Chancellor, University of North Texas System
Chancellor@untsystem.edu
UNT System Building | 1901 Main Street | Dallas, Texas 75201
Michael R. Williams currently serves as the fifth Chancellor of the University of
North Texas System (UNT System). A Fort Worth native, Dr. Williams practiced anesthesiology
and critical care medicine in Texas for more than twenty years. Prior to serving as
Chancellor, Dr. Williams spent more than a decade as the sixth president of the University
of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth (HSC), the first HSC alumnus to
serve as president.
From 2008 – 2013, Dr. Williams served as Chief Executive Officer of Hill Country Memorial
Hospital – during which time the hospital received numerous state and national awards
becoming a Truven Top 100 U.S. hospital in 2012 and 2013. Under his leadership the
hospital was also awarded the 2013 Malcolm Baldrige National Presidential Best Practice
for Leadership Award and named a Top 10 finalist for the 2013 Malcolm Baldrige National
Presidential Quality Award. Hill Country Memorial Hospital went on to win the 2014
Malcolm Baldrige National Presidential Quality Award.
In 2011, Governor Rick Perry appointed Dr. Williams to serve on the University of
North Texas System Board of Regents. He was later appointed to serve on the Texas
Wesleyan University Board of Trustees in 2013.
Dr. Williams completed his anesthesiology and critical care training at the University
of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas and the Texas Heart Institute in Houston
following earning two medical degrees. Dr. Williams holds board certifications in
both anesthesiology and critical care medicine by the American Board of Anesthesiology.
A successful business executive and entrepreneur, Dr. Williams also holds an MBA from
Duke University and a Master’s in Health Care Management from Harvard University.
Dr. Williams has founded companies in several industries including health care, mortgage,
and software.
Dr. Williams has been named a Fellow of the American College of Health Care Executives
and a Fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians. In 2013, Dr. Williams was
named to the U.S. News and World Report’s Advisory Council for the Healthcare of Tomorrow
and remains an active member.
Under Dr. Williams’ leadership, the UNT System has more than doubled its research
awards and secured its largest grant to date of $148.78 million to conduct groundbreaking
Alzheimer’s research. During his first year as Chancellor of the UNT System, Dr. Williams
built a values-based, people-first culture that embraces a new set of system-wide
values and fosters a culture of collaboration and innovation. Dr. Williams is working
to fulfill his vision for the System through creating a unified team committed to
being “One” as an organization and developing stronger working ties in academics,
research, and across all campuses and disciplines.
Beyond his many accomplishments, Dr. Williams’ strong business acumen has encouraged
significant growth across the UNT System, all while not raising tuition at any campus
during his tenure as Chancellor.
Dr. Williams and his wife Ann have two daughters and three grandchildren.