SFA University
August 16, 2019 Nacogdoches — Those interested in learning more about intellectual property can engage with intellectual property attorneys and representatives from the United States Patent and Trademark Office at a workshop hosted by Stephen F. Austin State University’s College of Sciences and Mathematics from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sept. 12, in the Cole STEM Building, Room 401.
Co-sponsored by the college, the USPTO and the Intellectual Property Section of the State Bar of Texas, the workshop will provide information and advice on how securing trademarks and patents on innovation, inventions or creative ideas can strengthen businesses, said Dr. Michele Harris, associate dean of the College of Sciences and Mathematics and professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
“Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and meet with the experts individually to get advice tailored to a specific project, idea or business plan,” Harris said.
The workshop is part of an ongoing initiative to introduce patent education to SFA students and the community.
Cost is $10, and lunch is included. Register by Thursday, Sept. 5, at sfasu.edu/IPWorkshop.
For more information, contact cosm@sfasu.edu.
August 14, 2019 Nacogdoches — Dr. Karen Embry-Jenlink, Stephen F. Austin State University professor emerita of secondary education and educational leadership in the James I. Perkins College of Education, will offer the commencement address during the university’s graduation ceremonies Saturday.
Receiving her doctoral degree in education from Texas A&M University-Commerce, Embry-Jenlink worked in a variety of roles throughout her career, including bilingual science educator, graduate program coordinator, professor and academic dean. She is a prolific author and speaker with over 300 research presentations, four books and 70 publications.
Embry-Jenlink joined the SFA faculty in 1998 as associate professor and was promoted to professor in 2003. After serving as an academic dean at another Texas institution, she returned to SFA in 2009 to serve as professor of doctoral studies in educational leadership. She served as chair of the SFA Faculty Senate for two years.
Additionally, she served as the 97th national president of the Association of Teacher Educators, the president of Texas Association of Teacher Educators and board chair of the Consortium of State Organizations for Texas Teacher Education. She currently serves on the World Federation Association of Teacher Education board of directors.
Candidates from the Perkins College of Education and the College of Fine Arts will participate in a 9:30 a.m. ceremony. Candidates from the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, the Rusche College of Business, the College of Liberal and Applied Arts, and the College of Sciences and Mathematics will participate in a 2 p.m. ceremony.
Degrees to be awarded include 298 bachelor’s, 186 master’s and five doctoral degrees. Students graduating with honors include 13 cum laude, eight magna cum laude and nine summa cum laude. Five will graduate with the university scholar designation.
To view the ceremony online, visit facebook.com/sfasu.
August 8, 2019 Nacogdoches – With recent performances like the Moscow Ballet’s “Nutcracker,” the high-energy dancing of Step Africa! and popular holiday shows by the Annie Moses Band and Dailey & Vincent, it’s no wonder the audiences attending the University Series and Encore Events presented by the College of Fine Arts at Stephen F. Austin State University continue to grow.
The 2019-20 season brings another versatile and exciting lineup of shows that range from comedy to musical theatre to dance to the world’s foremost children’s chorus.
“It has been enormously gratifying to see our audiences double and redouble in size over the past few years,” said Scott Shattuck, associate dean of the College of Fine Arts and director of the series. “While we’re seeing more full houses, however, there’s still plenty of room to accommodate many more of our Nacogdoches neighbors at the University Series and Encore Events.”
The University Series will feature the world-famous comedy of The Second City on Sept. 6; the high-energy rockabilly performance of Lee Rocker of the Stray Cats on Oct. 24; the beloved holiday story of Ebenezer Scrooge in “A Christmas Carol” on Dec. 10; the powerhouse Argentinian dancing of Che Malambo on March 3; and a boisterous celebration of the Harlem Renaissance in the musical “Ain’t Misbehavin’” on April 16. All performances are at 7:30 p.m. in Turner Auditorium.
Two special Encore Events will feature the angelic-voiced musicians of the Vienna Boys Choir on Nov. 21 and the bluegrass Southern gospel of The Isaacs on Jan. 24.
There’s a reason the biggest names in laughter all catapulted their careers from The Second City. Chicago’s renowned comedy club has been the funniest place on the planet since 1959, and The Second City kicks off the University Series’ 2019-20 season. This small cabaret theatre has grown to become the most influential and prolific comedy empire in the world, fostering generations of superstars from Joan Rivers and Alan Alda to John Belushi and Bill Murray, from Mike Myers to Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert and Amy Poehler. This show is recommended for mature audiences.
“With sketch comedy, hilarious original songs and world-famous improv, The Second City will have Nacogdoches rolling in the Turner Auditorium aisles,” Shattuck said.
Lee Rocker made his mark singing, playing, standing on, spinning and rocking his giant upright bass as a founding (and current) member, along with Brian Setzer and Slim Jim Phantom, of the Grammy-nominated rockabilly group the Stray Cats, which sold more than 10 million albums and garnered 23 gold- and platinum-certified records worldwide. Rocker and his band are headed to Nacogdoches to perform Stray Cats hits like “Sexy and Seventeen,” “Stray Cat Strut” and “Rock This Town,” plus many other rock-era songs he has performed post-Stray Cats with music legends from Ringo Starr and George Harrison to John Fogerty and The Rolling Stones. The performance is sponsored in part by Lehmann Eye Center.
The first special Encore Event, sponsored in part by Commercial Bank of Texas, features the world-renowned Vienna Boys Choir. This performance will usher in the magic of the holiday season as these angelic-voiced singers perform a delightful program of Austrian folk songs, classical masterpieces, hymns and perennial favorites. Widely recognized as the world’s foremost children’s choral group, for six centuries these young cultural ambassadors have been adored the world over for their wide range of repertoire, purity of tone and generosity of musical spirit.
Gather the family and join the College of Fine Arts to celebrate the spirit of Christmas in spectacular fashion with PerSeverance Productions’ presentation of Charles Dickens’ classic tale, “A Christmas Carol.” With all the splendor, magic and joy of the holiday season, this fabulous gift of a show overflows with 26 beloved yuletide songs and warm good humor as Jacob Marley and the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future visit that great bah humbugger himself, Ebenezer Scrooge. This holiday show is sponsored in part by Nacogdoches Medical Center.
The second Encore Event of the season is a performance by the multi-Dove Award-winning and two-time (2017 and ’18) Grammy-nominated family of gospel singers, The Isaacs. Their inspirational style blends tight harmonies with contemporary acoustic instrumentation to produce a sound that appeals to audiences all over the world.
“Their unique mix of bluegrass, folk, country, rhythm and blues, contemporary and southern gospel is heard regularly at the Grand Ole Opry and at Carnegie Hall, CMA Fan Fest and recently on ABC-TV’s CMA Country Christmas with superstar Reba McIntyre,” Shattuck said. This special performance is sponsored in part by BancorpSouth.
Powerhouse all-male Argentine dancers bring to life the legacy of South American gouchos (cowboys) in Che Malambo’s percussive dance and music spectacle. This fiery melting-pot performance blends flamenco, tango, tap and Irish step dance with the drumming of traditional bombos, singing and whirling boleadoras lasso work in a phenomenon of unbridled energy that is thrilling audiences around the world. Their performance is sponsored in part by Cataract, Glaucoma, Cornea & Retina Consultants of East Texas/Benchmark Optical/Medical Arts Surgery Center.
A celebration of the African American musicians of the 1920s and ’30s Harlem Renaissance, the Tony Award-winning Best Musical “Ain’t Misbehavin’” takes its name from Fats Waller’s ageless song. “Ain’t Misbehavin’” whisks audiences back to the high-society Cotton Club and Savoy Ballroom and to dives where piano players banged out the new beat known as swing.
“Coming to SFA through a partnership between the College of Fine Arts, the SFA Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Nacogdoches Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., ‘Ain’t Misbehavin’’ is a fun night of rowdy and humorous songs that will make theatregoers shimmy in their seats,” Shattuck said. “To quote another favorite song from the show, when they look around Turner Auditorium they’ll shout ‘This Joint Is Jumpin’!”
Season tickets for the 2019-20 University Series went on sale Aug. 1 and are $120 for adults, $96 for seniors (62 and up), $60 for SFA faculty and staff and $48 for students. Encore Event tickets are sold separately, but season subscribers may add them to their season-ticket order.
"These are fantastic prices for entertainment of this quality," said Diane Peterson, Fine Arts Box Office manager. "Season tickets provide a 20-percent savings over single tickets, and patrons can have their same seat throughout the season.
"Plus, we offer season-ticket options," she said. "The classic package includes one ticket to each of the five performances, and the TixMix package allows patrons to create their own season.”
Single-event ticket purchases for the University Series, Encore Events or any of the other performances presented through the College of Fine Arts can be made beginning Aug. 15. Single event ticket prices for the University Series are $30 for adults, $24 for seniors, $15 for SFA faculty and staff and $12 for non-SFA students/youth. Tickets for SFA students are $3.
Encore Event tickets are $45 for Section A seating; $36 for Section B seating; and $27 for Section C seating. Discounts are available for seniors, students, children and SFA faculty and staff members.
For more information, visit finearts.sfasu.edu, stop by the Box Office in Room 211 of the Griffith Fine Arts Building, or call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.
August 5, 2019 Nacogdoches — The Stephen F. Austin State University Division of Multidisciplinary Programs has added a new degree in medical humanities.
Beginning in fall 2019, students can work toward either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science in medical humanities. This program is only the fourth of its kind in Texas.
Dr. Anne Smith, professor of philosophy, was instrumental in designing this new program for SFA. The degree is an interdisciplinary field of study that fuses humanities and sciences to create a multifaceted approach to human health and wellness.
“The medical humanities program will provide elements such as historical context, psychological insights, sociological awareness and ethical principles that can all be used to help medical professionals make tough decisions, find often-elusive solutions and achieve consensus among diverse perspectives,” Smith said.
This multidisciplinary degree allows students to examine questions related to health care through multiple disciplinary lenses. The program emphasizes the study of the human condition, dignity, ethics and sociocultural context for health care and health policy. These studies will benefit those seeking a career in medical law, medical advocacy, narrative therapy and other health care-related fields.
“This is an expanding field that meets a demand in growing health-related industries,” said Dr. Joyce Johnston, director of the Division of Multidisciplinary Programs. “For example, health care law continues to be a growing field in our state. This is one area in which future graduates who excel in our program will be well-poised for success.”
Students will take courses from areas that include philosophy, sociology, anthropology, communication and psychology, as well as a specific medical humanities introductory course. They also will complete a combined sciences minor. Elective courses from across the university allow students to explore multiple areas of study in the humanities and beyond.
To learn more, contact the Division of Multidisciplinary Programs at mdp@sfasu.edu or (936) 468-6537.
By Emily Brown, marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.
August 2, 2019 Nacodgoches Texas – The School of Music at Stephen F. Austin State University will honor retiring Music Preparatory Division Director Pat Barnett with a reception from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, at the Music Prep House, 3028 Raguet St.
The appreciation reception recognizes Barnett’s 20 years of service to the Music Prep program. The event will immediately follow Music Prep’s open house, which is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 10, for fall private and group lesson registration.
Refreshments and music will be provided at the come-and-go reception.
For more information about the Music Preparatory Division and its fall lesson lineup, call (936) 468-1291 or visit www.music.sfasu.edu/prep.
August 2, 2019 Nacogdoches, Texas – The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art and the Friends of the Visual Arts will present a free, one-night screening of the documentary “Free Solo” at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2, in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.
From award-winning documentary filmmaker E. Chai Vasarhelyi and world-renowned photographer and mountaineer Jimmy Chin comes “Free Solo,” a stunning, intimate and unflinching portrait of free soloist climber Alex Honnold, as he prepares to achieve his lifelong dream: climbing the face of the world’s most famous rock – the 3,200-foot El Capitan in Yosemite National Park – without a rope. Celebrated as one of the greatest athletic feats of any kind, Honnold’s climb set the ultimate standard: perfection or death.
“Free Solo” is a National Geographic Documentary Film release. It won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature; Critics’ Choice Documentary Award winner for Most Compelling Living Subject of a Documentary, Most Innovative Documentary and Best Sorts Documentary; BAFTA Award winner for Best Documentary; and American Film Fest winner for Best Film, among other awards.
The film runs 100 minutes. It is rated PG-13 for brief strong language. For more information, visit https://www.nationalgeographic.com.
This screening is part of the School of Art’s monthly Friday Film Series and is sponsored in part by William Arscott, Nacogdoches Film Festival, Karon Gillespie, Mike Mollot, David Kulhavy, John and Kristen Heath, Galleria Z, Jill Carrington, Jean Stephens, Jim and Mary Neal, Richard Orton and Main Street Nacogdoches.
The Cole Art Center is located at 329 E. Main St. For more information, call (936) 468-1131.
August 1, 2019 Nacogdoches, Texas – The Chloé Trevor Music Academy continues to present its Summer Festival of Concerts in Nacogdoches through Aug. 10.
The Chloé Trevor Music Academy is an intensive two-week program for string players and pianists, offering one-on-one instruction, orchestral training and career guidance by the world’s premier soloists, teachers and conductors, according to Trevor, the academy’s artistic director and founder. The academy and its concert series is underway on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University.
Trevor is one of the most sought after violinists today, performing with orchestras worldwide, including the Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Latvian Chamber Orchestra, Slovak State Philharmonic and Plano, Houston and Knoxville symphonies.
The series of public concerts by the academy’s faculty and guest artists offers a wide range of performances, including world famous violinist Rachel Barton Pine, pianist and composer Sean Chen, and pioneering cellist, singer, composer and educator Mike Block.
“Rachel Barton Pine is one of the best violinists in America today,” said Dr. Jennifer Dalmas, professor of violin at SFA and academy organizer. “Sean Chen is a Van Cliburn winner, and Mike Block has worked with Yo-Yo Ma. These are all world-class musicians who are performing in Nacogdoches.”
Pine will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2, in Cole Concert Hall. Other performances include a faculty concert at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3, and a student recital at 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 4, both of which will also be in Cole Concert Hall. Chen performs at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 5; the Aeolus Quartet performs at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6; Fellowship Ensemble performs at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7; and Block performs at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, all of which will be in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the SFA campus. A student solo and chamber music recital is at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9, in Turner Auditorium. The academy concludes with the Orchestra Gala at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, also in Turner Auditorium. Performances on Aug. 4, 7 and 9 are free of charge. Admission for the other concerts is $10 at the door. Students and youth will be given free admission.
For further information, visit http://www.chloetrevormusicacademy.org.
July 25, 2019 Nacogdoches, Texas — The Stanley Center for Speech and Language Disorders at Stephen F. Austin State University has received a two-part grant to fund Speak Out! and Loud Crowd, a program developed by Parkinson Voice Project, to offer free speech therapy to people with Parkinson's disease for a second year.
The Parkinson Voice Project is a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing speech disorders that people with Parkinson's disease develop.
Through the grant, faculty members in SFA's Department of Human Services and all graduate students studying speech-language pathology have been trained to conduct the program.
“Up to 90% of people with Parkinson’s are at high risk of losing their ability to speak, and aspiration pneumonia caused by swallowing issues accounts for 70% of the mortality rate in this patient population,” said Parkinson Voice Project’s founder and CEO, Samantha Elandary. “Awarding these grants has substantially increased access to quality speech treatment for those living with Parkinson’s.”
Speak Out! is an intensive individual therapy program designed to address the motor speech deficits associated with Parkinson's disease, such as softer speech, a hoarse or scratchy voice and inconsistent speech volumes. Typically, the program comprises 12 individual speech-therapy sessions.
After completing the Speak Out! phase, participants will progress to the Loud Crowd portion, where they will engage in a group therapy setting once a week for maintenance.
The Stanley Center for Speech and Language Disorders doubles as a community clinic and learning facility for SFA students to hone their skills in a supervised setting. Graduate students will conduct the therapy supervised by licensed speech-language pathologists for both parts of the program.
“Our clinic provides speech/language services, such as therapy and evaluations to clients of all ages and with varying disorders in the East Texas area. We see at least 60 clients per semester,” said Deena Petersen, director for the Stanley Center for Speech and Language Disorders at SFA. “We are excited to offer the Speak Out! and Loud Crowd therapy for the second year to help those with Parkinson’s speak with intent.”
For more information, contact the center at (936) 468-7109.
July 24, 2019 Nacogdoches, Texas – The Stephen F. Austin State University Board of Regents unanimously named Dr. Scott Gordon, a first-generation college student who became provost of Eastern Washington University, as sole finalist for SFA president.
A native of Malone, New York, Gordon received his bachelor’s degree in biology from the State University of New York at Cortland. He earned a master’s degree and doctorate in botany and mycology from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and holds certifications from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education in educational management and leadership.
As EWU provost, Gordon is the university’s chief academic officer, overseeing more than 500 faculty members in six academic colleges, with responsibility for academic policy and planning, distance education, international programs and institutional research.
Gordon led a complete reorganization of EWU’s Academic Affairs unit, led the development and implementation of the university’s strategic plan in 2018 and developed partnerships with community colleges, business and industry, as well as government entities. This work was highlighted by a unique partnership with Microsoft and the collaboration with multiple businesses on The Catalyst, a 140,000-square-foot facility in downtown Spokane.
Prior to joining Eastern Washington, Gordon spent 22 years at the University of Southern Indiana, where he served as dean of the Pott College of Science, Engineering and Education. In addition, Gordon served for 10 years as the Faculty Athletics Representative, was named a NCAA Faculty Athletic Representative Fellow, and was vice president and treasurer of the Great Lakes Valley Conference, which includes 14 NCAA Division II institutions.
“I am honored to be named sole finalist for the position of president at Stephen F. Austin State University,” Gordon said. “I look forward to the next steps in this process and the opportunity to work with the SFA Board of Regents, university leadership, faculty, staff, students and the great community of Nacogdoches to build on the tradition of excellence at SFA.”
Gordon called the opportunity to serve as a leader at SFA a “dream come true.”
“I am deeply committed to the vision, mission and goals of SFA and believe my background and values are a great fit with the institution,” he said. “I look forward to joining the SFA family.”
If confirmed by regents after the state-required 21-day waiting period, Gordon will become SFA’s ninth president, succeeding Dr. Baker Pattillo, who was SFA president from 2006 until his death in December 2018.
Before interviewing finalists for the presidency, Regents considered recommendations from a presidential screening committee that worked with an executive search firm, R. William Funk & Associates of Dallas, to review applications and meet with prospective candidates.
Alton Frailey, who chaired the search committee, said Gordon is an accomplished visionary who will lead SFA into its second hundred-year history.
“Dr. Gordon has an outstanding track record in all aspects of academic leadership, from both student and faculty recruitment to core curriculum development and strategic planning,” Frailey said. “His vision for a student-centered education aligns with SFA’s values, and we look forward to introducing him to the campus and the community.”
Gordon is expected to attend a public reception from 6 to 7 p.m. Monday at the Cole Art Center.
July 24, 2019 Nacogdoches – The Stephen F. Austin State University Board of Regents approved actions during the July quarterly meeting that will support students across campus, from Steen Library to those in disciplines ranging from agriculture to culinary sciences.
Regents approved a $6.46 million capital plan that addresses academic support, student life and safety. Projects include the renovation of a home at 1401 Mound St. for use by SFA’s hospitality administration program.
The residence, previously owned by former U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, will be renovated to house the Culinary Café, a student-run restaurant that serves meals to guests two days each week during the regular semesters. Utilizing $1.5 million in the capital Higher Education Fund, the residence will be renovated to keep its historic nature while adding a state-of-the-art commercial kitchen and prep area, according to Dr. Judy Abbott, dean of the Perkins College of Education.
“This learning laboratory, unique for a university in Texas, will provide hands-on, real-world experiences for students pursuing the hospitality administration degree,” Abbott said. “Much like the Lumberjack Express, the mobile food laboratory recently unveiled, the regents are acknowledging the interest in and growth of the culinary arts, entrepreneurship, event planning and food-service management. SFA is investing in the historic nature of Nacogdoches as it establishes state-of-the-art facilities that attract and transform students in East Texas and beyond.”
The capital plan also includes a $250,000 renovation of Steen Library, replacement of furniture in Hall 14 and fire-safety upgrades across campus. In residence halls, card-access systems will be installed to provide secure entry into the buildings, and the university’s wireless network will be upgraded. A $3.5 million upgrade to a power plant that supports the College of Fine Arts buildings and the purchase of a radio system for the University Police Department are included in the plan.
Regents approved the creation of the Marilyn Cranford Quasi Endowment, the result of a $1.5 million gift to support SFA’s National Center for Pharmaceutical Crops. A quasi endowment allows for distribution of revenue and principal from a fund balance.
The mission of SFA’s National Center for Pharmaceutical Crops is to improve human health by discovering novel anti-tumor and antiviral agents in native and invasive plant species and to enhance U.S. security by reducing dependency on foreign supplies of pharmaceutical ingredients. The center previously has received significant support from the U.S. Congress and the T.L.L. Temple Foundation, as well as from state and federal agencies and private individuals, like the late Marilyn Cranford, according to Dr. Steve Bullard, SFA provost and vice president for academic affairs.
“The center has a remarkable track record in creating new pharmaceutical compounds and developing innovative methods to control invasive plants and insects,” Bullard said. “This endowment will play a critical role in the long-term support of staffing and operations and will have a great impact on SFA and East Texas, as well as a positive national and global impact.”
Regents approved the sale of timber from the Todd Agricultural Research Center to convert predominately pine forestland to silvopasture – a form of agriculture that integrates trees, forage plants and grazing livestock operations.
“The proceeds will fund pasture improvement and will create demonstration areas for teaching, research and outreach,” Bullard said.
Regents approved the purchase of property at 208 Feazell St., a lot located between two existing university lots. “This acquisition will create a continuous section of lots and provide an opportunity to expand student parking,” said Dr. Danny Gallant, vice president for finance and administration.
Regents approved the selection of Page Southerland Page to create an updated campus master plan.
“The Board of Regents approved our current campus master plan on April 19, 2011, and that plan extends through fiscal year 2020,” Gallant said. “We issued a request for qualifications, and three of the five firms that responded presented their plans to the board for consideration. We look forward to working with this agency to develop a plan for the future.”
Page Southerland Page has completed projects for University of Texas campuses in Austin, Dallas and San Antonio.
Regents approved changes in course fees, an increase in the student application fee and an exemption of the distance-education fee for dual-credit students enrolled in ITV-delivered courses. They approved a one-time $117 fee to be paid by students enrolled in programs utilizing Watermark LiveText hosted services.
Regents also approved:
- The 2019-2020 holiday schedule
- The annual audit plan
- Resolutions supporting Texas Department of Transportation grant applications to enhance pedestrian sidewalks, trails and bicycle paths
- Exemptions and waivers of tuition and fees authorized by the Texas Education Code
- FY19 grant awards totaling $228,836
- Purchase of SAP Concur travel-expense software
- Revisions to the Intercollegiate Athletic policies and procedures manual
- An update of approved financial institutions and brokers
- Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity architectural and engineering contracts
- A new policy and policy revisions, and
- The conversion of SFA course numbers to the Texas Common Course numbering system.
The board heard an update on construction projects and reports from the Student Government Association, the Faculty Senate and Dr. Steve Westbrook, interim president.
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