DENTON (UNT), Texas -- Two University of North Texas faculty members and current administrators – Eric Ligon and Dr. Gloria Cox – have been named interim deans for the College of Visual Arts and Design and the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science respectively, by Dr. Warren Burggren, UNT provost and vice president for academic affairs.

"Eric and Gloria bring an unusual degree of experience and expertise to their new roles," said Burggren. "Both Eric's and Gloria's history with the university will provide important continuity for students, faculty and staff in this transitional period as we continue national searches for new deans for the College of Visual Arts and Design and the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science."

Ligon has been serving as Associate Dean for Academic and Administrative Affairs, in the College of Visual Arts and Design since 2011. He has been a faculty member of the Communication Design program in the College of Visual Arts and Design for 23 years, having joined UNT in 1988 as a teaching fellow.

Ligon received his Master of Fine Arts degree in 1997 from UNT and his bachelor's degree in communication design from Pratt Institute.

Ligon also serves as faculty member in residence in Honors Hall. He, his wife and two teenage sons sold their four-bedroom Denton home in 2012 and moved into a two-bedroom apartment in Honors Hall -- home to 200 students in UNT's Honors College for academically talented students. As the faculty member in residence, Ligon involves students in after-hours activities such as scholarly discussions and one-on-one meetings with students. He and his family often invite students and other faculty members to gather around their table for family dinners.

While serving as interim dean of TAMS, Cox will continue to serve as dean of the UNT Honors College, a post she has held since 2005 when the college was formed.

Cox joined the UNT faculty in 1990 as a visiting assistant professor in Political Science. She became an associate professor in the department in 1997 and often taught TAMS students. In 1995, Cox became the director of the Office of Academic Core Programs. Under her direction, the Classic Learning Core evolved into the University Honors Program, the forerunner to the Honors College, which was established in 2005 and now has 2,000 members.

In 2004, Cox was presented with the President's Award from UNT for her efforts to advance both the Honors Program and the National Student Exchange program. She also has received a number of other awards including the 'Fessor Graham Award in 2010. She received her bachelor's degree in secondary education, master's degree in political science and doctoral degree in political science from the University of South Carolina.