UTA Selects Sean Kelly as dean of the Honors College
The University of Texas at Arlington has selected Sean Kelly as the next dean of the Honors College.
Kelly currently serves as the director of the Interdisciplinary School for Engagement at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), a position he has held since 2022. He served as the dean of the Honors College at UTSA from 2016 to 2022 in addition to his appointment as a professor of philosophy and classics.
Kelly will assume his new role at UTA on Feb. 1.
“Dr. Kelly brings extensive experience in honors education that will advance the Honors College commitment to developing citizen-scholars through rigorous academic honors curriculum, creative activity, research and service,” said Tamara L. Brown, provost and senior vice president of academic affairs. “I am inspired by his vision to build on our existing foundation of excellence in the Honors College.
“Bringing talented educators and leaders to UTA is another way we are upholding our Maverick promise to promote student success,” she said.
Prior to his arrival at UTSA, Kelly served in a variety of roles at Florida Gulf Coast University, including faculty member in the philosophy program, interim dean of undergraduate studies, and founding director of the university’s P.A.G.E.S. program, an initiative designed to help students develop professional goals and explore career options for liberal arts majors.
Kelly looks forward to reimagining and repositioning the Honors College experience.
“The goal is to position the Honors College to set the national standard for what Honors can mean in the decades to come,” said Kelly. “The diverse student body, institutional support and UTA’s location will all contribute to making the Honors College a model for Honors today. I am humbled and honored to join this community and cannot wait to start working with UTA students.”
Kelly earned his doctorate in comparative literature and master’s in philosophy from Binghamton University. He was awarded a bachelor’s in philosophy and English from the State University of New York at Geneseo.
Founded in 1999, UTA’s Honors College now includes over 1,000 students from an array of majors and disciplines. In the more than 25 years since its establishment, the Honors College has cultivated a strong tradition of academic excellence. Alumni have made significant contributions to their communities and the world, while current students continue to impress with their research and leadership.
The Honors College is committed to the development of citizen-scholars by encouraging students to participate in community service and to seek leadership opportunities at UTA. Additionally, the college offers highly respected study abroad programs that provide students with opportunities to engage with the people, events, movements, ideas and products of cultures other than their own.
About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
Located in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, The University of Texas at Arlington is a comprehensive teaching, research, and public service institution dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through scholarship and creative work. With an enrollment of approximately 41,000 students, UT Arlington is the second-largest institution in the UT System. UTA’s combination of outstanding academics and innovative research contributes to its designation as a Carnegie R-1 “Very High Research Activity” institution, a significant milestone of excellence. The University is designated as a Hispanic Serving-Institution and an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education and has earned the Seal of Excelencia for its commitment to accelerating Latino student success. The University ranks in the top five nationally for veterans and their families (Military Times, 2024), is No. 4 in Texas for advancing social mobility (U.S. News & World Report, 2025), and is No. 6 in the United States for its undergraduate ethnic diversity (U.S. News & World Report, 2025). UT Arlington’s approximately 270,000 alumni occupy leadership positions at many of the 21 Fortune 500 companies headquartered in North Texas and contribute to the University’s $28.8 billion annual economic impact on Texas.