SFA University
November 13, 2024 - Stephen F. Austin State University’s speech pathology clinic, the Stanley Center for Speech and Language Disorders, is celebrating its sixth consecutive year as the recipient of a Parkinson Voice Project grant that enables the center to offer the SPEAK OUT! Therapy Program.
Developed by the PVP, the SPEAK OUT! program helps people with Parkinson’s and related neurological disorders regain and retain their speech and swallowing. This highly effective, evidence-based treatment combines education, individual and group speech therapy, daily home practice, and continuous follow-ups. Patients are empowered to “speak with intent,” transitioning speech from an automatic function to an intentional act. “Up to 90% of people with Parkinson’s are at risk of losing their ability to speak,” said Samantha Elandary, Parkinson Voice Project’s founder and chief executive officer. “In addition, swallowing complications account for 70% of the mortality rate in this patient population. Our vision at Parkinson Voice Project is to make quality speech therapy accessible to people with Parkinson’s worldwide.”
Housed within the James I. Perkins College of Education, the Stanley Center for Speech and Language Disorders is a teaching clinic on the SFA campus staffed by graduate students, under the supervision of a licensed speech-language pathologist, as part of their required clinical hours. “Our services benefit all involved: they provide real-world experience for students aspiring to become speech-language pathologists while helping clients enhance their vocal intent and awareness,” said Deena Petersen, director of the center. “Our students all receive SPEAK OUT! training from the Parkinson Voice Project grant and are able to provide the therapy to clients with Parkinson’s disease in our clinic.
“Additionally, for individuals with Parkinson's disease, this therapy can be transformative as it incorporates cognitive exercises to keep the mind engaged and active. Many clients experience improved swallowing ability through vocal exercises, as well." Following the individual SPEAK OUT! Therapy Program, participants can graduate onto a SPEAK OUT! group for continued group therapy. For more information about SFA’s Stanley Center for Speech and Language Disorders, visit gosfa.com/3uaRd6t or contact Petersen at petersend@sfasu.edu.
October 29, 2024 - Multiple departments at Stephen F. Austin State University collaborated with the Texas Forestry Association to host the annual Wild About Science event Oct. 18 and 25 for fourth and fifth grade students from regional schools. Faculty and staff from the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, SFA Gardens and the James I. Perkins College of Education’s Department of Education Studies trained 71 SFA students to conduct three Project Learning Tree activities for the event. The preservice student teachers hosted 671 school children at their activity stations during the event at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center.
October 21, 2024 – Drs. Jessica Glasscock and Cord Eversole, assistant professors of forest wildlife management at Stephen F. Austin State University, have been awarded a grant of over $1 million from the Texas Department of Transportation. This funding will support their research project focused on the conservation and ecology of the alligator snapping turtle, a vital yet at-risk species in East Texas.
The five-year project, set to begin in spring 2025, will evaluate the effects of road construction and maintenance on the habitats of alligator snapping turtles. The research aims to understand how these activities influence turtle populations and to develop conservation strategies that can mitigate negative impacts on the species.
“Studies like ours enhance scientific knowledge and lay the groundwork for targeted management and conservation actions,” Eversole said. “For example, our project's results will improve the currently limited understanding of alligator snapping turtle nesting habitats and behaviors, as well as enhance our ability to manage anthropogenic disturbances and their effects on the species' life history characteristics and movement patterns.”
The alligator snapping turtle is considered an at-risk species due to perceived population declines across much of its North American range. In East Texas, the alligator snapping turtle is a vital component of freshwater ecosystems and contributes significantly to the region's ecological identity.
Glasscock and Eversole’s research will focus on studying how the turtles use bank habitats near culverts and bridges, as well as assessing in-stream environments. A key objective of the project is to design and implement a barrier fence that will prevent the turtles from entering construction zones, reducing the risk of harm to the species.
The project’s findings will be presented at scientific conferences, including TxDOT’s Environmental Conference and the Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society meeting, providing valuable insights for both the scientific community and transportation authorities. The project is scheduled for completion in early 2029.
The pair will collaborate with Chris Schalk, U.S. Forest Service, and Matt Buckingham U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, on this project.
For more information about SFA’s forestry and wildlife management program, visit sfasu.edu/forestry.
October 21, 2024 - Stephen F. Austin State University’s horticulture program will host their sixth annual Fall Plant Fair from 5 to 7pm Thursday, October 24 at the SFA Plantery, 1924 Wilson Drive, Nacogdoches. Plants available for purchase include a variety of winter annuals like pansies, violas, dianthus, stock, dusty miller and snapdragons. All are winter hardy and perform well in the East Texas area. Plants are $2.50 per pot.
The Plantery is a program rooted within the Department of Agriculture where students grow and raise plants in the Sprout micro farm, the greenhouses and the teaching gardens around the Agriculture Building. This event is also an opportunity to tour the plant-growing operation and the projects that SFA students have been developing like the gravel garden and trial garden.
Games will be provided by the SFA Horticulture Club. All event activities are free and open to the public. In the event of rainy weather, the Fall Plant Fair will be postponed to October 25.
For more information, contact Dr. Jared Barnes, associate professor of horticulture and steward of the Plantery, at barnesj@sfasu.edu.
October 4, 2024 - Stephen F. Austin State University’s Student Engagement office invites local alumni and Nacogdoches community members to assist in building the foundation of the annual SFA Homecoming bonfire from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, at the Intramural Fields.
The Homecoming bonfire will be lit the night of Oct. 25. More Homecoming details, including the full schedule and details on the concert headliner, will be released at a future date.
“The bonfire is an opportunity to see the Lumberjack spirit grow and be built upon throughout the weeks prior to celebration,” said Amanda West, assistant director of Student Engagement. “This year, we are asking alumni and friends of SFA to build the foundation. The following weekend, the current student body will complete the structure for us all to celebrate on Oct. 25.”
The event is open for all ages and volunteers are asked to wear closed toe shoes, but all building materials will be provided. For bonfire safety tips, visit gosfa.com/bonfiresafety.
Volunteers can park alongside Wilson Drive or at Pecan Park near the Intramural Fields. For more information, contact West at Amanda.West@sfasu.edu.
October 2, 2024 –– Stephen F. Austin State University’s Office of the Provost has been awarded a $250,000 grant from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board that aims to enhance the academic performance, retention and graduation rates of nursing students.
SFA was selected out of 26 institutions across Texas to receive the competitive Student Success Acceleration Program 2.0 grant, “Accelerating Nursing Students' Success.” This program aligns with state and national efforts to address the critical shortage of registered nurses.
Texas is projected to experience a 15% increase in demand for registered nurses over the next 10 years. The initiative not only aims to graduate more SFA nursing majors but also equips them with the tools to manage the high levels of stress and anxiety inherent in the field, investing in overall success and well-being in their career.
“This grant supports two of SFA’s marquee programs at once — nursing and social work. I am especially pleased that all the money goes to students in the form of scholarships, stipends and supplies,” said Dr. Marc Guidry, associate provost for the Division of Academic Affairs. "The resources provided by this grant will enable more of our nursing students to persist and graduate with their registered nurse license while providing hands-on training for our graduate social work majors. It is a double-win for SFA and the state of Texas.”
Guidry was the primary investigator for the grant. The project will be managed by Dr. Tamara Harris, director of the DeWitt School of Nursing, and Dr. Emmerentie Oliphant, Buddy Zeagler Endowed Professor and director of the doctoral program in the School of Social Work. Together, they will oversee a multi-faceted approach designed to support first- and second-year nursing students through a combination of academic and wellness initiatives.
These initiatives include intervening when a nursing student is struggling, ensuring they get the help they need in the correct area of their life.
To assist in the needs of nursing students challenged by rigorous classwork and course load, SFA will encourage nursing majors to attend tutoring services offered by the university’s Academic Assistance and Resource Center. The grant will also cover the cost of some school supplies and provide scholarships for textbooks and lab kits, particularly for pregnant and parenting nursing majors.
“This grant will support students in developing the life skills required to be successful in the program and keep them healthy throughout their professional nursing careers,” said Harris. “Through financial assistance to pregnant and parenting students, who we know often are trying to hold down a job, attend school and take care of a family, the grant should help lighten the load and stress of this added responsibility.”
This approach builds on SFA’s existing strengths, including more than a decade of data from the AARC showing that students who attend tutoring sessions five or more times in a semester see significant improvements in GPA and retention.
To assist the anxiety and stress nursing students face, students in the School of Social Work will serve as case managers for first- and second-year nursing students. They will conduct workshops and webinars on mental health, well-being, academic mindsets and self-care to give nursing students tools for stress management and anxiety.
“The School of Social Work is proud to be part of a project that will retain nursing students and provide leadership opportunities for the social work students,” said Oliphant. “The National Association of Social Workers describes social work mentoring as a transformative power. We know this project will be transformative for our nursing and social work students.”
For more information about both programs, visit sfasu.edu/nursing and sfasu.edu/socialwork.
Lauren Kilpatrick (above) and Cade Boyd (below) will discuss the diverse world of horticulture’s supporting industries at Stephen F. Austin State University’s Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series at 7pm October 10 at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center.
September 25, 2024 - Stephen F. Austin State University’s SFA Gardens will host the monthly Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series at 7pm October 10 in the Brundrett Conservation Education Building at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center.
Lauren Kilpatrick, technical trial manager at Syngenta Flowers, and Cade Boyd, horticulture equipment specialist with Profile Products, will explore the diverse world of horticulture’s supporting industries.
Kilpatrick received a Bachelor of Science in horticultural science from Texas A&M University and a Master of Science in horticultural science from North Carolina State University. She started her career at Syngenta Flowers as a technical trialing scientist, where she conducted technical research trials to enhance unrooted cutting quality on key crops, updated crop culture guides and supported data-driven marketing campaigns.
In 2022, Kilpatrick was promoted to technical lead for the U.S. southwest region, where she collaborated across all business functions, with an emphasis on being customer-facing and providing regional grower support. She recently took on the role of technical trial manager, sharing knowledge of new products and data that helps drive global alignment, and creating data-driven marketing collateral.
Kilpatrick recently provided plant material for SFA’s Center for Applied Research and Rural Innovation project, “Deep East Texas Annual and Perennial Trials.”
Boyd graduated from Texas A&M University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in engineering and a minor in horticulture. He spent the following two years working as a grower for two commercial greenhouses on the East Coast.
Armed with growing experience and an understanding of engineering, Boyd was hired by AdeptAg, a horticulture automation company, as a product manager in 2021. Much of his focus involved working closely with substrate blending equipment, specifically wood fiber processing and solutions for their industry partner, Profile Products.
In the summer of 2024, Boyd was hired on to Profile Product’s equipment support team. In that role, he supports their substrate blending operations and customers by providing technical help on site and working closely with AdeptAg to improve their blending equipment solutions.
The Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series is held the second Thursday of each month and includes a rare plant raffle after the program. The lecture is free and open to the public, but donations to the lecture series fund are always appreciated.
Parking is available at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet St., or Raguet Elementary School, 2708 Raguet St.
For more information, email sfagardens@sfasu.edu.
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 37 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 18, 2024 - Students in Stephen F. Austin State University’s DeWitt School of Nursing are inviting community members to a free drive-through flu vaccination event Oct. 4-5 at the DeWitt School of Nursing Complex, located at 5707 North St.
In partnership with East Texas Community Health Services, fourth-semester nursing students in the community health course will administer flu shots from noon to 6 p.m. Oct. 4 and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 5. The event is open to the public and flu shots are free. Children 4 years of age and older are eligible for a vaccine.
“Please consider getting a flu shot to help reduce your risk of illness and minimize the agony of flu symptoms if you do become ill,” said Michelle Klein, clinical instructor in the School of Nursing.
For more information about the School of Nursing, visit sfasu.edu/nursing.
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 37 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.
Stephen F. Austin State University’s SFA Gardens will host a fruit research field day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 27 starting at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center.
August 10, 2024 - Stephen F. Austin State University’s SFA Gardens will host a fruit research field day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 27 featuring kiwifruit, muscadine grapes, blueberries, figs, feijoas and other fruits.
Speakers will include Dr. David Creech, director of SFA Gardens, and Drs. Tim Hartmann and Justin Scheiner, 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 9 a.m. 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, then participants will go to the fruit research plots at Hinds Park and the Mast Arboretum around 1 p.m. Transportation to the fruit plots will be provided.
The cost of the field day is $15 per person. Register in advance online at sfasu.edu/sfagardens at the “Visit & Events” tab or on-site the day of the event.
For more information, email sfagardens@sfasu.edu.
Heat-tolerant perennials, like Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm,' will be offered at the Plant Sale.
September 4, 2024 – Stephen F. Austin State University’s SFA Gardens will host its annual Fabulous Fall Festival Plant Sale from 9am to 2pm October 12 at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center.
The sale will feature an array of hard-to-find, “Texas-tough” plants, like East Texas native plants and pollinator-friendly selections. Expect to find great trees, including Japanese maples, red buds, bald cypress and more. A list of all available plants will be posted on the SFA Gardens website two weeks before the sale.
This popular event helps fund SFA Gardens’ staff member salaries and daily operations. The areas under the SFA Gardens umbrella include the Mast Arboretum, Pineywoods Native Plant Center, Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden, Gayla Mize Garden and Kingham Children’s Garden. Visiting the gardens is free, and plant trails are open to the public every day from dawn to dusk.
Parking for the Fabulous Fall Festival Plant Sale 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.
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