SFA University

Last week, 19 family nurse practitioner students from across Texas attended the first Master of Science in Nursing program orientation in Stephen F. Austin State University’s history. Faculty members in the DeWitt School of Nursing worked to create the program, which was made possible following a $750,000 grant from the T.L.L. Temple Foundation.

September 1, 2017 Nacogdoches, Texas — Nineteen family nurse practitioner students from across Texas visited the Stephen F. Austin State University DeWitt School of Nursing Building last week for the first Master of Science in Nursing program orientation in the university’s history.

The new online program makes it easier for East Texas nurses to access graduate nursing education while providing much-needed primary care to citizens of Deep East Texas.

“Because I’m a single mom working two jobs with two kids, I would not have been able to go back to school if it was not for SFA’s new online program,” Shannon Weaver of Longview said during last week’s orientation. “I think for so many of us, at this point in our lives, hybrid programs or those that require in-person classes are just not a feasible option, so I love that aspect of SFA’s new program.”

The Master of Science in Nursing with focus as a family nurse practitioner requires 46 credit hours and 720 minimum clinical hours to complete. Students will be allowed to utilize preceptors for clinical experiences in their home communities, when possible.

“For similar programs at other universities, you have to be on campus so many days a week and that was just not an option for me unless I was wanting to relocate, find a new job and go to school at the same time,” said Grant Harris, a Master of Science in Nursing student and SFA graduate. “The master’s degree in nursing was just a really flexible program and great fit.”

A $750,000 grant from the T.L.L. Temple Foundation strengthened development of the online program, which includes a few on-campus clinical experiences.

"We could not have gained momentum if it were not for the support of the T.L.L. Temple Foundation, and we are most thankful,” said Dr. Sara Bishop, director of SFA's DeWitt School of Nursing.

The SFA nursing administrators stated that access to health care is a growing concern across the nation. Many Texas counties have a shortage of primary care providers, including the counties in Deep East Texas. The leaders believe this program will connect SFA and East Texas communities through learning opportunities.

"Many of the students will be working with area nurse practitioners and primary care physicians in clinical sites where they will receive assistance and training," said Dr. Janice Hensarling, associate professor of nursing and Master of Science in Nursing assistant program coordinator. "We have already received so much support from the community, and our program will focus on the needs of rural East Texas."

According to Dr. Christell Bray, program coordinator, the first class is scheduled to graduate in 2020.

For additional information about admission requirements and other details, contact Hensarling at (936) 468-7732 or jhensarling@sfasu.edu.

By Christine Broussard, Contributing writer

Dr. Jim Ewing, assistant professor at Stephen F. Austin State University, has found his niche in teaching math to English Language Learners and students living in poverty. At SFA, Ewing educates students aspiring to become teachers and utilizes his Ewing Learning website as a resource for teachers worldwide.August 29, 2017 Nacogdoches — It’s 15 minutes before his elementary math education course begins at Stephen F. Austin State University, and that means only one thing — it’s time to dance.

Before every class, Dr. Jim Ewing, assistant professor at SFA, invites his students to arrive early for a dance warm up.

“I’ve always believed I can’t dance, and a lot of elementary teachers believe they can’t do math,” Ewing said. “So, I practice dancing and invite students to join. I’m vulnerable because I’m doing something I’m not very good at, and I’m taking a risk. Likewise, I encourage students to take a risk in teaching math.”

While this method may seem atypical for a math class, Ewing’s teaching style and strategies have been shared worldwide through his Ewing Learning website (ewinglearning.com), which he created to serve as a resource for educators teaching math to English Language Learners and students living in poverty.

“A lot of people believe math is math, yet ELLs aren’t doing as well as they could because teachers lack the necessary preparation,” Ewing said. “When I was growing up, it wasn’t necessary to have command of the language to teach math. Students would just do worksheets, but now it’s important to explain it.”

Ewing feels a kindred connection with ELLs. After a meeting with his advisor while an undergraduate studying sociology years ago, Ewing decided to combine his major with Spanish.

“When I left my advisor’s office, I saw this beautiful poster of Seville, Spain, and a month later I completed my final semester abroad,” Ewing said. “I liked Spain so much, I stayed for 24 years.”

While Ewing is now fluent in Spanish, when he first traveled to Spain he only knew a handful of words and recalls being confused when someone said, “Hasta luego (See you later).”

In Spain, Ewing taught elementary school for 24 years, and he also served as head of the primary school in Malaga, Spain.

Upon returning to the U.S. and earning his doctoral degree in teaching and curriculum from Syracuse University in New York, Ewing applied to 100 universities and joined the SFA faculty in 2015.

“It’s always been my dream to be a professor. My dad was a professor at Cornell University, and my mom was a teacher,” Ewing said.

As an assistant professor at SFA and a teaching consultant, Ewing has a dual responsibility to educate new teachers through his SFA courses and educate established teachers through Ewing Learning online.

“I have an international background and taught students from all over the world. I like to share that experience with other teachers and working at SFA and using Ewing Learning helps me accomplish that,” Ewing said.

At SFA, Ewing teaches elementary math education and serves as a field supervisor for teacher interns at the SFA Charter School. He also collaborates with staff members at Raguet Elementary School to offer SFA students the opportunity to work with ELLs and students living in poverty.

Additionally, Ewing serves as a mentor for Big Jacks, an organization dedicated to helping, educating and encouraging children in the Nacogdoches Independent School District. He has been nominated to serve on the diversity committee at SFA and has had several journal articles published. Currently, he is writing a book regarding strategies for teaching math to ELLs.

By Kasi Dickerson, a contributing writer who is a senior marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.

August 28, 2017 - An event celebrating the arrival of Uber services in Nacogdoches will be rescheduled for a later date, due to weather conditions in the area.

The ride-hailing service, common in larger cities, will begin operating soon in Nacogdoches. The event was originally scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, August 30, 2017 on the Stephen F. Austin State University campus.

For more information, call (936) 468-2605.

The 2017-2018 SGA Executive Board are, from left, Jody Harris, Samuel Slone, Alexandria Lavender, Julie Hernandez, Ryan Hamilton, Melissa Herrera, Andres Leon, and Brian Naples.

August 24, 2017 - The Panola College Student Government Association will meet at 4pm every Thursday in the Community Room of the M.P. Baker Library. All interested students are invited to attend and participate in SGA.

Officers for 2017-2018 include President - Ryan Hamilton, Vice President - Melissa Herrera, Secretary - Julie Hernandez, Treasurer - Alexandria Lavender, Parliamentarian - Samuel Slone and Reporter - Andres Leon.

Brian Naples, government professor, and Jody Harris, student activities coordinator, sponsor the SGA. Follow SGA activities on the official Panola College SGA Facebook page and in the Pony Express online at www.pcponyexpress.org.

August 24, 2017 - 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 Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young” at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1, in The Cole Art Center at The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.

The documentary, directed by Annika Iltis and Timothy James Kane, is about a race in Tennessee in which, during its first 25 years, only 10 people have finished. Based on the historic prison escape of James Earl Ray, this cult-like race tempts people from around the world to test their limits of physical and mental endurance, according to the synopsis at imdb.com.

The Barkley Marathons, created by ultra-runner Lazarus Lake, only accepts 35 runners each year through a secret application process. The race has an ever-changing and unmarked course. Participants battle through treacherous terrain to find hidden books as proof of following the route, according to imdb.com.

The film was named best feature documentary at the Kansas City FilmFest, earned an audience award at the Austin Film Festival, and earned numerous awards at the United Kingdom’s Sheffield Adventure Film Festival.

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, Brad Maule, 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.

Cutline: A free, one-night screening of “The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young” is at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1, in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House.

August 23, 2017 Nacogdoches – When Cleo House Jr. first stepped foot onto the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University, it was to attend the High School Summer Theatre Workshop presented by the School of Theatre. Little did he know as a young aspiring actor in the early 1990s that he would return to SFA in the summer of 2017 as the director of the School of Theatre.

"It’s truly a full-circle type of … well it’s more than a moment,” House said. “It’s a life event … a full-circle life event that has brought me back to SFA and the School of Theatre. It was here that I discovered that I wasn’t alone in my passion for theatre.”

Athletics was an important part of House’s early family life. Growing up mostly in Hooks, Texas, his dad, now deceased, was a free agent for the Miami Dolphins. His brother graduated from SFA and played Lumberjack football on scholarship. His sister is a volleyball coach at Springhill ISD. His mother is a gospel minister.

But it was the theatre that captured House’s attention.

“In a way, SFA helped me solidify my life’s journey,” he added. “I was never one of those people who had doubts about their professional path, and there were plenty of folks who had questions about the choice for a life in the theatrical arts. But I knew theatre was it for me. I had always felt like a life in education was what I wanted, but it wasn’t until I found theatre that I realized what subject in education would be my specialty."

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M Commerce and a Master of Fine Arts from Texas Tech University. He taught and eventually served as coordinator/chair of theatre and performing arts programs at Penn State University – Berks, Texas Southern University and Clark Atlanta University.

Professionally, he acted in a production of “Macbeth” that was co-directed by Aaron Posner and Teller (of Penn and Teller fame) and performed for two preeminent authors in their plays – August Wilson (“The Piano Lesson”) and Wole Soyinka (“Death and the King’s Horseman”). He has worked in a variety of theatre venues, such as The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C., The Lantern Theatre in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Two Rivers Theatre Company in Red Bank, New Jersey. Recent directing credits include “Miss Julie,” “Lend Me a Tenor,” “Dreamgirls” and “Medea.”

The diversity of the SFA theatre faculty and the school’s student body attracted House to apply for the director’s position, which was left vacant when former director Scott Shattuck became associate dean of the SFA College of Fine Arts.

House also feels a connection to SFA theatre students.

“I believe that how I grew up is very similar to the type of student that SFA attracts,” House said. Because of opportunities like UIL One Act Play and the summer theatre workshop, House believes many students come to SFA with a “burning desire” to establish the kind of work ethic necessary for a successful career in theatre.

“I also knew Allen Oster, and he was a fantastic teacher that influenced many like myself who attended the high school theatre workshop at SFA,” he said. “But even more than all of that, Scott Shattuck has done an excellent job leading the department and establishing the School of Theatre’s reputation as a school of choice for many in the South.”

House said he is looking forward to learning more about the culture of SFA, the College of Fine Arts and the School of Theatre.

“I look forward to continuing the relationships the School of Theatre has developed over the years with the community,” he said. “Ultimately, I’m excited about the opportunities this new era presents for the School of Theatre.

“The School of Theatre has a great opportunity to capitalize even more on the diversity that is represented among the students,” he added. “Another factor that makes working at SFA desirable is the fact that the School of Theatre is supported by the university in a real and tangible way.”

Although he plans to spend a good deal of time initially “listening and learning,” House said his ultimate goal for the school is to “shoot for the stars.”

“It’s my intention to make sure that everyone knows how awesome our students and faculty are,” he said. “I want to find more opportunities for our students and faculty to gain recognition for their talents beyond our walls – which in turn increases the profile of the School of Theatre. It’s very important to continue to lessen the divide between a professional career in theatre and being a student at SFA. I want to increase the number of students we have going into graduate programs; to increase interdisciplinary collaborations with other SFA departments and the community; to get off campus to see theatre; and to support all the things the School of Theatre is already doing so beautifully.”

House officially takes over Sept. 1 as director of the School of Theatre. Dr. Rick Jones, who has served as interim director for the past year, will return to full-time teaching this fall.

August 10, 2017 Nacogdoches — For several years, Stephen F. Austin State University faculty members in the James I. Perkins College of Education, Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, and the Rusche College of Business have collaborated with Oglala Lakota College, a tribal college of Pine Ridge Reservation in Kyle, South Dakota, to develop resource interpretation and hospitality and tourism concentrations within the Lakota Studies degree.

Stephen F. Austin State University faculty members in the James I. Perkins College of Education, Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, and Rusche College of Business have collaborated with Oglala Lakota College, a tribal college of Pine Ridge Reservation in Kyle, South Dakota, to develop interpretive and tourism curriculums. SFA faculty members traveled to South Dakota several times during the past few years to work on this project.The National Parks Service, SFA and OLC worked to create this new curriculum to provide indigenous students with the necessary resources to tell their own stories and market their heritage to park visitors seeking an authentic experience.

Dr. Judy Abbott, dean of SFA’s College of Education, is the principal investigator for the project and is working with SFA’s School of Human Sciences’ Dr. Chay Runnels, associate professor, and Dr. Gina Fe Causin, assistant professor, as well as Dr. Shelby Laird, assistant professor, and Dr. Pat Stephens Williams, associate professor, in SFA’s College of Forestry and Agriculture, and Dr. Carol Wright, assistant professor, in the Rusche College of Business.

“The tribal college system provides opportunities for young tribal members that many would not have otherwise,” Abbott said. “We were honored to partner with OLC and the National Park Service on this project to help expand the curriculum options for OLC students. This project taught us about relevancy, diversity and inclusion in academia.”

Through the curriculum design and development process, SFA faculty members inventoried OLC courses, themes and emphasis areas. They also proposed strategies to strengthen indigenous interpretive curriculum and practice.

Laird has been working on the project since January 2015 and has dealt mainly with the interpretation aspect of the curriculum.

“Interpretation is generally the sharing of and communication about our cultural and natural resources through written and oral communication and multimedia presentations. One way to think about it is educational storytelling,” Laird said. “Every park ranger you’ve met likely does interpretation on a daily basis.”

After review, project stakeholders decided to expand the proposed curriculum to include tourism and hospitality studies. Runnels and Causin were then brought on board to write the tourism job outlook of South Dakota and to develop hospitality and tourism curriculum for OLC that would allow students to work in national parks, museums and hospitality establishments.

“We were trying to provide a way for students to connect to the bigger industry of travel and tourism and interpretation in a way that would help them rise out of their situation,” Runnels said.

In addition to joining the workforce, “OLC students will bring authenticity to the stories and storytelling about the Lakota people’s culture,” Causin said.

SFA faculty members traveled to South Dakota several times during the past few years to work on this project.

“It was personally a rewarding opportunity to be able to visit places like Wounded Knee and hear the indigenous story told there and to go into the Badlands with Lakota storytellers,” Runnels said. “It really shifted my perspective on tourism in that part of the country.”

The project team proposed three new interpretation courses and a new hospitality and tourism course for the degree plan in November 2016. OLC approved the courses in January 2017 for implementation into the fall 2017 semester.

“Our greatest hope is that this degree program will give direction to the Lakota people in telling and interpreting their own stories in the context of the broader world and not letting others be the ones interpreting their sacred traditions,” Laird said.

August 9, 2017 Nacogdoches — Wading into Lanana Creek, three Nacogdoches High School seniors enrolled in Stephen F. Austin State University’s STEM Academy collect water samples to test the creek’s water quality. It’s 7:30 a.m., and immediately the students take note of the environment, jotting down the temperature, humidity and pointing out the creek’s shallowness.

 (pictured, from left): Nacogdoches High School seniors Brandon Smith, Marin Beal and Miranda Allbee check the turbidity, take the temperature and measure the depth of the water at Lanana Creek for their Stephen F. Austin State University STEM Academy research project. During their fourth year in the academy, students practice experimental design by conducting their own research.After recording their initial observations, Brandon Smith, Marin Beal and Miranda Allbee take the water’s temperature and measure the depth and flow rate at different locations along the creek.

“We are looking at the water quality in the creek both upstream and downstream of the bridge construction to see if it’s affecting the water,” Smith explained.

Since the first week in July, the three students have been collecting samples at Lanana Creek for their research project, which is a requirement of SFA’s STEM Academy for fourth-year students.

Through the STEM Academy, which is part of SFA’s College of Sciences and Mathematics, students from Nacogdoches and Lufkin High Schools are exposed to rigorous science, technology, engineering and mathematics curriculum and investigative laboratory and field experiences.

SFA STEM’s curriculum is delivered at the high school campuses and tailored to match science course curriculum. Students in the STEM Academy also participate in half-day visits to SFA laboratories and field sites every three weeks where they interact with and learn from SFA faculty members.

Dr. Dennis Gravatt, associate professor of biology at SFA, works with many STEM Academy students, including Smith, Beal and Allbee.

“The academy offers students an opportunity to experience science outside of their high school courses,” Gravatt said. “They are exposed to different facets of science that they wouldn’t be exposed to otherwise.”

The academy is organized by class level, and each level has a specific focus area. For example, freshmen are in STEM 1, which is focused on biology; sophomores are in STEM 2, which is centered on chemistry; and juniors are in STEM 3, which is mainly physics. During their fourth year, STEM Academy students engage in experimental design and conduct their own research.

Smith, Beal and Allbee are one of many student groups working on their research for their final year in the academy.

“The STEM Academy is great because you get to do stuff like this,” Beal said, referencing the group’s ability to conduct field research at the creek.

Allbee agrees the academy provides more hands-on experiences, and although the academy is challenging, it is worth it.

“Before Brandon, Marin and Miranda began their project, we had a brainstorming session where we discussed all their options. I acted as a mentor and facilitator to help the students think critically, work through their research questions and instigate thoughts,” Gravatt said. “For the students, this was a great experience as they were able to see what it’s like working with scientists, asking questions and having discussions.”

After fine-tuning the research proposal, the students decided to study how the construction of the bridge on Starr Avenue would impact Lanana Creek’s water quality in regard to biological health. Gravatt explained the students collect samples in deep and shallow areas of the creek because different organisms live in each area, and each depth has different oxygen levels and temperatures.

Overall, the students will collect samples for six weeks, three times a week. They check the pH and oxygen levels, turbidity (how cloudy the water is), conductivity, and water temperature at the surface and bottom of the creek. Additionally, students look for macroinvertebrates, which are small organisms without backbones that are visible without a microscope such as dragonflies and damselflies.

Students will begin to analyze the data and discuss the implications of their findings during the fall. Other STEM Academy students are in various stages of their own research projects.

Stephen F. Austin State University’s SFA Gardens will host Permaculture Design 101 with Theron Beaudreau from 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 26 at the Brundrett Conservation Education Building, located at 2900 Raguet St.August 8, 2017 Nacogdoches — Stephen F. Austin State University’s SFA Gardens will host Permaculture Design 101 with Theron Beaudreau from 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 26 at the Brundrett Conservation Education Building, located at 2900 Raguet St.

Through this introduction to the sustainable gardening techniques of permaculture, participants will learn about holistic design strategies for East Texas that regenerate the land and surrounding ecosystems. 

“Permaculture design focuses on the relationships between elements in the garden and how gardeners can arrange these elements for the most efficient and low-maintenance gardens,” Beaudreau said.

Beaudreau’s design methods help produce an abundant harvest with minimal weeding and watering, which can be beneficial for gardeners.

Beaudreau studied with Geoff Lawton at the Permaculture Research Institute of Australia, and he has been involved in permaculture design and education for more than a decade. He also is the owner of Integrated Acres, a consultation and design firm that has helped farmers and ranchers across Texas hone their stewardship approach to the land. 

The seminar costs $15 for SFA Gardens members and $20 for non-members. To register, contact SFA Gardens’ education office at (936) 468-1832 or sfagardens@sfasu.edu.

Elijah Duckworth views the moon through a high-powered telescope at the Stephen F. Austin State University Observatory during a constellation party. The party was one of many events SFA’s College of Sciences and Mathematics’ STEM Research and Learning Center organized for its Lil’ STEM Jacks outreach program.August 4, 2017 Nacogdoches — With iPads raised to the sky, dozens of Lil’ STEM Jacks and their family members map the constellations using the Skyview app as night falls over the Stephen F. Austin State University Observatory.

As lines connect stars into shapes, animals, gods and goddesses on the iPad, viewers have a clearer picture of constellations millions of miles away. Suddenly, what looks like a shooting star whizzes by, and the crowd buzzes with excitement.

“It’s the International Space Station,” many shout as they lift their iPads to the stars to confirm.

Recently, participants in SFA’s Lil’ STEM Jacks, a two-day outreach program offered within the College of Sciences and Mathematics’ STEM Research and Learning Center, had an out-of-this-world experience as they traveled to the SFA Observatory for a constellation party.

 Utilizing an iPad and the Skyview app, Dr. Nola Schmidt, STEM Center curriculum coordinator, and Xavior Walker map out a constellation at the SFA Observatory.“We were so excited to have our Lil’ STEM Jacks at the observatory. The students were able to see so much more by using technology. The iPads gave them the ability to explore and see what they wanted to see,” said Julie Sandifer, kindergarten through 12th grade outreach coordinator for SFA’s STEM Research and Learning Center.

Utilizing high-powered telescopes, attendees were able to view craters on the moon, see the patterns on Jupiter’s surface and its four moons, and clearly see Saturn and its rings.

“It’s easy to talk about the planets and show students photographs, but to actually have them see Saturn, Jupiter and the moon up close through a telescope is a whole new, amazing experience,” Sandifer said.

The constellation party was one of many events the Lil’ STEM Jacks enjoyed. During the two-day program, participants investigated the biology of plants and made take-home planters, learned about the planets, played planet bingo, explored the nursing and the medical professions, took part in demonstrations using medical mannequins, and participated in a wildlife show. Another highlight was the EV3 Lego Mindstorms, where students programmed robots to move, make sounds and complete tasks.

After nightfall, Molly Childs, a participant in SFA’s Lil’ STEM Jacks program, is able to see Jupiter and four of its moons through a high-powered telescope at the SFA Observatory.

“Our goal with the Lil’ STEM Jacks program is to encourage children to get excited about science, math, engineering and technology,” Sandifer said. “This year’s program exceeded our expectations. Not only did the kids enjoy the activities, but many family members had fun, especially at the constellation party.”

Last year, SFA created the Lil’ STEM Jacks program to provide opportunities for children ages 6 through 10 to learn and play using science, technology, engineering and mathematics. More than 30 children participated this year.

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