SFA University
April 27, 2018 Nacogdoches – The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art and SFA Galleries will present “Red Dirt Memories: Storytelling with Jerry Permenter” Saturday and Sunday, May 5 and 6, at The Cole Art Center at The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.
A native of the Swift community in Nacogdoches County, Permenter, who goes by the name Red DirtBoy on Facebook, grew up in rural East Texas, and his memories of those early years laid the groundwork for what is now the Facebook page Red Dirt Memories, which has quickly garnered more than 5,000 followers.
Permenter will share some of his own “red dirt” memories in storytelling sessions at 2:30 p.m. Saturday and 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free, but seating in Cole Art Center is limited, according to Lisa Steed, events coordinator for SFA art galleries.
“Jerry’s written and spoken word stories have really created a large nostalgic community of people in a very short time period,” Steed said. “Older locals are particularly enchanted with these memories, but I think we’re all looking for relief from these troubled times and want to feel a connection to our roots.”
Among Permenter’s topics: Dog Trot House, Funeralizing, Cotton Dresses and more.
“His memories are obviously his own, but I’ve found many of the stories have a southern commonality that seems like he lived down the road from me,” Steed said. “I wanted to ask: are we related?”
Many East Texans will remember that Permenter was the founder and executive director of the East Texas AIDS Project based in Nacogdoches in the late 80's in Nacogdoches until 1994. The project later became Health Horizons.
“Red Dirt Boy” is the name Permenter had given last year to a book in progress.
“I grew up in Nacogdoches, and I have a memory on every corner of those red brick streets,” he said. “I've been a technical writer for over 30 years; creative writing was a hobby. ‘Red Dirt Boy’ came about after I lost two siblings and my mom in recent years, and I began to write under that name about some of our experiences growing up.
“The audience for those writings developed organically – usually by word of mouth or through a few websites,” he said. “The reaction to them was so strong that I began to write new ones on a regular basis.”
He now has a collection of stories based on growing up in Nacogdoches County that will be released later this year as "Red Dirt Memories."
Permenter initially began sharing his memories with his two grandchildren so they would know and understand their family history.
“What began with me sharing my own childhood memories – growing up, the struggles and the good memories – seemed to resonate with so many others that local folks began sharing their stories and photos with me,” he said. “That was probably my greatest motivation after I started. Many families had events in their lives that helped shape them, made them stronger and more resilient, but those stories were kept within the family.”
On his Red Dirt Memories Facebook site, membership grew to almost 5,000 followers in less than two months.
“I discovered a commonality we all shared, along with a desire to tell our stories, to share experiences and create community,” he said.
The closed group site generated almost 2,000 members in a brief six-week period. Members can share their family stories and photos, allowing all to see stories and photos of the rural life many experienced growing up.
After leaving the East Texas AIDS Project, Permenter was the executive director of the Alamo Area Resource Center for 17 years. He then moved into consulting nationally. Permenter now splits his professional time between a home office in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and an office in downtown San Antonio. He provides program design, grant writing and evaluation for health and human services programs in both cities. He works with arts and eldercare organizations in Santa Fe while focusing on funding and evaluation of housing, clinical care and supportive services for San Antonio organizations. He has provided technical assistance for nonprofits for the U.S. Office of Minority Health and has overseen projects funded by the U.S. Health and Human Resources Administration. Recently, he founded a comprehensive Health Equity Clinic in San Antonio, which, as the first of its kind in South Texas, has been funded for the past three years by the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
“Red Dirt Boy” will eventually be an AIDS memoir when completed.
During the storytelling sessions, those in attendance will have the opportunity to share their memories and ask questions as time allows.
“I want these sessions to be casual and a shared experience, much like my social media pages Red Dirt Memories and Red DirtBoy have become,” Permenter said. “We have many things to discuss, and some wonderful folks who'll attend, with many great storytellers from the community in attendance. We'll close with questions and comments about all of our own ‘Red Dirt Memories.’
“I've been tremendously blessed by growing up in Nacogdoches and, in many ways, I hope to give back to my hometown at this stage of my life,” he added. “By offering readings, my writings and sharing our collective memories, I think many will enjoy the nostalgia of these stories and find it a great way to spend a weekend afternoon.”
Permenter describes storytelling as “a reciprocal exercise,” and he hopes these sessions will provide a time and place where folks can listen and relive some of their own years of growing up.
“There will be a lot of laughter and, again, a true sense of coming together to share stories in person – something we don’t do enough of in this day of technology overload,” he said. “‘Red Dirt Memories’ is a love letter to Nacogdoches in a very real sense, and my writings are a way of saying thank you to a hometown that helped in creating the man I am today.”
The Cole Art Center is located at 329 E. Main St. For more information, call (936) 468-6557.
April 26, 2018 Nacogdoches — A team of mass communication, art and marketing students from Stephen F. Austin State University recently won Best Media Plan at the American Advertising Federation’s National Student Advertising Competition in Corpus Christi.
This award recognizes students for their creative use of a $10 million budget in building an advertising campaign for Ocean Spray Cranberries. Since the fall semester, students have built the campaign to increase brand relevance among millennials between the ages of 24 and 34 by conducting brand and target-market research, developing “Own the Ocean” as their central theme and strategy, budgeting and creating a media plan.
During the course of the project, Tyler Fisher, graduate student from Spring, Texas, served in an advisory role to offer students advice, feedback and support.
“As a second-year participant, winning an award means a lot. I know these students have worked hard to come up with something the judges will enjoy. It is a great accomplishment to be recognized for our hard work,” Fisher said.
Their award-winning media plan focused on social media and digital efforts and included test markets to evaluate which messages, tactics, strategies and locations would most effectively reach millennials.
This project was part of an advertising course, and Dr. Seth Bradshaw, assistant professor in the Department of Mass Communication; Dr. Marlene Kahla, professor in the Department of Management and Marketing; and Peter Andrew, professor in the School of Art, worked alongside students on this endeavor.
“I have learned great communication skills from participating in this class and contest,” Fisher said. “I have made friends and connections from this experience, and I urge students who wish to have a career in advertising to take this class. The American Advertising Federation is a prestigious organization, and this class is essential to advancing your education and knowledge of the advertising field.”
SFA competed against schools such as the University of Texas at Austin, University of Houston, Texas Tech University and more. At the competition, teams of four students presented their class’ campaign in a 20-minute presentation.
According to the organization’s website, this premier competition “provides more than 2,000 college students the real-world experience of creating a strategic advertising/marketing/media campaign for a corporate client.”
April 25, 2018 Nacogdoches – A concert by the Contemporary Ensemble at Stephen F. Austin State University, originally scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 26, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus, has been canceled.
For more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407.
April 24, 2018 Nacogdoches — Stephen F. Austin State University's Office of Research and Graduate Studies has announced the recipients of its annual Research and Creative Activity and Research Pilot Study grants.
ORGS and Academic Affairs conduct a university-wide call for proposals, and the deadline for submissions is typically the end of October. The University Research Council conducts a blind peer review of all applications. Grant awardees are notified early in the spring semester and funded through the remainder of the fiscal year.
Dr. Steve Bullard, provost and vice president for academic affairs, approved the award of six RCA grants totaling approximately $130,000 based on the recommendations of the URC. Additionally, the URC approved two spring RPS grants. Both of these programs are awarded through an annual competition and are funded from the university’s Research Enhancement Fund, which encourages and enhances research, offers scholarly and creative opportunities for faculty members, serves as support for innovative research, and provides seed monies to attract external financial support.
The RCA grants provide substantive summer salary support to faculty members in addition to funds for collecting data, producing the creative activity, hiring students to assist, materials, supplies and other similar items. The pilot study program provides seed money to generate pilot data so faculty members may initiate new lines of research and scholarly endeavors.
2018 Research and Creative Activity Grants
Dr. John Brannon Gary – Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Sciences and Mathematics
Bioinspired D Catalysis: Using Nature as an Inspiration for Developing New Chemistry
Gary’s research seeks to develop new chemical models based on natural enzymes rather than the more expensive metals used in current practices to produce many commodity chemicals. These new systems could potentially impact areas such as alternative energy and the development of new drugs. Gary hopes to use this preliminary data to garner external funding in the future to continue to research using other types of experiments, such as water oxidation.
Dr. Xiaozhen (Jenny) Han – Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Sciences and Mathematics
The Preparation of Multi-Target Anticancer Prodrugs: Ru(II) (Arene) Complexes with Selenium-Containing Flavonols
Han seeks to develop water-soluble, multi-target anticancer drug agents by combining certain flavonols with metal fragments. The multi-target anticancer drugs are important with diseases as complex as cancer. The use of certain metal ions that possess a lower toxicity could help reduce side effects of cancer treatments.
Candace Hicks - School of Art, College of Fine Arts
Many Mini Murder Scenes
Hicks’ project will expand on the standard theatrical diorama display to incorporate audience participation elements in her crime scene dioramas based on fictional stories. The result will be a public exhibition, including a guidebook that allows the viewer to unravel the clues in the crime scene — not to solve the crime, but to delve into the cultural significance of the mystery.
Dr. Sheryll Jerez – Division of Environmental Science, Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture
Comparison of Benzene and Other Volatile Compounds in Ambient Air near the Eagle Ford Shale Area
Jerez will develop standard operating procedures for certain analyses performed with the new gas chromatography/flame ionization detector system. In addition, she will research the air quality impacts on people in rural East Texas from fracking sites. The standard operating procedures will be invaluable as Jerez and other faculty members seek to expand their research capacities.
Dr. Christopher Schalk – Department of Forestry and Spatial Science, Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture
Examining terrestrial food-web structure in managed and unmanaged forests in East Texas
Schalk will concentrate on forest management practices and how they impact food webs (consumer-resource relationships). Such research data will help land managers make more informed decisions concerning forestry practices in addition to providing seed data for Schalk to be competitive in external funding.
Dr. Jacob Turner – Department of Mathematics and Statistics, College of Sciences and Mathematics
Robustness to model selection in longitudinal gene expression studies
Turner will research high throughput gene expression data to develop new theoretical and methodological approaches to improve current standards of practice, which will be useful to the bioinformatics and biostatistics research communities.
Research Pilot Study
Dr. Luis Aguerrevere – Department of Human Services, James I. Perkins College of Education
Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on Facial and Emotional Regulation in Individuals with Autism: A Pilot Study
Dr. Hector Ochoa – Department of Physics, Engineering and Astronomy, College of Sciences and Mathematics
Establishing a Methodology to Fabricate and Test Super Coiled Polymer Actuators using Traditional and Conductive Polymers
April 17, 2018 - Politics and child development and family living may not seem like your typical match, but for Sydni Mitchell, the two go hand in hand.
As communications director and policy analyst for Texas State Sen. Robert Nichols, Mitchell, a two-time Stephen F. Austin State University graduate, utilizes her unique background and perspective in her daily interactions and to affect policy.
“Every day a constituent calls or I meet with lobbyists or associations about a bill or topic, and it always involves people,” Mitchell said. “To step back and rely on my knowledge of how people’s upbringing impacts who they are and how they act in certain situations is extremely helpful.”
Mitchell majored in child development and family living as an undergraduate and studied public administration in graduate school. She was the SFA student regent from 2010-11, which is where her interest in politics began. She also served as president of the Student Government Association, Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honor Society and Jacks Council of Family Relations.
“When people ask me what my major was I always get a head tilt. I honestly say I fell into politics,” Mitchell said.
Recently, Mitchell presented to current Jacks Council on Family Relations members in SFA’s School of Human Sciences. She discussed her career journey and encouraged students to not limit their careers to those typically associated with the major.
“I believe my degree gives me an advantage as it enables me to see things from a different perspective. You can use this major for any number of jobs,” Mitchell said. “I’m proud to say I’m an SFA alumna and this was my major. I don’t think I’d be as sympathetic a person without this major.”
Jaycie Case, current JCFR president, said Mitchell’s visit gave her further insight into the human development and family studies field.
“I was extremely thankful and honored to meet a past JCFR president who took time out of her busy schedule to inform us on how family policies are dealt with in state and national politics,” Case said. “Hearing about the path she took after graduation let us know our degree could take us on many different paths.”
During her presentation, Mitchell discussed the importance of internships. She interned for Nichols and then worked as a staff member in his office. In her newest role as communications director, Mitchell handles policy work and media for the senator’s office, which includes press releases and monthly and weekly columns. She admits a communications course she took in the School of Human Sciences has saved her in this position.
“I loved this class and it was my introduction into the communication world. When I became the communications director, I had no idea what to do or how to write a press release other than what the previous director had done,” Mitchell said. “I keep all my papers from my classes, and I was flipping through my stuff, and thankfully I found my book with the papers from that class in it.”
The SFA Alumni Association recognized Mitchell with the 2017 Lumberjack Pride Award, and she continues to be an avid supporter of SFA athletics.
For more information about SFA’s human development and family studies program, visit sfasu.edu/hms/71.asp.
Cutline: Stephen F. Austin State University alumna Sydni Mitchell discusses how her human development and family living major works with her role as communications director and policy analyst for Texas State Sen. Robert Nichols. Mitchell recently returned to campus to speak to Jacks Council on Family Relations members about how they can utilize their major in politics.
By Kasi Dickerson, senior marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.
April 12, 2018 (Event Flyer) - Horticulture is awesome! An annual presentation sponsored by the SFA Horticulture Club to engage, inspire, and educate students and our community about the power of plants is set for April 14, 2018 at 2pm in the Pineywoods Native Plant Center.
Presenting this year is Thomas Rainer, principal at Phyto Studio and author of 'Planting in a Post-Wild World.'
Thomas Rainer is a landscape architect, teacher, and author. He has designed landscapes for the U.S. Capital grounds, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, and the New York Botanical Garden, as well as more than 100 gardens from Maine to Florida. He is now a celebrated public speaker who has garnered acclaim for his passionate presentations to audiences across the U.S. and in Europe. Mr. Rainer serves as a principal for the landscape architectural and consulting firm Phyto Studio in Washington, D.C. He has a broad range of expansive estates, rooftop gardens, botanical gardens, large-scale green infrastructure design and implementation, and national memorials. His work has been featured in numerous publications, including The New York Times, Landscape Architecture Magazine, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, and Architectural Digest.
Students enter free with student ID! The cost for the public is $20 at the door. The Pineywoods Native Plant Center is located at 2900 Raguet Street, Nacogdoches, Texas 75964. Parking is available at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center and the nearby Raguet Elementary School located at 2428 Raguet Street, Nacogdoches, Texas 75964. Questions? Contact barnesj@sfasu.edu.
Visit www.Horticultureisawesome.com to reserve your seat today!
April 3, 2018 Nacogdoches — The Stephen F. Austin State University College of Sciences and Mathematics will host its fourth annual Women in STEM Luncheon and Style Show noon Tuesday, April 17, in the Baker Pattillo Student Center Grand Ballroom.
Doors open at 11 a.m. for a gallery walk poster presentation highlighting STEM research accomplishments by SFA students and faculty.
The luncheon and style show is a scholarship fundraising event benefiting students committed to the advancement of women pursuing STEM degrees at SFA.
“The SFA Women in STEM Luncheon and Style Show is not necessarily for women but about women – women who choose challenging majors in science, technology, engineering and mathematics,” said Dr. Kimberly M. Childs, dean of the College of Sciences and Mathematics. “Having female role models, along with male and female mentors, is key in encouraging young women to pursue and persist in STEM fields.”
During the luncheon, Elijah White Jr., vice president of geoscience for ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, will speak about the need for the advancement and support of women in STEM.
The style show will follow with fashions provided by The Town House and Miller’s Point. To highlight the importance of having men support women in these disciplines, selected men will escort female role models during the show.
“Because women still remain in the minority in STEM fields, the event is especially pertinent,” Childs said. “Women need to see themselves in the story. They want to know how what they are doing benefits others.”
Last year’s event provided six students with $5,000 scholarships.
“We strive to demonstrate each year during the Women in STEM Luncheon and Style Show that with style and grace women are leaning in and taking a seat at the table,” Childs said.
The deadline for reservations is Friday, April 13. Tickets are $40 each or $300 for a table of eight. For more information about the event or to make a reservation, call (936) 468-2805 or email kdcarmona@sfasu.edu.
By Joanna Armstrong, senior marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University
April 2, 2018 Nacogdoches – The College of Fine Arts at Stephen F. Austin State University will join the National Civil Rights Museum’s MLK50 initiative Wednesday, April 4, by tolling the bells in Griffith Fine Arts Building in observance of the 50th anniversary of the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
While many will be in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4 to attend events commemorating the contributions King made during his 39 years before his assassination at the Lorriane Motel in Memphis on the evening of April 4, 1968, other observances will take place across the nation. One of those is a unified tolling of bells at universities that have chapels or bell towers.
King was assassinated at 6:01 p.m. Central Standard Time. Since the news rippled across the country, the bells will first ring at the National Civil Rights Museum at 6:01 p.m. CST. Bells will chime in the City of Memphis at 6:03 p.m. CST, at 6:05 p.m. CST nationally and 6:07 p.m. CST internationally.
At 6:05 p.m. Wednesday, the bells in Griffith Fine Arts Building will toll 39 times to mark the years King was alive.
“This is a simple, yet sincere way for us to acknowledge the loss of Dr. King, but more importantly, to recognize the significant contributions he made around the world,” said Dr. A.C. “Buddy” Himes, dean of the SFA College of Fine Arts.
March 20, 2018 Nacogdoches — With standing mixers at the ready, teams of Stephen F. Austin State University students eagerly await the signal to kick off their competition. Three, two, one, and the students are off mixing ingredients to be the first to make whipped cream.
Recently, representatives from Dairy MAX, a nonprofit dairy council representing dairy farm families across Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Southwest Kansas, spoke to students enrolled in principles of food science courses in SFA’s School of Human Sciences.
Sarah Ryan, Dairy MAX program coordinator, registered dietitian, SFA alumna and former SFA student regent, discussed how the company works with dairy farmers and the nutritional value of milk and other dairy products.
Ryan and her colleagues Katie McKee and Monica Silva informed students on the science behind milk’s role in the diet and in recipe applications. Students sampled two-percent, almond and pea milk while discussing the nutrition cow’s milk provides.
Dairy MAX representatives also shook things up — literally — by having students shake heavy cream in jars to create butter. Students viewed and discussed different yogurts and why cow’s milk is ideal for making creamy yogurt. Ryan also gave a frothing demonstration and explained the science behind why cow’s milk is better than others.
“The presentation was very informational and helped me learn more about the dairy industry and how to make things like butter and whipped cream,” said Raquel Martinez, SFA junior from Tyler.
The class ended with a taste of their homemade whipped creams over ice cream sundaes.
Jill Pruett, adjunct instructor at SFA, helped organize the demonstration and visit.
“The beautiful part of this presentation is Sarah is an SFA alumna, so it shows students what types of opportunities are available once they graduate,” Pruett said. “I love when we are able to bring new energy to a topic and reinforce key concepts that we cover in class.”
Likewise, Ryan and her team said they enjoyed sharing their knowledge with students and introducing them to new aspects of food science and nutrition.
“I have a special place in my heart for SFA,” Ryan said. “This class got me excited about food science, and I was thrilled to come back and share more about food science and how dairy fits into nutrition.”
For more information about SFA’s School of Human Sciences, visit sfasu.edu/hms.
To learn more about Dairy MAX and to find #DairyAmazing recipes, visit DairyDiscoveryZone.com.
By Kasi Dickerson, senior marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.
March 12, 2018 Nacogdoches — The Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center named Stephen F. Austin State University “College of the Year” in recognition of the university’s role in increasing blood donations. The award was presented at the center’s recent Celebration of Life ceremony in Houston.
Colleges and universities within the blood center’s 26 partner counties were considered for the “College of the Year” title.
“SFA is unquestionably a terrific asset to this whole region,” said James Slack of Lufkin, advisory board chairman of The Blood Center East Texas and a member of the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center board of trustees. “It makes all of us proud as we see new leaders being prepared, especially when they show hearts for service and concern for their fellow man.”
SFA has partnered with the blood center for 15 years, hosting a total of 700 blood drives since 2003. More than 17,000 units of blood have been collected as a result of this work, saving 50,610 lives, according to Brian Gannon, president and CEO of The Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center.
The Gulf Coast center must maintain an adequate supply of blood and blood components to meet the needs of 170 hospitals and health care institutions in the Texas Gulf Coast, Brazos Valley and East Texas regions, according to Cameron Palmer, media and promotions coordinator for the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center.
“The Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center must collect 1,000 components a day to replenish the supplies needed,” Palmer said. “Every donation can help save up to three lives.”
Palmer said schools and universities make up about 40 percent of all the donations.
“We like to target this group of individuals to continue to educate them on the importance of donating,” Palmer said.
According to center officials, many people do not donate blood due to fear of the procedure. Jacob Samford, a sophomore music education major from Tenaha, decided to donate blood and overcame his fear.
“I love that something that I do right now by just taking a little time out of my day can potentially save a life in the future," Samford said.
The Blood Center also has volunteer options for those who cannot donate blood due to health issues.
"Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center has a great program with several volunteer opportunities," Palmer said. "You also can host your own blood drive to educate and encourage people in the community to donate."
For more information about student activities at SFA, visit www.sfasu.edu/life-at-sfa.
Shannon Poe, an SFA mass communication major and webmaster for The Pine Log, contributed to this story.
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