SFA University
August 28, 2018 - 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 “Unbranded” at 7pm Friday, Sept. 7, in The Cole Art Center at The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.
In this film directed by Phill Baribeau, four young cowboys hatch an outrageous plot to adopt, train and ride a string of wild mustangs 3,000 miles from Mexico to Canada through the wildest terrain of the American West. The trip became an epic journey of self-discovery, tested friendships and iconic landscapes that included runaway horses, a sassy donkey, perilous mountain passes, rodeos, sickness, injury and death, according to the description at http://watch.unbrandedthefilm.com
The Audience Award winner at Telluride Mountainfilm and Hot Docs Film Festival, “Unbranded” is a “soaring tale of danger and resilience” and “an emotionally charged odyssey that shines a bright light on the complex plight of our country's wild horses,” according to the website.
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, Nacogdoches Junior Forum and Main Street Nacogdoches.
The Cole Art Center is located at 329 E. Main St. For more information, call (936) 468-1131.
August 28, 2018 Nacogdoches — Stephen F. Austin State University’s mathematics education program has been ranked among the best in the nation in multiple categories, according to College Choice.
A website that rates accredited public and private institutions based on institutional reputation, graduation rates, selectivity and faculty resources, College Choice ranked the program fourth in most affordable and 12th in best online.
“The Department of Mathematics and Statistics is honored by this recognition,” said Dr. Lesa Beverly, professor and chair of the department. “We have always been dedicated to preparing strong mathematics educators. The online program is our latest venture in this direction, designed specifically to accommodate the schedule of working students who have the goal of becoming highly qualified mathematics teachers.”
The department offers both a bachelor’s in mathematics with a secondary education minor and an online master’s in school mathematics teaching.
“Because the capacity of mathematics teachers is well below the level of need, we must find innovative ways to provide opportunities for interested students,” Beverly said. “The fact that our online mathematics program is a national exemplar is extremely exciting.”
To learn more about the program, visit sfasu.edu/academics/colleges/sciences-math/math-stats/academics/math-education.
By Joanna Armstrong, senior marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.
August 23, 2018 Nacogdoches — The Stanley Center for Speech and Language Disorders at Stephen F. Austin State University will begin offering free speech therapy to people with Parkinson’s disease Sept. 4 through a two-part grant-funded program with the Parkinson Voice Project: Speak out! and Loud Crowd.
The Parkinson Voice Project is a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing speech disorders that people with Parkinson’s disease develop. Through the grant, five faculty members in SFA’s Department of Human Services and all graduate students studying speech-language pathology have been trained to conduct the program.
Speak out! is a four-week 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.
“People with Parkinson’s disease lose dopamine, a chemical released by neurons to send signals to other nerve cells, which helps them communicate with all parts of the body,” said Deena Petersen, director for the Stanley Center for Speech and Language Disorders at SFA. “Through this program, we teach people how to be intentional in their speech. This helps bypass the part of the brain that requires dopamine.”
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 be conducting the therapy supervised by licensed speech-language pathologists for both parts of the program.
“There are limited services in the area for those with Parkinson’s disease, and we feel offering these two programs will provide an opportunity to enhance the communication skills of this population and bring more adults into the clinic,” Petersen said.
For more information, contact the center at (936) 468-7109.
August 20, 2018 Nacogdoches — Just one year and a day after the traumatic car accident that resulted in the amputation of Marissa Rotenberry’s right arm, she recently walked the stage at Johnson Coliseum and received her diploma for a master’s in statistics.
During her extended hospitalization following the accident, she had a singular focus pushing her through recovery – finishing her degree.
“It was very traumatic, but it didn’t change me,” Rotenberry said, “and it didn’t have to change my goals.”
Set to start her final semester of graduate school, her plans came to a temporary standstill on Aug. 10, 2017, when she was involved in the accident.
Sitting in the backseat with her arm near the window, Rotenberry took the brunt of the impact when the car crashed. Her arm was mangled by glass, and she sustained other severe injuries, including a lacerated liver, fractured discs and an internal chest degloving (an injury occurring when the skin separates from the muscle).
“I remember being in and out of consciousness,” she said. “I was never confused about what was going on, and I was very aware I had been in a bad car accident.”
Paramedics rushed Rotenberry to Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital and then transported her to Ben Taub Hospital in Houston, where doctors decided to amputate her arm. She remained there for 34 days.
With her extensive injuries, she took recovery one day at a time and celebrated every small victory.
“I remember the second day I was there, they had me sit up in a chair, and I got applauded,” she said.
Rotenberry went through occupational therapy and had three surgeries each week to tend to her wounds.
“It wasn’t until day 33 I knew I was leaving,” she said.
Less than three months after the accident, Rotenberry returned to school.
“I was only one semester away from graduation, so there was no doubt in my mind I wanted to finish it,” she said. “Grad school is hard work. It would essentially be throwing away the time I already put in, and that just seemed crazy.”
Because she started back in the middle of the semester, her professors customized the remaining part of her degree plan to give her time to study while focusing on healing. Working with Rotenberry was the department’s way of repaying her faith in the university, said Dr. Greg Miller, professor of statistics.
“She has entrusted all of her higher education to us, so we said, ‘What are we going to do about it? What’s the best way to chart a course for her?’” Miller said. “It was not an obligation but a real desire to do right by somebody.”
With the faculty’s help, Rotenberry planned on graduating in May until an infection required additional surgeries and pushed it back to August. Even after the set-back, she continued working toward graduation.
“After you teach for a while, you get good at recognizing talent, but the things you really can’t coach up in people are intangibles,” Miller said. “It’s the resilience. It’s the perseverance. It’s the stick-to-it, dedicated type of attitude that describes Marissa.”
While there have been many challenges on the road to recovery, the biggest change has mostly been mental, Rotenberry said.
“Sometimes it’s easy to forget because I still feel my hand,” she said. “Sometimes I feel like I want to grab things or use it. It’s just that adjustment, always.”
Whatever comes next, Rotenberry remains positive she can overcome any obstacles thrown her way.
“The bigger challenge would have been if I didn’t have any arms,” she said. “You can persevere, and you can keep going. It didn’t have to stop me.”
August 10, 2018 Nacogdoches — Join Stephen F. Austin State University’s SFA Gardens to experience elevated garden design during a Saturday Seminar from 9 a.m. to noon August 18.
Emily Cauble, a 2003 SFA alumna and landscape designer and creative director for Clint Horticulture, will explore the key components to a successfully and beautifully designed garden. Seminar participants will create a base plan to practice the design principles Cauble introduces throughout the seminar.
With 14 years’ experience in the industry, Cauble is passionate about design. Before joining Clint Horticulture, she worked in retail nursery sales and wholesale growing, specifically bedding plants.
“Design seminars at SFA Gardens have been incredibly popular, and Cauble’s experience in the industry will lend to an exciting and informative session,” said Dawn Stover, SFA Gardens research associate.
The seminar will be held at the Brundrett Conservation Education Building located at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet St.
Participation for the garden design seminar is limited, and advanced registration is required. The cost is $25 for SFA Gardens members and $30 for nonmembers. Call (936) 468-4129, or email sfagardens@sfasu.edu to reserve a seat.
August 10, 2018 Nacogdoches – The Music Preparatory Division of the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music will host an open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, August 18, at the Music Prep House, 3028 Raguet St.
Students interested in participating in fall classes or private lessons offered through Music Prep may register during the open house. Auditions for the Piney Woods Youth Orchestra will be held the same day beginning at 10 a.m.
The music program features the study of a variety of musical instruments and choral techniques. Upper-level musicians as well as SFA faculty and students teach private lessons and classes. Music Prep offers private music lessons in piano, harp, violin, viola, Suzuki violin, flute, cello, trumpet, trombone, voice, percussion and more.
Private lessons begin the week of Aug. 20 for 16-week, upper-level faculty instruction and the week of Sept. 10 for 12-week SFA music major instruction.
Information about the various programs offered and lesson application forms are available on the Music Prep website at music.sfasu.edu/prep.
Mail forms to SFA Music Prep, P.O. Box 13043, SFA Station, Nacogdoches, Texas 75962. Call the Music Prep office with credit/debit card information at (936) 468-1291. The Prep office is open from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Forms may also be dropped off at the office.
For additional information, contact program director Pat Barnett at (936) 468-1291 or musicprep@sfasu.edu, or visit the Facebook page SFA Music Prep.
August 7, 2018 - Former Stephen F. Austin State University head football coach Clint Conque announced his resignation Monday.
“Today I announce my decision to step down as the head football coach at Stephen F. Austin,” Conque said. “Although I have remained confident in the ongoing investigation into the potential violation of university policy, as a family of faith and out of respect to my profession, I do not want this situation to be a further distraction to the 2018 football team and season. I deeply care for my players and wish them great success this season and beyond.”
Conque joined the SFA athletic staff in 2014.
“It has been a privilege to serve the university and to work with many outstanding players and coaches – past and present. I am proud of the foundation that is in place both on and off the field,” he said. “I have arrived at this decision on my own and look to move forward in my career.”
SFA Athletic Director Ryan Ivey said the department is appreciative of Conque’s years of service as head football coach.
“At this point we remain focused on the 2018 season and the work our student-athletes and staff have done and will continue to do leading up to kickoff on September 1,” Ivey said.
According to SFA officials, Jeff Byrd will continue to serve as interim head coach for SFA’s football program through the 2018 season.
“We will re-evaluate the leadership structure of our team at the conclusion of the year,” Ivey said.
For game information, visit sfajacks.com.
August 2, 2018 - Teaching professionals seeking to continue their education need look no further than Stephen F. Austin State University. In January 2019, SFA will offer a Master of Education in teaching and learning completely online to allow educators the opportunity to pursue a graduate degree without relocating.
This degree targets early childhood through 12th grade teachers who wish to develop their skills and knowledge in these three teaching specializations: online, English as a Second Language/bilingual, and gifted and talented.
“The need for specialists in these areas continues to increase, and this degree is specially niched to fulfill this growing need,” said Dr. Heather Olson Beal, associate professor in SFA’s Department of Secondary Education and Educational Leadership.
The 36-hour online program prepares teachers to work with a mobile and tech-savvy new generation of students while the ESL/bilingual track primes teachers to work with a diverse student population with different languages and cultural backgrounds. The gifted and talented program prepares teachers to recognize the unique abilities and capacity for discovery of students from every cultural background.
Virtual class meetings will be regularly scheduled during evenings, Saturdays and summers. Program instructors will use real-time video conferencing technology in order to enable off-site students to participate from remote locations.
For more information, contact Olson Beal at SecEdGrad@sfasu.edu.
In conjunction with their quarterly meeting, Stephen F. Austin State University regents participated in a ribbon cutting to celebrate the opening of the Ed and Gwen Cole STEM Building. Pictured from left are SFA regents David Alders of Nacogdoches, Karen Gantt of McKinney, Dr. Scott Coleman of Houston, Brigettee Henderson of Lufkin and Alton Frailey of Katy; Dr. Baker Pattillo, SFA president; SFA regent Bob Garrett of Tyler; SFA benefactor Ed Cole; SFA regents M. Thomas Mason of Dallas and Ken Schaefer of Brownsville; and SFA student regent Kate Childress of Lumberton. Approximately 1,000 guests attended the event and were able to tour the building and observe demonstrations of the state-of-the-art instrumentation and laboratories.
August 1, 2018 Nacogdoches — Stephen F. Austin State University regents approved an initiative during its quarterly meeting Tuesday that will utilize alumni and industry professionals to assist in providing transformative experiences for students.
SFA recently became the second Texas institution to offer a specialized degree in banking, and now, students enrolled in the Chadwick family banking program at SFA will have the added bonus of an advisory council.
Chadwick family banking program advisory council members will serve as a link between the classroom and the banking and financial services industries, while also providing mentoring opportunities to students.
“Industry engagement is an essential part of all we do in the Rusche College of Business, and it is especially important for the Chadwick family banking program,” said Dr. Tim Bisping, dean of the Rusche College of Business. “This advisory council will be an invaluable tool as we work to stay abreast of the latest developments in the banking industry in order to ensure graduates are successful in launching their banking careers.”
Council members will seek to strengthen educational opportunities for students and build relationships between the university and industry professionals. Dr. David Kaiser, director of the Chadwick family banking program, said this endeavor will help ensure students seeking a Bachelor of Business Administration in banking graduate with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed.
“This council will help us build and maintain pathways for our students into the industry upon graduation,” Kaiser said.
Regents also approved five new courses to strengthen curriculum: international and intercultural communication – China; forecasting in economics and business; publication management and production; a publishing capstone course; and a practicum in professional and ethical practice. These curriculum changes will be sent to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges for further approval.
Regents approved an institutional operating budget totaling about $265.8 million for 2018-19. The budget reflects a 4-percent pool for merit salary adjustments and targeted strategic initiatives.
The board approved a capital plan budget of about $10 million for 2018-19. This budget follows goals outlined in the campus 2020 master plan, strategic plan and space assessment, which includes campus infrastructure, information technology services equipment, system and security initiatives, and planned maintenance renovation projects.
Improved academic support, student life, safety and capital renewal initiatives are all targets of the capital plan. Sand volleyball courts, which will allow SFA to offer a NCAA beach volleyball team, also are among the goals.
“Our goal is to increase the number of sports available to our female students,” said John Branch, assistant director of athletic external affairs. “Beach volleyball is a popular sport and will make us competitive with peer institutions. We hope to be ready for competition by spring 2020.”
Classrooms also will undergo technology upgrades to enhance instruction, and the number and capacity of virtual desktops will increase to provide greater access to high-quality graphic software.
For the James I. Perkins College of Education, the first-floor lobby areas in the McKibben Education Building are scheduled for renovation. In the Forestry Building of the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, about 45 workstations in the forestry geographic information system lab will be replaced.
In 2016, SFA added a crop science course into the core curriculum that accelerated the need to build a new greenhouse at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center. At the board meeting Tuesday, regents approved a $20,000 project budget increase to construct the 7,200-square-foot, three-bay, gutter-connected greenhouse.
Regents approved conducting an architectural assessment of property at 1401 N. Mound St., previously owned by Kay Bailey Hutchison, former U.S. senator and permanent U.S. representative to NATO. A space assessment was conducted by the San Antonio-based firm Facilities Programming and Consulting, with recommendations for use of the historic home located on the property. A comprehensive architectural design plan will be developed in accordance with those recommendations.
During the Tuesday meeting, the board also approved:
• ratifying $1.14 million in additional grant awards allocable to fiscal year 2018;
• policy revisions, curriculum and course fee changes, 2018-19 holiday schedule and minutes from the April meeting;
• an electrical infrastructure project that includes replacing a transmission line for the Student Recreation Center;
• a five-year agreement with three companies for debt collection services and a five-year contract extension with Accent Vending, which provides SFA’s vending services; and
• the annual audit plan.
The board received updates from Dr. Baker Pattillo, SFA president, regarding the university’s 95th anniversary celebration, which will take place Sept. 18.
Richards Carlberg delivered a report regarding the university’s marketing campaign, and Bentz Whaley and Flessner gave an update on the university’s fundraising campaign.
Additionally, regents heard reports from Dr. Buddy Himes, dean of the College of Fine Arts; Karen Gantt, chair of the Champions Event Committee; Craig Turnage, executive director of alumni relations and the SFA Alumni Association; the Faculty Senate; and the Student Government Association.
Dr. Steve Cooper, Stephen F. Austin State University School of Social Work associate director of research, leads a discussion with Nacogdoches County community members about the recent grant received from the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health. The $410,000 grant funds an initiative focusing on identifying and improving the mental health conditions of the local community.
July 31, 2018 Nacogdoches — Stephen F. Austin State University’s School of Social Work is one of five Texas entities receiving a $410,000 grant from the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health to support collaborative approaches to well-being in rural communities.
The grant funds an initiative focusing on identifying and improving the mental health conditions of Nacogdoches County. More than 60 rural counties from around Texas applied for the grant. Other counties receiving the grant are Bastrop, Brooks, Morris and Victoria.
Dr. Steve Cooper, associate director of research for SFA’s School of Social Work, said this grant will help determine the steps that need to be taken to improve the county’s overall mental health.
“The Hogg Foundation looks at rural areas’ need for better mental health,” Cooper said. “This particular initiative allows the community to say what the issue is. This grant funds the facilitation of a community-driven process of identifying the needs related to mental health and deciding how to go about addressing them.”
For the purposes of this initiative, the Hogg Foundation defines well-being as the holistic state of being well and feeling content in life. The concept includes feeling grounded emotionally, mentally, socially and spiritually. Mental health is an essential component of well-being.
“This isn’t just more money to do more of the same things,” Rick Ybarra, program officer for the Hogg Foundation, said. “The hope is that these grantees will pioneer new approaches to resilience, mental health and well-being that we can all learn from.”
According to research conducted by the Hogg Foundation in 2015, 185 Texas counties lacked having a psychiatrist, while 149 of these counties were without a licensed psychologist and 40 lacked having a social worker. The Hogg Foundation’s initiative aims to shift the focus from individual mental illnesses to the conditions that support mental health at the community and systems level.
Cooper said that there has been a push toward recovery within mental health care in the past decade, but rural communities often lack the funds and/or resources to achieve better mental health care.
“People are often looked at as sick forever if they have chronic mental illness, but with help they can become more independent,” Cooper said. “The idea behind this movement is that anyone can get better with support. This means that each member of the community can positively affect an individual’s mental health.”
The Center for Rural Social Work Research and Development within SFA’s School of Social Work is housing the grant. Cooper will be spearheading the work along with Dr. Emmerentie Oliphant, director of the Master of Social Work program at SFA.
Additionally, students within the School of Social Work will have the opportunity to assist with the process and gain real-world experience. Both undergraduate and graduate students will help gather data on the community’s mental well-being, participate in community meetings and more.
The grant will last three years, and the initiative is divided into two stages. The first 12 to 18 months will focus on engaging with the community in an appreciative inquiry model to determine the specific mental health needs. In this stage, various community members and organizations will gather information and begin work to enhance the county’s mental health care.
“This is not just something SFA is doing; instead, it is a community-driven initiative,” Cooper said.
SFA and 15 community partners will periodically meet throughout the initiative. Cooper said that the group comprises a very inclusive community. “This is the first time Nacogdoches County is focusing on community mental health,” Cooper said, “and we anticipate that as word grows, more and more organizations and individuals will want to participate in this initiative.”
The second stage of the grant will involve implementing resources and information within the community on the needs of the county. The results of the first stage will help determine the next steps to be taken. These steps will lead the community toward becoming more conducive to wellness and well-being.
“Our goal with this grant will focus on becoming a trauma-informed community,” Cooper said. “Regardless of an individual’s own mental health, we want every community member to have access to information and resources regarding their well-being. Everyone deserves help with their mental health.”
To learn more about this initiative, contact Dr. Steve Cooper at scooper@sfasu.edu or (936) 468-2845.
By Emily Brown, marketing communications specialist for Stephen F. Austin State University.
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