SFA University
The cover of Stephen F. Austin State University’s 2023 Stone Fort yearbook features debossed numerals and gold foil lettering. A limited number of this special centennial volume is available for purchase by SFA alumni, supporters and community members this fall. Contact the SFA Department of Student Publications for more information.
September 13, 2023 — A limited number of centennial volumes of Stephen F. Austin State University’s Stone Fort yearbook, celebrating a century of Lumberjack history and tradition, are available this fall for purchase by alumni, supporters and community members while supplies last.
The full-color, hardback edition costs $67 and features 312 pages of SFA images and stories pertaining to the past year and all 99 years that came before it. Proceeds from annual yearbook sales are used to help cover the cost of printing and pay for SFA student writers, photographers and editors who work for the award-winning publication.
“The yearbook staff set a goal in summer 2022 to elevate the centennial edition in all aspects, from making it full color to delving deep into the institution’s history for content and perspective to designing a high-quality cover that would look nice on any Lumberjack’s coffee table for years to come,” said Laney Wise, current Stone Fort editor-in-chief.
"Working on the centennial yearbook was such an honor,” said Wise, a junior graphic design major from Keller. “I feel incredibly lucky to have been a part of such an important piece of SFA history, and I had an amazing time getting to talk to so many of my peers to help tell the story of SFA."
Many historical photos and references from past SFA yearbooks made their way into the special centennial edition, said SFA Department of Student Publications Coordinator and Stone Fort advisor Rachel Clark.
“The students and staff have had a lot of fun during the last year reviewing past yearbooks and seeing how the campus has changed over the decades, not to mention students’ outfits and hairstyles,” she said. “But just as remarkable to us was the realization that a lot of aspects of student life at SFA, in particular Lumberjacks’ school spirit and reverence for tradition, haven’t really changed that much in the past 100 years.”
The first volume of the Stone Fort yearbook was produced in 1924 and chronicled the first academic year of SFA’s history. Except for two years during the Great Depression, the yearbook has recorded each intervening year of the unique SFA student experience.
Just a handful of Texas universities and only four public institutions in the state are still producing a traditional, printed yearbook each year, according to Amy Roquemore, director of student publications and divisional media at SFA. The Stone Fort routinely wins writing, photography and design awards from the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association and earned two national awards from the College Media Association in 2022.
“Changes in the student staffs’ interests and preferences, as well as publication design trends and cultural and societal institutions, have resulted in each Stone Fort yearbook’s uniqueness, yet the volumes share a throughline of Lumberjack history, spirit and tradition,” Roquemore said. “For the centennial edition, the staff doubled down on SFA history, and the students did an outstanding job of encapsulating highlights of the 2022-23 academic year while also paying homage to the history and alumni behind a lot of the traditions and activities Lumberjacks take part in today.”
Roquemore said the professional and student staffs decided early on in the centennial yearbook’s production to make the special edition available to alumni and community members in addition to current student yearbook subscribers.
“We knew this would be a one-of-a-kind piece of SFA history that Lumberjacks would want to have, whether they attended classes last week or many decades ago,” she added.
To purchase a centennial Stone Fort yearbook, call the SFA Department of Student Publications at (936) 468-4703, email clarkr1@sfasu.edu or stop by the office located in Room 2.308 of the Baker Pattillo Student Center.
Stone Fort yearbook
Preserving one of the oldest traditions at SFA, Stone Fort staff members strive to create a yearbook that accurately captures the essence of the university and what it means to be a Lumberjack. Through compelling storytelling, captivating images and imaginative design, the staff works to foster a sense of community while developing talented students who share passions for journalism and art. Each volume is intended to portray the SFA student experience with accuracy and integrity, serving as one of the university’s primary sources of recorded history.
About Stephen F. Austin State University
Stephen F. Austin State University, the newest member of The University of Texas System, began a century ago as a teachers’ college in Texas’ oldest town, Nacogdoches. Today, it has grown into a regional institution comprising six colleges — business, education, fine arts, forestry and agriculture, liberal and applied arts, and sciences and mathematics. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, SFA enrolls approximately 11,000 students while providing the academic breadth of a state university with the personalized attention of a private school. The main campus encompasses 421 acres that include 36 academic facilities, nine residence halls, and 68 acres of recreational trails that wind through its six gardens. The university offers more than 80 bachelor’s degrees, more than 40 master’s degrees and four doctoral degrees covering more than 120 areas of study. Learn more at sfasu.edu.
September 1, 2023 — Following a 13-month process that included the formation of representative input groups, the collection of community and public comment, and the filing of state legislation, Stephen F. Austin State University today officially becomes the 14th member of The University of Texas System.
The formal action of transitioning SFA into the UT System was finalized during the Aug. 24 UT Board of Regents meeting in Austin to become official Sept. 1.
“This is just the beginning of our journey. We are convinced that this new relationship will make each of us stronger,” UT System Board of Regents Chair Kevin P. Eltife and UT System Chancellor James B. Milliken said in a joint open letter to the SFA community distributed Aug. 24. “From SFA’s regents to faculty and staff, students and alumni, to the entire Nacogdoches community, we have been inspired by your enthusiasm and many new friendships that have evolved over the past year. It is our pleasure to officially welcome you to The University of Texas System.”
Benefits of affiliation with the UT System began emerging before the transition was made official. The first was announced in January 2023, when the UT System invested $1 million in SFA’s Purple Promise tuition coverage program. This need-based financial aid initiative funded through the system’s Promise Plus endowment is allowing more than 1,200 students to attend SFA tuition-free in the first year alone.
“It’s a historic year for SFA. Today, we celebrate our affiliation with the UT System and in a few weeks will celebrate our university’s 100th anniversary of educating students,” said Gina Oglesbee, SFA interim president. “SFA’s ability to continue offering a quality education in the pines will only be strengthened by our membership in the UT System.”
The UT System has also committed $22 million to address transition costs, including compensation for SFA faculty and staff, and $80 million to support capital projects, including a new forestry, agriculture and interdisciplinary facility, and investments in the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture and the Nelson Rusche College of Business’s Arnold Center for Entrepreneurship.
More than $4 million in annual support services at SFA will be covered by the UT System and will range from access to free student mental health services to cybersecurity expertise.
Affiliation process
The process of affiliating with a public university system began in August 2022, when then-SFA Interim President Dr. Steve Westbrook announced to the campus community that representatives from four Texas university systems had extended interest in affiliating.
A months-long fact-gathering process followed, headed by an SFA Board of Regents subcommittee that included Karen Gantt, chair; Tom Mason, vice chair; Jennifer Wade Winston, secretary; David Alders, member and former chair; and Westbrook.
Over the course of five weeks in 2022, from Aug. 22 to Sept. 23, representative campus groups, including the Deans Council, Chairs Forum, Faculty Senate, Staff Council, Student Government Association and Alumni Association, developed questions related to their constituent groups. These question sets were provided to each of the four systems Sept. 26 with an invitation to respond by Oct. 6.
On Oct. 30, representatives from all SFA constituent groups shared their thoughts on the respective systems’ answers; and on Nov. 29, the SFA Board of Regents approved an affiliation with the UT System.
Sponsored and drafted by eight Texas legislators, including Sen. Robert Nichols and Reps. Travis Clardy and Trent Ashby, Senate Bill 1055 passed and was signed May 10, 2023, by Gov. Greg Abbott, effectively authorizing the transition of SFA into the UT System.
On July 27, 2023, the UT System Regents voted in favor of assuming management and operational control of SFA, effective July 28. The vote was also a requirement of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges’ continued accreditation of SFA. As a condition of continuous accreditation, SACSCOC required that the UT System assume management and control of SFA no later than July 28.
Answers to common questions related to affiliation with the UT System can be read at sfasu.edu/ut-system.
For information on the full affiliation process, visit sfasu.edu/system.
About Stephen F. Austin State University
Stephen F. Austin State University, the newest member of The University of Texas System, began a century ago as a teachers’ college in Texas’ oldest town, Nacogdoches. Today, it has grown into a regional institution comprising six colleges — business, education, fine arts, forestry and agriculture, liberal and applied arts, and sciences and mathematics. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, SFA enrolls approximately 11,000 students while providing the academic breadth of a state university with the personalized attention of a private school. The main campus encompasses 421 acres that include 36 academic facilities, nine residence halls, and 68 acres of recreational trails that wind through its six gardens. The university offers more than 80 bachelor’s degrees, more than 40 master’s degrees and four doctoral degrees covering more than 120 areas of study. Learn more at sfasu.edu.
About the University of Texas System
The University of Texas System has enhanced the lives of Texans and individuals worldwide through its commitment to education, research and health care for 140 years. With 14 institutions collectively enrolling over 254,000 students, the UT System stands as one of the largest public university systems in the United States. UT institutions annually produce over 66,000 graduates and award more than one-third of the undergraduate degrees in Texas, as well as over 60% of the state's medical degrees. The combined efforts of UT-owned and affiliated hospitals and clinics resulted in over 10.7 million outpatient visits and more than 2 million hospital days last year. The UT System’s $3.8 billion research enterprise is one of the nation’s most innovative and ranks No. 1 in Texas and No. 2 in the nation for federal research expenditures. The UT System has an operating budget of $29.1 billion for fiscal year 2024 and employs more than 116,000 faculty, health care professionals, support staff and student workers.
The University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine officials and Stephen F. Austin State University representatives sign an early assurance program agreement to create a pathway for students between their undergraduate degree and medical school.
August 22, 2023 - On Aug. 16, 2023 Stephen F. Austin State University joined seven local colleges and universities to celebrate The University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine’s early assurance program signing day.
“This is a significant milestone for UT Tyler School of Medicine and our partnering colleges,” said President Kirk A. Calhoun, MD, FACP. “The Pathways program reflects our commitment to recruiting local talent and promoting excellence in medical education. Through this program, we are creating a pathway for East Texas students to pursue a career in medicine.”
The early assurance program, known as “Pathways to Medicine,” will prepare 40 students each year from local colleges and universities for a successful career in the medical field by providing clinical exposure and developing necessary study skills for medical school. Up to 15 will be admitted into the School of Medicine.
The eight partnering institutions include:
- East Texas Baptist University
- Jarvis Christian University
- LeTourneau University
- Stephen F. Austin State University
- Texas College
- Texas A&M University – Texarkana
- The University of Texas at Tyler
- Wiley College
“The Pathways program is an excellent opportunity for SFA to strengthen partnerships and help address health care needs in our region,” said Gina Oglesbee, SFA interim president. “Through this program, our selected SFA students will have additional resources and support to help achieve their goal of attending medical school. We are proud to be part of this initiative with the UT Tyler School of Medicine.”
The Pathways program encompasses a one- to two-year curriculum for junior and senior years. Program activities include professional development, speakers and panel discussions, standardized test prep including MCAT, volunteering and physician shadowing. Participants undergo the same rigorous admissions process and interviews as other prospective students, and their selection is based on a holistic evaluation of their qualifications.
“With a strong emphasis on community engagement and preventive care, the early assurance program will encourage and support greater numbers of students interested in medicine,” said Dr. Gisele Armond Abron, UT Tyler School of Medicine associate dean of admissions. “This initiative is not only shaping the future of health care but also ensuring that our region welcomes more dedicated and competent physicians.”
If you attend a participating institution and are interested in enrolling in the Pathways program, email sompathways@uttyler.edu to obtain contact information for your institution’s early assurance program designee.
Pictured are muscadine grapes from the SFA Gardens Jimmy Hinds park.
August 16, 2023 — Stephen F. Austin State University’s SFA Gardens will host a fruit research field day from 9am to 3pm Friday, September 29 featuring kiwifruit, muscadine grapes, blueberries, figs, feijoas and other fruits.
Speakers will include Dr. David Creech, director of SFA Gardens; and Dr. Tim Hartmann and Dr. Justin Scheiner, both faculty members in Texas A&M University’s Department of Horticultural Sciences.
“While east Texas has suffered through several climate challenges in the last few years, the region has many comparative advantages for the fruit grower,” Creech said. “Low-cost land, easy access to high-quality water sources, big nearby population centers, and more folks interested in growing their own fruit all point to promise in the years ahead.”
The day will start at 9am with presentations at the Brundrett Conservation Education Building in the Pineywoods Native Plant Center, located at 2900 Raguet St. There will be a break for attendees to leave for lunch. After the break, participants will then go to the fruit research plots at SFA Gardens around 1pm.
The cost of the field day is $15 per person. Register on-site the day of the event or in advance online at sfasu.edu/sfagardens.
For more information, email sfagardens@sfasu.edu.
August 15, 2023 - In an event that happens once in a lifetime, Stephen F. Austin State University is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a full slate of months-long initiatives that will culminate in a weekend of celebrations in September.
“Since SFA first opened its doors in 1923, it’s been a place of transformation for thousands of students eager to forge a bold path for themselves,” said Gina Oglesbee, SFA interim president. “SFA’s first class totaled just 270 students. Today, more than 115,000 alumni continue to make a difference using the lessons they learned here on our beautiful pine-covered campus. I am excited to welcome them back to celebrate their alma mater alongside our current students, faculty, staff, SFA friends and Nacogdoches and regional community members.”
Schedule of events
An all-are-welcome birthday party Sept. 18, SFA’s Founders Day, will cap off a four-day weekend of events celebrating the university’s 100 years. The official Centennial Celebration kickoff begins with the SFA Alumni Association’s annual awards ceremony Sept. 15, which is open to the public. Tickets can be purchased at sfaalumni.com.
The weekend celebration’s second day, Sept. 16, will be dedicated to honoring the relationship the university has long held with its host town, Nacogdoches. Visitors, returning alumni, students and community members are encouraged to attend events and initiatives taking place throughout the city. A complete list will be shared closer to the event.
“Planning for our Centennial Celebration has been ongoing for years because we understood the gravity of this immense milestone,” said John Branch, SFA Centennial Committee chair and interim assistant vice president for finance and administration. “We made sure the weekend of events honors the university’s past while celebrating its bright future.”
The Griffith Fine Arts Building grand reopening will be the focus of festivities Sept. 17. A ribbon-cutting will take place at 1:30 p.m. followed by plaque unveilings at 2 p.m. The $53 million expansion more than doubled the size of the existing building and added state-of-the-art performance spaces, rehearsal halls, and dance studios, among many other additions in the Micky Elliott College of Fine Arts. The full scope of the project can be viewed at finearts.sfasu.edu/expansion.
The world premiere of a composition commissioned for the university’s centennial — and created by Dr. Stephen Lias, professor of composition in SFA’s School of Music — will take place at 4 p.m. Sept. 17 in the Griffith Fine Arts Building’s Turner Auditorium.
The open house also features self-guided tours of the building before the auditorium is opened for its first public viewing and concert. While all activities of the day are free and open to the public, the concert is a ticketed event due to limited seating. Complimentary tickets, available while they last, can be obtained by contacting the Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or boxoffice@sfasu.edu starting Sept. 1.
The final day of the centennial weekend, Sept. 18, will begin with the dedication of the Centennial Ring Plaza at 10:30 a.m. and the unveiling of a new campus statue gifted to the university by the SFA Alumni Association. Guided and self-guided tours will be ongoing into the weekend’s grand finale: a sprawling centennial birthday party on and along Vista Drive, which will take place at 4 p.m. that day.
“We’re planning to give a nod to the way celebrations occurred during the beginning years of the university by having long communal tables lining the road for Lumberjacks to meet up and celebrate our history and our future,” said Heather Howell, SFA Centennial Committee member and SFA director of advancement services. “The area near Vista Drive will be set up similar to a festival, filled with vendor booths, activities, memories and more so visitors can truly acknowledge what this university means to them.”
During the festival, visitors will be invited to partake in birthday cake and ice cream, take self-guided tours of campus, and participate in games and activities set up in the area. Guests will also be invited to tour the Centennial Axe Handle Exhibit, which will be set up in the Pearman Alumni Center’s Hall of Honor.
Centennial initiatives
Lumberjacks are encouraged to continue participating in and contributing to several ongoing initiatives and projects meant to honor the university’s 100th anniversary:
- Centennial Axe Handle Exhibit — Alumni can submit their decorated axe handles to SFA’s Centennial Axe Handle Exhibit. The exhibit will feature axe handles loaned by the university community, and a digital slideshow ensures that distant Jacks can also participate.
- 100K Service Hours for 100 Years — Students, alumni and SFA employees are competing to see who can log the most volunteer hours in honor of SFA’s centennial year. Keep up with totals and log volunteer hours at sfasu.edu/centennial.
- Planting 100 Pine Trees — SFA has a goal to plant 100 pine trees in honor of SFA’s 100 years. Individuals, organizations, fraternity and sorority chapters, groups of friends and the public can make a donation to have a tree planted on the SFA campus in honor of another person or group.
All SFA Centennial Celebration events are open to the public, and all except the SFA Alumni Association awards ceremony are free.
View the up-to-date SFA Centennial Celebration schedule of events, read about the university’s history, find downloadable graphics and more at sfasu.edu/centennial.
August 4, 2023 — Lumberjacks and friends of Stephen F. Austin State University are encouraged to participate in the university’s third-annual Giving Day, which is also happening in conjunction with SFA’s centennial celebration.
SFA welcomed its inaugural class of students Sept. 18, 1923. To celebrate the university’s 100th anniversary, this year’s campaign goal is $192,300.
“Since 1923, generations of alumni and friends have supported SFA to ensure the Lumberjack experience is available to today’s students,” said Trey Turner, associate vice president for university advancement. “Coinciding with the university’s centennial, Giving Day provides a perfect opportunity to celebrate SFA while simultaneously investing in its future.”
Some areas that donors may consider helping include colleges or departments from which they graduated, student organizations they participated in, athletics, scholarships and more.
“The centennial Giving Day is a one-day event that will bring together alumni, friends, parents, students, faculty and staff, both online and in person, to support SFA and celebrate 100 years of Lumberjacks,” said Mallory Marshall, coordinator for annual giving.
The Giving Day webpage will go live in the upcoming weeks, and everyone interested can follow Giving Day announcements and updates on SFASU Foundation’s Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn accounts. There will also be opportunities to give in person at the centennial celebration events taking place throughout the day. Campaign progress will be actively updated on the @SFASUFoundation social media pages.
Donations can be made online during the day through Giving Day platforms, and links will be provided through emails and shared on social media. All donations are tax deductible.
For more information about SFA’s Giving Day, contact Marshall at Mallory.Marshall@sfasu.edu.
August 3, 2023 — Join Stephen F. Austin State University’s Health and Wellness Hub staff members at Nac Safe Place’s suicide awareness walk, scheduled for 5 p.m. September 23 at Festival Park in downtown Nacogdoches.
Nac Safe Place is a collaboration of community agencies, schools and law enforcement officials dedicated to reducing the stigma associated with suicide in order to increase each person’s ability to seek help and prevent further loss of life.
The Hub is partnering with Nac Safe Place and other organizations to host the inaugural “OK to Not Be OK” walk for suicide awareness and prevention.
Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States and is the second for college-aged people, said Clare Fite, director of SFA Counseling Services at The Hub.
“Helping to reduce the stigma by talking openly about mental health and ensuring that our services are easily accessible, especially to those in crisis or experiencing thoughts of suicide, has always been part of The Hub’s mission,” Fite said. “We know that suicide prevention is everybody’s business and that even the smallest gesture can help to prevent the tragedy of suicide. Being able to participate in the Nac Safe Place suicide awareness walk is an honor.”
The event will feature live music, food and education materials. It also will promote 988, the number of the national suicide and crisis hotline launched in July 2022 that can be reached via phone and text.
Alana Culpepper, founder of Nac Safe Place, said she hopes the event will help community members learn to pay attention to the warning signs and act when someone is in crisis.
“Until we rip the Band-Aid off and help break the stigma, suicide numbers will continue to increase,” Culpepper said. “If we can be that point of contact to make someone feel safe, then we are fulfilling the vision of Nac Safe Place.”
Culpepper said a memorial garden will be created at Festival Park to honor lives lost to suicide. Families who would like to honor their loved ones with a sign in the garden may email info@nacsafeplace.life.
To register for the walk, sponsor the event or become a vendor, visit the Nac Safe Place website at nacsafeplace.life.
Stephen F. Austin State University’s SFA Gardens will host its annual Fabulous Fall Festival Plant Sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 7 and 8 at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center. Four types of lantana will be available this year: Miss Huff Hardy, Chapel Hill Yellow, Lantana urticoides and Lantana montevidensis (Imperial Purple).
August 1, 2023 - Stephen F. Austin State University’s SFA Gardens will host its annual Fabulous Fall Festival Plant Sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 7 and 8 at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center in historic Nacogdoches.
The sale will feature an array of hard-to-find, “Texas-tough” plants, with an emphasis on native, pollinator-friendly selections, garden favorite perennials and trees, including Japanese maples, magnolias and bald cypress. A list of all available plants will be posted on the SFA Gardens website two weeks before the sale.
This very popular event raises money for the operations of areas under the SFA Gardens umbrella, including Mast Arboretum, Pineywoods Native Plant Center, Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden, Gayla Mize Garden and Kingham Children’s Garden.
During this year’s sale, attendees will also have the opportunity to donate to SFA Gardens’ environmental education program to help bring children’s events back to the gardens as the program recovers from the 2020 closure.
Parking will be available at SFA’s Janice A. Pattillo Early Childhood Research Center, located at 2428 Raguet St. Visitors are encouraged to arrive early and bring a wagon for their plants.
For more information and a list of available plants, call (936) 468-4404 or visit sfasu.edu/sfagardens.
July 28, 2023 - Stephen F. Austin State University’s Center for Applied Research and Rural Innovation along with the Texas Forest Country Partnership will host the Nacogdoches Forum on Rural Economic Development from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 1 at the Nacogdoches County Courthouse Annex.
The public event will provide a platform for community stakeholders, business leaders and local elected officials to discuss their role in the economic development of their city/county. Presenters include Mary Ann Rojas, executive director of CARRI; Nancy Windham, TFCP president and CEO; and Dr. Mikhail Kouliavtsev, chair of SFA’s Department of Economics and Finance. The forum also features a collaboration session facilitated by Kelly Hall, president and CEO of the Longview Chamber of Commerce. A complimentary lunch will be provided.
“These events bring together all of the major stakeholders in each county into one room for a frank discussion about the relevant issues, challenges and opportunities ahead,” Kouliavtsev said. “It is our plan to summarize the results of all 12 of these forums and share some feedback with each county’s representatives. We also need to establish a baseline of conditions in our area against which we can measure any future improvements in growth, innovation, quality of life — ultimately, that’s the goal of CARRI.”
Kouliavtsev will kick off the forum by providing a snapshot of economic conditions in Nacogdoches County and comparing them with those in deep East Texas and the entire state. According to Kouliavtsev, this information will focus on workforce availability and preparation as well as job attributes that employers are seeking to fill: occupations, specific job titles, and the skills employers are looking for and whether prospective workers have them. The second part of the event will be Hall’s facilitated discussion.
Community members and local municipal officials such as mayors, county judges, economic development representatives and industry leaders are encouraged to attend.
“Anyone with an interest in local economic issues would find the event helpful, including the discussions among presenters and attendees,” Kouliavtsev said. “I am also looking forward to learning from those in attendance — business leaders, elected officials — about what their experience is like navigating the challenges of local economic development.”
Some economic challenges attendees will discuss are similar to those other counties in the region are facing, including declining population, few employment opportunities for young workers and access to health care. However, according to Kouliavtsev, Nacogdoches County offers areas of growth including attainable real estate and educational opportunities.
Monica Loa, associate project director of CARRI, hopes different cities and counties can learn from each other at these sessions.
“This event is designed to provide each city and county a platform for discussion so they can increase their understanding of their role in the economic development of their communities,” Loa said.
Sessions are being offered in 12 deep East Texas counties. To register for this or the remaining county sessions, visit https://forms.office.com/r/RGs4cSHbkA. For more information, contact Loa at loamm@sfasu.edu.
July 28, 2023 — As one of its final duties, the Stephen F. Austin State University Board of Regents named Dr. Dan Bruton, professor of physics and director of the SFA Planetarium, the 2023-24 Regents Scholar.
The title of Regents Scholar is the highest honor the university can bestow upon a faculty member. The honor is reserved for faculty members who are exemplary role models to the university community. The title is not an academic rank but an honorary title held for the duration of the recipient’s service to the university.
As part of the recognition, Bruton received a $2,000 grant to support his research efforts, which involve the search for minor planets as well as engineering design projects.
Previously named Regents Professor, SFA’s Regents Scholar program was established in 1979. Bruton will be the last to receive this recognition as SFA joins The University of Texas System this fall and becomes governed by the system’s board.
“As the final recipient of the Regents Scholar award, I am filled with profound gratitude and a heightened sense of responsibility,” Bruton said. “Joining the ranks of distinguished individuals who have received this honor before me is a humbling experience. Receiving this award is truly a highlight of my career, and I am grateful for the support and encouragement of my colleagues and mentors who have helped me reach this point.”
Bruton earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physics from SFA in 1988 and 1990, respectively, and obtained his doctoral degree in physics from Texas A&M University in 1996. Shortly after, he joined the SFA faculty and now teaches astronomy, engineering and physics courses. A recipient of SFA’s Teaching Excellence Award in 2003, Bruton was integral in the establishment of SFA’s engineering program, including the electrical engineering and mechanical engineering degree programs.
“Throughout his service as a faculty member, associate dean, director of the planetarium, director of engineering, and Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology accreditation team leader, Dr. Dan Bruton has performed and led with conviction, compassion and excellence,” said Dr. Kimberly Childs, dean of SFA’s College of Sciences and Mathematics. “He is a servant leader, a visionary and a trusted colleague.”
Bruton also helps develop curriculum for younger students, including STEM Academy educational modules on engineering for the Nacogdoches and Lufkin independent school districts. He has involved students in Near Space projects that take instruments to the edge of space with high-altitude balloons, and he is currently working with students on an engineering design project for the collegiate Society of Automotive Engineers’ Baja national competition.
“Fostering a curiosity for science among all generations in the community is of utmost importance,” Bruton said. “Embracing curiosity not only fuels our thirst for knowledge but also empowers us to understand the world around us and tackle its challenges.
“By nurturing this inquisitive spirit, we inspire lifelong learners, promote scientific literacy and pave the way for innovative solutions that can positively impact society and create a brighter future for all. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to engage with both K-12 students through our planetarium educational programs and assist college students in achieving their career aspirations in engineering and physics.”
Bruton has worked with students to discover 11 new asteroids and make observations of over 40 other minor planets. He also has written free astronomy educational computer programs and made them available online. In addition, he educates the whole community through SFA Planetarium programming.
“Dr. Bruton has the unique ability to build and sustain sound relationships, serving as a valuable, dependable resource to countless students and colleagues across the SFA campus and beyond,” Childs said. “I have great respect and admiration for him, and I believe he is the quintessential SFA Regents Scholar.”
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