Last Thursday, The University of Texas at Arlington held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house for its new UTA West storefront in Willow Park. The event marked the next phase of our transformative project to bring a top tier research university to west Fort Worth.
I was delighted to see so many members of the community there to celebrate this important milestone with us. It has only been a few weeks since I was named UTA’s inaugural vice president for regional campuses, but I have already heard from so many of you about your excitement for this new chapter in UTA’s history.
I share that excitement! I grew up in Tarrant County, and my wife, Stephanie, taught in Aledo ISD for seven years. We have both been amazed by the tremendous growth we’ve seen in the area. My family is eager to return, and I am ready to begin working with the west Fort Worth and Parker County communities to help expand the educational and workforce opportunities available for their residents.
The new Willow Park storefront is a strong first step toward that goal. The site will serve as a hub for community engagement, providing prospective students and families access to admissions, advising, financial aid, and other essential services as construction on the UTA West campus begins. It will also function as a home base for our outreach efforts, stakeholder collaborations, and updates on the multiphase construction process.
With UTA West, we are making a transformative investment in our community’s future. I truly believe that education can be a key partner in a region’s vitality and economic success. I look forward to partnering with you in this journey.
Go Mavs!
Wayne Atchley
Vice President for Regional Campuses
