teaching, research and leadership experience to an important position that touches numerous considerations across the College. I look forward to our working together and to learning with and from Kyle as he brings forward his ideas for teaching, student success and retention, and his impact on the College in the years to come,” Robinson said.

Emmitte has hit the ground running with a clear vision and actionable priorities for the role.

“The college has already begun to earnestly think about the curriculum in our Doctor of Pharmacy program and to consider ways that we can optimize its content and delivery for the benefit of our students and the profession,” Emmitte said.

For him, faculty and students will always be the driving force behind every decision, with students’ best interests always at the forefront and a strong commitment to upholding the college’s high standards.

“I am looking forward to working with our faculty and staff as we flesh out the precise plan and to implementing the changes made effectively and efficiently. We also have MS and certificate programs that we are seeking to grow and a new PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences program currently under review with THECB. It is an exciting time in the College of Pharmacy with plenty of important work to be done!” Emmitte said.

The appointed successor to the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences chair position, Dr. Denise Inman, has worked closely with Emmitte and is now excited to step into this leadership role to do her part to support the department’s continued success.

“I am most looking forward to helping my fellow faculty achieve their goals and really enjoy their time at HSC. It is such a privilege to be entrusted with the support of such talented and hardworking colleagues. I also look forward to learning more about the ways we can further the mission of the College,” Inman said.

During this season of change, the College of Pharmacy has also welcomed a new faculty member just in time for the new academic year.

Dr. Jordan Chiasson joins as an assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacotherapy, with a strong background in clinical pharmacy in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and close ties to our college.

“Practicing clinical pharmacy for the past five years in the Fort Worth area, I was able to work closely with UNT Health faculty, students and alumni. Through these interactions I was able to learn about the great work that the college was doing and its vision,” Chiasson said.

He is eager to begin his era as an educator and is excited to work closely with students to help them discover their passion within the field of pharmacy.

“My passion for education, mentorship, and research aligned with goals and values of the college and UNT Health, making it a team that I was happy to join when offered the position,” Chiasson said.

Another significant change within the college is the title update of a key staff member who has played an integral role in fostering collaboration between leadership, faculty and students. Austin Luna is now the director of student experience and academic success, his title update from assistant director for the office of Pharmacy Student Success, is a change that aligns with his level of involvement and contributions to the college.

“I am excited to now be the director of student experience and academic success and to have an amazing team that fully supports our students during their pharmacy school journey. In this new role, I look forward to collaborating even more with our pharmacy faculty and staff, as well as our UNT Health partners across the campus to provide our students with the support and tools needed to thrive,” Luna said.

Collectively, these updates exemplify the college’s steadfast dedication to maintaining excellence, fostering continuous progress, and reinforcing its position as a leader in academic innovation and pharmacy education.

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