SFA University
September 14, 2026 - Stephen F. Austin State University will honor its 2026 alumni award recipients and SFA Athletics Hall of Fame inductees at 6pm Friday, September 25, at The Fredonia Hotel in Nacogdoches.
“These honorees exemplify the very best of the Lumberjack spirit,” said Craig Turnage, executive director of alumni relations. “Their contributions in their professions, their communities and to SFA demonstrate the legacy of excellence that continues to define our alumni.”
This year’s alumni award honorees are Emily A. Parker, Distinguished Alumni Award; Zachary Taylor, Outstanding Young Alumni Award; and Blake Westmoreland and Tish Wright, Lumberjack Pride Award. The SFA Athletics Hall of Fame inductees are Sanford “Sandy” Miller and Ashley Monteau.
The Lumberjack Legacies ceremony, which is open to the public, will begin at 6pm with a reception followed by the program at 7:30pm. Guests are encouraged to attend in spirited cocktail attire. Tickets are $150 per person or $1,600 for a table of 10. To purchase tickets, visit sfaalumni.com/legacies, email lumberjacklegacies@sfasu.edu or call the Office of Alumni Relations at (936) 468-3407 by September 16.
Distinguished Alumni Award
Emily A. Parker ’70
Parker, of Dallas, earned a Bachelor of Arts in economics and finance with highest honors from SFA in 1970 and a Juris Doctor from Southern Methodist University's Dedman School of Law with honors in 1973.
After law school, Parker was the first female lawyer hired by Thompson & Knight LLP, now Holland & Knight LLP, and later became the firm’s first female partner. She served as managing partner at the firm from 2012 to 2016 and retired in 2019. Currently, as consulting counsel to the firm and retired senior partner, Parker represents taxpayers in Internal Revenue Service audits and appeals proceedings, state tax audits and hearings, and federal and state tax refund and deficiency litigation. She also advises on federal income tax and Texas tax planning, with experience in taxation of natural resources and partnership and corporate transactions involving the petroleum industry. Parker has represented clients in several precedent-setting cases that decided important industry issues and developed previously unsettled issues of tax law. She also has served as acting chief counsel and deputy chief counsel for the IRS.
Parker is a fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel and the Dallas, Texas and American bar foundations. She also is a member of SMU’s Dedman School of Law Executive Committee. Parker served as chair of the Section of Taxation for the American Bar Association’s Natural Resources Committee and as vice chair of the ABA’s Appointments to Tax Court Committee. She also served as chair of the State Bar of Texas’ Natural Resources Committee and as a council member of its Tax Section.
Parker was the first woman and ninth recipient to be named Outstanding Texas Tax Lawyer by the State Bar of Texas Tax Section. Her many other honors include the Distinguished Service Award from the ABA Tax Section and the SMU Dedman School of Law Distinguished Graduate Award. She also earned multiple entries on Best Lawyers in Dallas, Texas Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America lists as well as two Dallas Tax Lawyer of the Year awards. Parker was part of the Who’s Who of Texas attorneys, with the superlatives of best, outstanding and top-notch.
A native of Henderson, Parker created the Emily A. Parker Scholarship to benefit academically high-achieving students pursuing any major at SFA. She also supports Dallas Court Appointed Special Advocates, the Child Abuse Prevention Center, Easterseals North Texas and Texas Women’s Foundation.
Outstanding Young Alumni Award
Zachary Taylor ’11
Taylor, of Houston, earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in international finance and accounting from SFA in 2011 and pitched for the Lumberjacks baseball team.
As principal and senior vice president at Colliers commercial real estate firm, Taylor specializes in selling and leasing industrial real estate with a particular focus in southeast Houston and other markets along the Gulf Coast. He has experience working with local, national and international clients on their various real estate needs including site selection, tenant representation, building acquisitions/dispositions and build-to-suit projects.
Taylor has worked with industrial users, developers and investors on a variety of transactions totaling more than 3 million square feet of lease/sale transactions and hundreds of acres of land totaling more than $200 million in transaction volume. He has earned Colliers’ Titan Award and Colliers’ Million Dollar Producer Award and is a member of Colliers’ Everest Club.
Taylor is also a member of the Strake Jesuit Alumni Association, Houston Food Bank and Keep Houston Beautiful. He and his wife, Alexandra, have two sons, Owen and Benjamin.
Lumberjack Pride Award
Blake Westmoreland ’94
Westmoreland, of Nacogdoches, earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in finance and management from SFA in 1994. His more than 30 years in leadership roles, mostly in Fortune 500 companies, led to his current role as a general manager at Moore Supply Co., a wholesale distributor of plumbing, HVAC and industrial supplies that operates as a division of Hajoca Corporation.
Westmoreland is a board member for the Nacogdoches Hero Foundation. He also serves as one of the administrators of the “You Know You Went to SFA” Facebook page.
He married another Lumberjack, Julie, who earned her Bachelor of Science in rehabilitation in 1994. They have two grown children, one of whom is an SFA senior.
Tish Wright ’98
Wright, of Friendswood, earned her Bachelor of Science in deaf and hard of hearing from SFA in 1998 and a Master of Science in physical therapy from Texas Woman’s University in 2005.
Since then, Wright has worked as a physical therapist in a variety of settings including pediatrics, orthopedics, home health and assisted living. Initially focused on pediatrics, she later moved into orthopedics working with young athletes and post-surgical patients. A former clinic director and team lead of therapy, Wright currently works with the geriatric population in assisted living and memory care communities. She said hearing their life stories brings her joy.
As a member of Zeta Tau Alpha, Wright serves as an alumnae national officer for District 11 Gamma and as a member of the Theta Eta Chapter 50th Anniversary Celebration Committee.
Wright met her husband, Chris ’97, at SFA in summer 1995. They married in 1999 and have three children, Isabel, Ezra and Abigail, an SFA student. The Wrights travel to Nacogdoches often to walk the campus, check on their tree and visit Abigail.
Wright has cohosted Bay Area alumni socials with Mike Hahn for three years and looks forward to organizing more. She enjoys attending SFA Ballpark Days in Houston and volunteering with the SFA Alumni Association during Showcase Saturday, Houston Alumni Corner and SFA Move-In Day.
SFA Athletics Hall of Fame Inductees
Sanford “Sandy” Miller
Miller, of Nacogdoches, was a former assistant athletic director for sports medicine and former head athletic trainer at SFA. A native of Larned, Kansas, he earned a Bachelor of Science in education from the University of Nebraska and a master's degree from Northwest Missouri State University. Miller’s career began in Pampa as the first athletic trainer for the Pampa Independent School District. Two years later, he returned to Northwest Missouri State University as head athletic trainer.
In 1981, Miller joined SFA as head athletic trainer and would remain a Lumberjack for the rest of his career. During his time in this role, he worked for and with four athletic directors, 32 head coaches and many assistant coaches. Miller always prioritized student-athletes’ health care and athletic training students’ education.
By teaching as a part-time instructor in both the undergraduate kinesiology and graduate athletic training programs while serving as full-time athletic trainer, he helped prepare more than 150 athletic trainers with SFA ties to work in secondary schools, colleges and universities, professional sports, and the clinical setting. In 2012, Miller retired as assistant athletic director for sports medicine and head athletic trainer; however, he was rehired to teach in the graduate athletic training program for another five years. He said preparing future athletic trainers was his passion.
Miller was named to the Southwest Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame in 1999, National Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame in 2002, Texas State Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Honor in 2019 and East Texas Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame in 2021. In addition to being named Southland Conference Athletic Trainer of the Year in 1992, Miller received the NATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award in 1999, the Eddie Wojecki Award for Outstanding Contributions to SWATA in 2006 and the SWATA Frank Medina Award in 1992.
Miller also has served his profession in the following capacities: Master of Ceremonies for the SWATA annual awards ceremony, NATA District 6 director of the board of directors, NATA secretary-treasurer, NATA finance committee chair, NATA board of directors vice president, NATA District 5 secretary-treasurer, examiner for the NATA Certification Exam, and Texas Advisory Board of Athletic Trainers member. Miller has also served as volunteer athletic trainer for world track and field events in Birmingham, England, and Göteborg, Sweden. In 1990, he worked the Goodwill Games in Seattle, Washington.
Miller is married to his wife of 53 years, Madalene. They have two sons, Justin and Doug, and six granddaughters.
Ashley Monteau ’08
Monteau, of Anahuac, earned a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology from SFA in 2008. While a member of the SFA women’s cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field teams for four years, she helped earn three team Southland Conference Championships — cross country in 2004 and women’s indoor track and field in both 2006 and 2007. She also earned the following honors:
- Two-time Southland Conference Cross Country Champion, 2004 and 2005
- Southland Conference Female Cross Country Athlete of the Year, 2004
- Southland Conference Outstanding Female Track Performer Indoor, 2006
- Southland Conference Outstanding Female Track Performer Outdoor, 2006
- Five Southland Conference individual championships
o Cross Country, 2004
o Cross Country, 2005
o Indoor 5,000 Meters, 2006
o Outdoor 5,000 Meters, 2006
o Outdoor 10,000 Meters, 2006 - Multiple All-Southland Conference honors
o Cross Country
o Indoor Track
o Outdoor Track - Two-time NCAA Division 1 Cross Country Championships qualifier
o Finished 75th nationally, 2004
o Finished 90th nationally, 2005 - SFA record holder and all-time top performer
o Indoor 5,000 Meters, 2006 (16:47.74)
o Indoor 3,000 Meters, 2006 (9:51.4) - Still ranks among SFA’s all-time best
o No. 5 in the Indoor 3,000 Meters (9:51.10)
o No. 6 in the Outdoor 5,000 Meters (17:00.22)
o No. 10 in the Outdoor 10,000 Meters (36:14.14)
For the past 15 years, Monteau has taught and coached at Timpson, Liberty, Anahuac and, currently, East Chambers independent school districts. Still a marathon and other road race competitor, she has three sons, Jason, Ashton and Colton.
August 5, 2026 - SFA Gardens will host the monthly Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series at 7 p.m. on August 13th in the Ina Brundrett Conservation Education Building at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet Street, Nacogdoches, TX 75965. Dr. Greg Grant, will present “Postmortem: The Decline of Post Oaks and an Entire Ecosystem.”
Dr. Greg Grant serves as the Smith County horticulture extension agent with Texas A&M AgriLife. Dr. Grant is an award-winning horticulturist, writer, photographer, conservationist, and a seventh-generation Texan from Arcadia, Texas. He has previously worked as a horticulturist with SFA Gardens, Mercer Arboretum and San Antonio Botanical Gardens, and as an instructor at SFASU and LSU. Dr. Grant will discuss the description, evolution, coverage and plants of the Post Oak savannah in East Texas and the reasons for its decline.
A plant raffle will follow the presentation. Parking is available at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet Street in Nacogdoches or next door at the Raguet Elementary School.
The Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series is held on the second Thursday of every month. Attendance is free, however donations to support the lecture series are gratefully accepted. For more information, email sfagardens@sfasu.edu or call 936-468-4129.
Stephen F. Austin State University has appointed Dr. Dana Solomon as principal and superintendent of SFA Charter School. Solomon will begin her tenure during the summer.
July 9, 2025 - Stephen F. Austin State University has appointed Dr. Dana Solomon as principal and superintendent of SFA Charter School. Solomon will begin her tenure during the summer.
“It is an honor to be named principal of SFA Charter School,” Solomon said. “I believe that every child can engineer a better future when provided a quality education, and I am looking forward to working with our whole SFA community to continue the stellar work of this legendary campus.”
Solomon arrives to this new role following four years as principal of Mike Moses Elementary School in the Nacogdoches Independent School District. Solomon also has served as a principal and assistant principal in the Frisco Independent School District for 12 years, and as a teacher for four years.
Solomon earned a Doctor of Education in educational leadership from the University of North Texas, a Master of Education Administration from Concordia University, and a Bachelor of Arts in interdisciplinary studies from The University of Texas at Dallas.
“We are excited to welcome Dr. Dana Solomon as the principal and superintendent of SFA Charter School,” said Dr. Stacy Hendricks, vice provost for academic affairs. “Her experience, collaborative leadership and dedication to education make her an excellent choice to lead the school into its next chapter while continuing to support high-quality instruction, meaningful student learning and strong partnerships with families and the community.”
Serving the Nacogdoches and SFA communities since its approval by the Texas State Board of Education in 2008, SFA Charter School has focused on improving public education and enhancing the preparation of future educators and school psychologists.
For more information about SFA Charter School, visit sfasu.edu/charterschool.
July 2, 2026 - Panola College is expanding educational opportunities for students with the addition of two new degree programs and a new occupational skills award (OSA), all beginning in the Fall 2026 semester. The new offerings include an Associate of Science in Social Work, an Associate of Science in Mathematics, and a Construction Site Technician OSA.
The new Associate of Science in Social Work is designed to provide students with a strong foundation in social work while offering hands-on experience through an academic cooperative in a social work setting. The program also offers transferable coursework for students planning to continue their education at a four-year institution.
The Associate of Science in Mathematics provides students with the first two years of coursework toward a bachelor's degree in mathematics. The program is designed for students intending to transfer to a four-year institution and pursue a major in mathematics.
Students interested in entering the workforce quickly can also take advantage of the new Construction Site Technician OSA. Designed to be completed in just one semester, the program prepares students for entry-level roles in the construction industry by providing foundational training in safety, site operations, tools, and the workforce skills needed to support construction projects.
“Panola College is committed to providing educational pathways that reflect the evolving needs of our students and our communities,” said Natalie Oswalt, Vice President of Instruction at Panola College. “These new programs expand opportunities for students to pursue meaningful careers or continue their education while helping meet workforce demands across our region. We are excited to welcome our first students into these programs this fall.”
Registration for the Fall 2026 semester is now open, and prospective and returning students are encouraged to schedule an appointment with an academic advisor by visiting www.panola.edu/advising.
Stephen F. Austin State University will host the groundbreaking ceremony for the Arnold Center for Entrepreneurship building at 10:30 a.m. June 22 in front of the Janice A. Pattillo Early Childhood Research Center on campus. This rendering depicts the northwest approach to the future ACE building.
June 17, 2026 - Stephen F. Austin State University will host the groundbreaking ceremony for the Arnold Center for Entrepreneurship building at 10:30 a.m. June 22, 2026 in front of the Janice A. Pattillo Early Childhood Research Center.
Parking available in research center parking lot located at 2428 Raguet Street.
Ashley and Greg Arnold will join representatives from SFA and The University of Texas System as well as state and federal elected officials for the ceremony. Students, faculty, staff and alumni are also expected to attend the event, which is open to the public.
Made possible through the generosity of the Arnold family and support from the UT System and the state of Texas, the center will serve as a hub for innovation, workforce development, applied research and economic growth across East Texas. The two-story, 39,170-square-foot building will offer immersive and flexible spaces tailored to modern entrepreneurial education, including simulated learning environments, dedicated coworking spaces and innovation labs. It also will feature a multipurpose LED volume production studio for collaborative projects and entrepreneurial ventures across SFA’s areas of study. Substantial completion is anticipated by mid-2027.
For more information on the building, visit gosfa.com/ACEceremony. For more information on the center, visit sfasu.edu/ACE.
Submitted by Misty Wilburn
Stephen F. Austin State University is continuing its strong enrollment momentum, with summer 2026 headcount currently up 6% and semester credit hours increasing 7% compared to summer 2025. To apply for summer II and fall courses, visit sfasu.edu/apply.
June 15, 2026 – Stephen F. Austin State University is continuing its strong enrollment momentum, with summer 2026 headcount currently up 6% and semester credit hours increasing 7% compared to summer 2025.
While enrollment remains open and the university's preliminary summer census date is July 9, current trends position SFA for its first summer enrollment increase since 2020 and one of the largest summer enrollment gains in recent university history.
"Students are increasingly choosing SFA because they recognize the value of a degree that combines academic quality, personalized support and strong career outcomes," said Dr. Neal Weaver, SFA president. "These preliminary summer numbers build on the momentum we experienced throughout the past academic year and reflect the confidence students and families have in the direction of this university."
Preliminary data indicate that, in addition to a 6% increase in student headcount, SFA has generated 7% more semester credit hours than last summer. Credit hour production, a key indicator of student engagement, plays an important role in state funding.
According to Dr. Kent Willis, senior vice president for enrollment and student engagement, the increase reflects both student demand and institutional efforts to create flexible pathways to degree completion.
"Summer enrollment provides students with an opportunity to stay on track, accelerate their progress toward graduation and take advantage of flexible course options," Willis said. "We're seeing strong participation from continuing students and transfer students who are using the summer term to move forward academically."
For students like Billy Stewart, a kinesiology junior from Clarksville, the summer session has been a game changer.
“I was able to knock out two core classes online while working part time,” he said. “It’s helping me graduate on time and save money.”
The university continues to offer a wide range of summer II courses, with classes beginning July 6. Students can still register for available undergraduate and graduate courses offered online, in hybrid formats and on campus.
"There is still time for students to enroll in summer II courses," Willis said. "Whether a student wants to complete a core requirement, lighten a future course load or make additional progress toward a degree, there are excellent opportunities available."
The preliminary summer enrollment gains continue SFA's pattern of growth. Earlier this year, the university reported its first spring-to-spring enrollment increase since 2019 and its largest spring enrollment increase since 2010. In fall 2025, SFA welcomed the largest freshman class in university history, and applications and admissions for fall 2026 continue to outpace last year's record-setting levels.
To apply for summer II and fall courses, visit sfasu.edu/apply.
Nearly 50 students from Stephen F. Austin State University’s Nelson Rusche College of Business participated in an intensive, faculty-led study abroad program in Spain and Portugal May 10-21. Pictured is their tour of Toledo, Spain.
June 3, 2026 - Nearly 50 students from Stephen F. Austin State University’s Nelson Rusche College of Business participated in an intensive, faculty-led study abroad program in Spain and Portugal May 10-21.
Led by Dr. Matthew Lindsey, chair of the Department of Management and Marketing, and Dr. Mikhail Kouliavtsev, chair of the Department of Economics and Finance, the experiential learning trip bridged classroom business theory with real-world international operations across the Iberian Peninsula.
“Programs like this are vital because they push our students to apply academic frameworks in entirely unfamiliar environments,” Lindsey said. “Watching them move past their comfort zones to engage directly with global executives and evaluate complex, historic business models is incredibly fulfilling. They return to Nacogdoches with an elevated level of self-reliance and a global mindset that will give them a distinct competitive edge in the job market.”
The journey took students from the grand boulevards of Madrid and the sandstone streets of Salamanca to the historic coastal hubs of Porto and Lisbon. Throughout the tour, students engaged in a rigorous itinerary that combined high-level corporate site visits, historic trade exploration and hands-on cultural immersion workshops.
Students received an exclusive guided facility tour and participated in a mentorship session at the Amazon España corporate headquarters in Madrid with SFA alumna Ana Romero ’16, who works at the international corporate center.
“With the Amazon visit, it was very motivating to see what your corporate life can look like if you really apply yourself in college and in the early years of your career,” said Gavin Bock, sophomore management major from Wimberley. “It was cool seeing how an SFA alumna was able to be successful.”
Ashley Hale, senior finance major from Orange, noted how the corporate encounter reshaped her career ambitions.
“We had the opportunity to speak with a former SFA student who now works at Amazon in Madrid, and hearing her experiences was very inspiring,” she said. “It was motivating to see someone from our university successfully working internationally and adapting to a global business environment. Personally and professionally, this trip encouraged me to think more globally about my future.”
In addition to modern e-commerce giants, the curriculum emphasized how historic firms leverage heritage as a competitive advantage. Academic site visits included a production and curing analysis at the Tienda Julián Martín Iberian ham factory in Guijuelo, a deep dive into centuries-old bilateral trade agreements at the Burmester winery in Vila Nova de Gaia, and a study of traditional, quality-driven manufacturing at the centennial Conservas Pinhais & Cia sardine cannery in Matosinhos.
The structural contrast between fast-paced American commercialism and the deeply relational, intentional Iberian business paradigm challenged students to shift their perspectives on global management.
“Before this trip, most of my understanding of international business came from textbooks and classroom discussions,” said Colby Feece, senior management major from Sachse. “Actually experiencing it in person gave me a much clearer perspective. The trip helped me realize that successful business internationally is not only about numbers or efficiency but also about understanding cultural expectations and communication styles. In many European markets, tradition and authenticity can be just as important as efficiency and scale.”
The profound personal growth that stems from navigating international environments was a recurring theme among the participants, many of whom were traveling outside the United States for the first time. From analyzing tile painting at the historic Fábrica Sant'Anna in Lisbon to navigating complex metropolitan transit systems, the trip served as a laboratory for building professional agility.
“Seeing businesses and institutions in Spain and Portugal showed me that business is global,” said Travis Gilliland, junior entrepreneurship major from Spring. “Personally, I learned that I can handle being outside my comfort zone better than I thought. Professionally, I learned that I need to think bigger. To be successful internationally, I would need to listen first, learn the culture and adapt my strategy instead of assuming the American way is always best.”
By directly connecting East Texas students with global markets and thriving alumni abroad, the Rusche College of Business continues to fulfill its mission of creating world-ready professionals.
“Overall, this study abroad experience gave me memories and lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life,” said Makenna Burkhalter, senior international business major from Rusk. “I loved sharing this experience with such a great group of people, and it made me proud to be a Lumberjack.”
For more information on upcoming study abroad opportunities and global business programs at SFA, visit sfasu.edu/business.
Cutline: Nearly 50 students from Stephen F. Austin State University’s Nelson Rusche College of Business participated in an intensive, faculty-led study abroad program in Spain and Portugal May 10-21. Pictured is their tour of Toledo, Spain.
May 20, 2026 –– Stephen F. Austin State University’s Arnold Center for Entrepreneurship has debuted SFA 100, a new initiative designed to identify and celebrate the 100 fastest-growing Lumberjack-led businesses in the world. Nominations and applications for the 2027 rankings are currently open and will be accepted through November 1, 2026.
The SFA 100 recognizes the success, innovation and contributions of the top 100 alumni-owned businesses that embody the legacy, values and entrepreneurial spirit of SFA and ACE. ACE established the SFA 100 in 2025 in collaboration with Greg Price ’80, chief financial officer of Decisio Health in Houston and an angel investor and former judge of SFA’s Lumberjack Entrepreneurship Competition.
“The SFA 100 is a transformative milestone for the Arnold Center for Entrepreneurship and our entire university community,” said Dr. Todd Brown, associate vice president of academic affairs. “We are incredibly excited to shine a spotlight on the visionary alumni successful entrepreneurial ventures. We are not only honoring their hard work but also inspiring the next generation of SFA students. It is a privilege to finally recognize these leaders and showcase the profound economic impact our graduates are making across the world.”
The SFA 100 rankings will be calculated based on each applicant's compound annual growth rate in sales or revenue over a three-year period spanning 2023, 2024 and 2025.
To be eligible for the SFA 100, companies must meet specific longevity, revenue and leadership criteria. For this inaugural ranking of companies, each nominee or applicant must have been in continuous operation for at least five years as of December 31, 2025, and have generated revenues of at least $200,000 every fiscal year since January 1, 2023.
Furthermore, the business must be Lumberjack-founded, owned or led. Eligible leaders must hold a C-suite title, such as CEO, chair or managing partner, or own a majority stake of 50% or more. Former students who attended SFA but did not formally complete their degrees remain eligible to apply.
The honored companies will be announced publicly at an SFA awards ceremony, increasing businesses’ visibility by sharing company names, logos, Lumberjack leadership names, contact information, locations and other self-reported information.
“This initiative is more than just a ranking,” said Dr. Hollie Smith, ACE executive director of community partnerships. “By fostering these partnerships, we are creating a powerful network of Lumberjack entrepreneurs and innovation. As an alumnus, I’m so excited to connect with fellow alumni. We are eager to celebrate their resilience and success while building new opportunities for mentorship and growth that will benefit our students and the entire SFA community for years to come.”
While waiting to hear back on the SFA 100, alumni are encouraged to add their businesses to the Lumberjack Alumni-Owned Business Directory, which can be found online at sfasu.edu/ace/business-directory.
The inaugural SFA 100 list will be unveiled during a special awards celebration in April 2027. Honored business leaders will participate in a luncheon revealing the rankings, deliver keynote speeches, engage in class presentations and network with college deans and SFA leadership.
To ensure the utmost integrity and financial privacy, all baseline financial data is submitted directly to an independent accounting firm, Carr, Riggs & Ingram. The financial data is kept strictly confidential; neither SFA nor The University of Texas System will have access to the raw numbers, and they will receive only the final, verified rankings for the awards.
To fill out an application for your business, visit gosfa.com/SFA100_application. To nominate a business, visit gosfa.com/SFA100_nomination.
To learn more about the SFA 100, visit sfasu.edu/ace/sfa100, or contact Smith at hsmith@sfasu.edu or (936) 468-2988.
Following a nationwide search, Stephen F. Austin State University has appointed Dr. Elisabeth Ploran as the inaugural dean of the College of Health Professions, effective July 1. Ploran comes to Nacogdoches from Hofstra University, a private university in Nassau County, New York, where she currently serves as professor and associate dean for student success and belonging.
May 19, 2026 - Following a nationwide search, Stephen F. Austin State University has appointed Dr. Elisabeth Ploran as the inaugural dean of the College of Health Professions. Ploran will begin her tenure in July, coinciding with the launch of the new college.
Announced in December, SFA’s College of Health Professions will unite programs in nursing, psychology, kinesiology, athletic training, public health, dietetics and nutritional sciences, counseling, social work, speech-language pathology and family sciences to create SFA’s largest and most interdisciplinary academic unit. The new college reflects SFA’s continued commitment to meeting the evolving needs of students, employers and the East Texas region.
“It is not often that a university reinvents its academic structure so dramatically — but it is clear that President (Dr. Neal) Weaver and Provost (Dr. Jordan) Barkley have a common goal in elevating SFA to even greater heights than it already holds,” Ploran said. “It is an incredible honor to be entrusted with the formation of the vision and initial launch of this new college.”
Ploran said she was impressed with the SFA community throughout the dean selection process.
“It is clear that this is a momentous occasion not just for me but for a large portion of SFA faculty and staff,” she said. “I look forward to shaping that energy into the high-impact center for rural health care innovation that I know the college can become over the coming years.”
A native of western Massachusetts with over a decade of experience in higher education, Ploran comes to Nacogdoches from Hofstra University, a private university in Nassau County, New York, where she currently serves as professor and associate dean for student success and belonging in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. In her role, Ploran supports students throughout their academic journeys. Her responsibilities include student outreach and recruitment, orientation programming, and assistance with academic processes such as grade appeal and study abroad approvals. Ploran also developed modules for first-year students and pre-matriculation workshops for incoming nursing and medical students. In addition, she launched the Student Alliance for Innovation and Leadership advisory board to consult on belonging, traditions, branding and events.
“As someone centered in psychology and neuroscience, I have been constantly in search of a university that understands the strong connections between those sciences and the broader allied health disciplines,” Ploran said. “The addition of nursing and social work to the mix at SFA represents an opportunity to cross-train many of the individuals who are the first to meet someone in need of help with lessons in audiology, speech therapy, kinesiology, dietetics and so many other areas. In return, those allied health fields can receive cross-training in warning signs and causes for concern from their frontline partners. I see so many amazing opportunities to strengthen and streamline conversations between the fields that will ultimately support better health outcomes for those treated by our graduates.”
Prior to her appointment as associate dean, Ploran served as the chair of Hofstra’s Department of Psychology, where she supervised approximately 50 faculty and staff members and over 700 students between multiple degree programs; developed a new interdisciplinary major in human factors and usability studies with collaborators in the departments of Engineering, Writing Studies and Disability Studies; and led the revision of promotion and tenure standards to better promote faculty involvement in community engagement and service work, among many other accomplishments. Additionally, she was the university’s first faculty-in-residence from 2015 to 2019, and she served as president of the Hofstra chapter of the American Association of University Professors.
An accomplished scholar, Ploran has authored and coauthored numerous publications, been affiliated with grants totaling over $1.5 million and been involved in accreditation and other service work throughout her career.
Ploran earned bachelor’s degrees in psychology and political science from Drew University and a doctoral degree in psychology with a concentration in cognitive neuroscience from the University of Pittsburgh. She also served as a postdoctoral fellow researching human factors and applied cognition at George Mason University.
“Dr. Ploran is an accomplished administrator who has maintained her faculty identity while serving as a campus leader,” said Dr. Jordan Barkley, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at SFA. “She is skilled in balancing teaching, scholarly activity and service alongside meeting the needs of students. Her background in neuropsychology along with her leadership experiences and demonstrated focus on student success position her well to lead our new college. I look forward to working alongside Dr. Ploran as she and her colleagues cement SFA’s position as a key health professions resource for East Texas.”
Broadcast journalism students from Stephen F. Austin State University’s Department of Media and Communication, led by Dr. Casey Hart, professor in the Department of Media and Communication, toured Houston Public Media and ABC13 in Houston, gaining firsthand insight into the career opportunities awaiting them after graduation.
May 12, 2026 - Broadcast journalism students from Stephen F. Austin State University’s Department of Media and Communication recently toured major media outlets in Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston, gaining firsthand insight into career opportunities awaiting them after graduation. The tours were provided, in part, by grant funding from the Academic Affairs AID Grant.
Broadcast journalism students from Stephen F. Austin State University’s Department of Media and Communication, led by Dr. Casey Hart, professor in the Department of Media and Communication, toured the WFAA-TV station and AMS Pictures in Dallas. The tours were provided, in part, by grant funding from the Academic Affairs AID Grant.
Led by Dr. Casey Hart, professor in the Department of Media and Communication, 13 students participated in the trip to Dallas-Fort Worth during the fall semester, and nine students participated in the Houston trip during the spring semester.
“These trips gave our students a chance to step inside real newsrooms and production studios, see how the work actually happens and connect with professionals in meaningful ways,” said Dr. John Allen Hendricks, professor and chair of the department. “We’re truly grateful to the Academic Affairs AID Grant through the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs for making these kinds of hands-on, career-shaping experiences possible for our students.”
The students who participated in the Dallas-Fort Worth trip toured the WFAA-TV station and AMS Pictures.
WFAA-TV, one of Texas’ oldest television stations, is known for its strong local and investigative journalism and produces multiple daily newscasts. Natalie Haddad, a 2017 SFA graduate and Emmy award-winning reporter, is a staff member.
At AMS Pictures, a Dallas-based production company, the students learned about the importance of helping clients reach their goals through creative storytelling.
“At WFAA-TV, our students learned about the history of broadcasting in Texas, toured the cutting-edge broadcast facilities, sat in on a live broadcast, learned how investigative journalism works and discussed the ethical considerations connected with investigative journalism,” Hart said. “They also learned about how the news, sales, commercial production and management teams all work together in the media industry. Finally, they had the opportunity to network with many WFAA personalities and insiders, hopefully opening doors to our broadcast journalism majors.
“Since our program balances news production with corporate and commercial production, AMS Pictures was a perfect company for our students to tour,” Hart continued.
According to Faith Fuller, the tour provided a glimpse into her future.
“It was cool to see my career goals in the real world,” Fuller said. “I liked seeing real people work in an environment that I’ve only ever been able to imagine. It opened my eyes to a lot, and I was able to see what positions I might be more interested in when I graduate.”
Students on the Houston trip toured Houston Public Media and ABC13.
Houston Public Media operates KUHT-TV, a PBS affiliate and the nation’s first public television station, and KUHF-FM, an NPR member station focused on news, talk and public affairs. Students used studio equipment, observed a live broadcast and spoke with reporters covering Artemis II at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center.
Students also visited ABC13, one of Houston’s oldest and top-rated stations known for breaking news coverage. Iris Rios, a 2016 SFA graduate, is a digital producer and assignment editor at ABC13.
“Our students were treated to a full behind-the-scenes tour of Houston Public Media’s operations,” Hart said. “They learned a lot about the history of public broadcasting and how public broadcasting operates differently than commercial broadcasting.
“At ABC13, our students received a tour of ABC’s top-tier broadcast facilities,” he continued. “They were in-studio for a live newscast and even interacted with top on-air talent. Then, they went behind the scenes to learn more about how news directors and assignment editors work closely with the community to learn about news as it happens.”
For Alex Enriquez, the tour helped him establish the type of environment in which he wants to work following graduation.
“It was a great opportunity learning the different departments each station had and how their business entity differs from each other,” Enriquez said. “Knowing what they have to offer and how they work taught me that I should know what type of company I want to work for and not just the position I want to get into.”
For more information about SFA’s Department of Media and Communication, visit sfasu.edu/media-communication.
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