SFA Gardens to host miniature fairy garden workshop - May 7, 2013

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – SFA Gardens Research Associate Dawn Stover will host a miniature fairy garden workshop from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 11, in Room 118 of the Agriculture Building on Wilson Drive.

Participants will create a magical, mystical miniature habitat designed for even the most particular fairy. Stover will assist the aspiring “gnomescapers” in creating a fairy garden of their very own. The workshop also will include instruction on making fairy garden accessories from items collected in the garden and from home.

Materials will be provided, and participants will build and take home a 1-square-foot fairy garden that includes soil, plants and at least one accessory. Cost is $30 for SFA Gardens members and $35 for non-members. Two people may attend and create one garden for $45.

Space is limited. Please call the SFA Gardens Education Office at (936) 468-1832 or email erodewald@sfasu.edu to reserve a spot.

Two SFA graduation ceremonies set for May 11 - May 3, 2013

Nacogdoches, Texas – Approximately 1,400 Stephen F. Austin State University students are expected to receive diplomas during dual commencement ceremonies Saturday, May 11, in William R. Johnson Coliseum.

Due to the high number of expected graduates this spring, commencement exercises will be split into two ceremonies for the first time in the university’s history. About 700 SFA graduates will participate in each ceremony.

Graduates from SFA’s James I. Perkins College of Education and College of Fine Arts will participate in a 9:30 a.m. ceremony. Candidates from the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, the Nelson Rusche College of Business, the College of Liberal and Applied Arts, and the College of Sciences and Mathematics will participate in a 2 p.m. ceremony. Master’s and doctoral candidates will graduate with their respective colleges.

Stephen F. Austin State University alumnus James H. Dickerson of New Braunfels, a former member of the SFA Board of Regents, will offer the commencement address during both ceremonies. Dickerson retired from Dow Chemical Company in 2004 after working for 26 years as an attorney in the company’s Intellectual Property Department, serving in Texas, Michigan, California and Zurich, Switzerland.

Of the 1,400 degrees to be awarded, 1,087 will be bachelor’s degrees, along with 303 master’s degrees and 10 doctoral degrees. An estimated 321 students will graduate with honors, including 124 cum laude, 98 magna cum laude and 99 summa cum laude.

SFA receives two CASE awards for design and photography - April 30, 2013

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Stephen F. Austin State University Offices of Admissions and Public Affairs received two awards during the recent Council for Advancement and Support of Education’s District IV conference in Fort Worth.

Bill Cox, media coordinator for the Office of Admissions, and Donna Parish, marketing communication specialist for the Office of Public Affairs, won a Silver (second place) Award for their entry titled “The Lumberjack Experience” in the design improvement category. Their winning publication is mailed to prospective SFA students and uses bold digital imagery, unique graphic elements and feature-style writing.

Hardy Meredith, university photographer, received a Bronze (third place) Award. His image titled "Directional Force" was honored in the black-and-white photography category and pictures a dancer with the SFA Repertory Dance Company.

“The CASE Awards are judged by our higher education colleagues and help us validate our collateral materials are meeting their goals,” Shirley Luna, SFA executive director of marketing and public affairs, said. “Consistently, SFA’s submissions are recognized by our peers, and I commend our staff members on their hard work and dedication.”

CASE is the organization for advancement professionals working in alumni relations, communications, fundraising, marketing and related areas. Membership includes more than 3,400 colleges, universities, independent elementary and secondary schools, and educational associates in more than 60 countries around the world. SFA is part of CASE District IV, which encompasses Arkansas, Louisiana, Mexico, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.

Cutline: The SFA Offices of Public Affairs and Admissions received two Council for Advancement and Support of Education awards at the District IV Conference for their viewbook and photography submissions. Pictured, from left, are Bill Cox, media coordinator for the Office of Admissions; and Donna Parish, marketing communications specialist, and Hardy Meredith, university photographer, both from the Office of Public Affairs.

Registration open for SFA Pineywoods Camp - April 30, 2013

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Stephen F. Austin State University will soon kick off its 12th year of Pineywoods Camp for youth ages 4 to 15. Registration is now open for the summer camp programs, which are sponsored by SFA Gardens and Nacogdoches Naturally in collaboration with SFA Outdoor Pursuits.

This year’s camp offerings include exploratory day experiences for young campers, as well as overnight wilderness adventures for older children.

Descriptions, pricing information and registration forms for all four camp sessions can be accessed at the SFA Gardens website. Visit sfagardens.sfasu.edu, and click on “Environmental Education.”

Nacogdoches Naturally is a project sponsored by SFA Gardens and funded through a More Kids in the Woods grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture-U.S. Forest Service.

For further information, contact Kerry Lemon at (936) 468-5586 or lemonkb@sfasu.edu.

Longtime SFA finance professor to retire - April 29, 2013

There are three things Dr. John Lewis says he will miss most when he retires from Stephen F. Austin State University in May after more than 43 years on the faculty: “students, students, and did I mention my students?”

Lewis’ retirement was approved by the Board of Regents at a recent meeting, during which the members also awarded the longtime educator the title of professor emeritus of finance. Since SFA began awarding finance degrees in the mid-70s, Lewis has taught a required course on financial institutions. Because of this, he holds the distinction of having taught every student who has ever majored in finance at the university.

“I am pretty proud of that,” Lewis said of his unique track record at SFA. “There are faculty members who have more horsepower than I do, but I can honestly say I have given my students every bit of the horsepower I have. I don’t think I have done any of them a disservice.”

From September 2008 to December 2009, Lewis also filled the role of interim vice president for development at the university. He has consulted for SFA’s vice president for finance and administration, as well as the SFASU Foundation, serving as a member of the Board of Trustees since 1996. He also was instrumental in the formation of the Nelson Rusche College of Business’ chapter of the international business honor society Beta Gamma Sigma.

After four decades of teaching at SFA, Lewis said he is looking forward to joining his wife in retirement, catching up on his fishing and doing a little traveling. He does plan to continue his work with the Foundation and says he may be persuaded to teach an SFA class “here or there” after he takes some initial time away from campus.

“Dr. Lewis’ dedication and commitment to SFA can been seen in many different places, but his most impressive accomplishment is that he has benefitted every single finance graduate of SFA, not only by teaching them but also by helping them find employment,” said Dr. Todd Brown, chair of the Department of Economics and Finance. “You would be hard pressed to find a banker or financial professional in this town who has not been impacted in some way by Dr. Lewis.”

A native of Tenaha, Lewis earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and a master’s degree in management from Texas A&M University. He joined the SFA faculty in 1969 when SFA’s business courses were still taught in the Rusk Building. While teaching full time, he completed a doctorate at Louisiana Tech University in 1975. He was promoted to full professor in 1982.

Lewis, 68, has been named SFA’s finance professor of the year eight times and is a past recipient of a Teaching Excellence Grant. He has authored or co-authored more than 20 publications and served as an investment consultant for a local bank for 16 years.

Lewis said students come to SFA much more informed about the financial world than they did on decades past, primarily because of advancing technology. Having up-to-the-minute financial data available at the click of a mouse or the swipe of a smart phone screen has forever changed banking and investing, as well as the way students research and learn about the industry. Lewis has learned right along with his students, and the television and computer screens in his office flash non-stop financial reports.

“At SFA, we really provide our students with a solid foundation in finance, and when they leave here they can compete with students from any university because they have all the tools they need to be successful,” Lewis said. “We have alumni who are positioned really well in the industry all over the state, and that is a testament to the program and the faculty.”

The Dr. John Lewis Professorship in Finance recently was endowed at SFA. More than 70 individual donors, many of them Lewis’ former students, contributed to the professorship. The first award will be given to a deserving faculty member in fall 2015.

“This new professorship will help the university recruit and retain high-quality finance professors who share Dr. Lewis’ commitment to SFA finance students,” said Jill Still, vice president for university advancement. “I can think of no better way to honor Dr. Lewis and his extraordinary contributions to the university, its students and the Nacogdoches community.”

SFA finance alumnus Ron Collins, senior vice president of Bancorp South in Nacogdoches, credits Dr. Lewis for helping prepare him for a long, successful career in banking.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better place to get my education in business, finance and economics than SFA, and Dr. Lewis was a big part of that,” Collins said. “There is no question that his efforts, along with a number of others in that department while I was in school, greatly impacted my career in a positive way over the years.”

Collins has worked closely with Lewis in recent years while they served together on the finance committee of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees. The committee relies heavily on Lewis’ expertise, he said, especially when it comes to evaluating potential investment opportunities for the foundation.

“The SFASU Foundation would not be nearly as strong as it is today without Dr. Lewis’ leadership on the finance committee,” Collins said.

Like many of Lewis’ former students and colleagues, Collins said he has mixed feelings about the professor’s impending retirement.

“On the one hand, he has worked very hard, and I am so happy that he will be able to start a whole new chapter of his life after teaching for so many years,” Collins said. “But, on the other hand, I do regret that future students will not have the opportunity that I had to learn from such a talented and inspirational teacher.

“I am sure that someone else at SFA will step up and fill the void and do a fine job when Dr. Lewis retires, but that person will certainly have some big shoes to fill.”

Little bug, big problem: SFA research could prevent crop shortages, lead to medical treatments - April 24, 2013
By Donna Parish

A $21,000 grant from the International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas will help Stephen F. Austin State University continue its research on the Sunn pest, an insect responsible for destroying wheat crops around the world.

This is the third time SFA has received research funding for the project from ICARDA, and the support already has led to important breakthroughs, according to Dr. Beatrice Clack, an associate professor in SFA’s Department of Biology and Biotechnology.

“The Sunn pest is responsible for destroying millions of acres of wheat crops throughout Northern Africa, Northern Asia and Eastern Europe,” Clack said. “Since bread is a main food source for the people who live in these areas, the damage caused by Sunn pests results in food shortages and can be life-threatening.”

As it feeds, the insect secretes an enzyme that degrades the gluten proteins found in wheat seeds. Gluten acts as a binding agent and gives dough its elasticity. Without it, baked goods become dry and crumbly.

“Typically, the pests contaminate only a small percentage of the crop; however, the enzyme is so potent that during the milling process, entire lots of grain are rendered useless once the affected and healthy grains combine,” Clack said.

Clack’s team, made up of SFA biotechnology graduate students, has isolated and characterized the enzyme responsible for the gluten degradation and hopes to develop either enzyme inhibitors to counteract it or bio-pesticides to eliminate the Sunn pests. She says the team has successfully cloned the enzyme, which will enable researchers to better understand how it functions.

“We can now make the enzyme outside of the insect,” Clack said. “This is important because the insect is not native to North America, and U.S. agriculture agencies closely monitor the importation of live pest to study.”

Clack’s team is currently studying the Sunn pest’s DNA at each of the five stages in the insect’s life cycle in hopes of determining exactly when the insects develop the enzyme. The results of the research could be used to produce a bio-pesticide that kills the insect before it can harm any crops.

SFA researchers also are working to identify a casein (milk protein) inhibitor that would shut down the dangerous enzyme. Jeffrey Hargrove of Kingwood, an SFA biotechnology graduate student, is involved in the casein research and says a peptide found in yogurt and other dairy products looks promising.

“Specifically, I am characterizing the extent to which casein peptides are able to inhibit the enzyme,” Hargrove said. “Currently, farmers in the affected areas rely on expensive and harmful pesticides to minimize crop damage. Casein peptides are much safer for human consumption and the environment.”

The enzyme inhibitor could be applied to the affected grain – even after it is harvested – and prevent it from dissolving the wheat seeds, he said.

Clack said she first heard about Sunn pests from a former SFA graduate student, Charles Darkoh. As a biotechnology student, Darkoh was seeking more information about Celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder of the small intestine that impedes gluten processing.

“In conducting his research, Charles began to look into whether or not an enzyme might exist that could degrade gluten. He was online researching this when he read about Mustafa El-Bouhssini, an investigator from Syria, who was working with an insect that destroys wheat seeds – the Sunn pest,” Clack said.

Darkoh then contacted El-Bouhssini, who he learned worked with ICARDA, and asked if some of the damaged wheat seeds could be sent to him. He wanted to see if the pest left behind an enzyme, Clack said. “Sure enough, it did.

Sunn pests are not a crop threat in North America because most U.S. crops are planted in temperate climates and on flat lands, Clack said. The pests prefer to live in dry areas where they can “winter” in the mulch along the hillsides. When the wheat is planted and begins to grow, the pests make their way from the hillsides to the nearby fields and begin laying eggs, which hatch and eventually contaminate wheat crops.

“Dr. Clack’s approach of utilizing the power of biotechnology to mediate these important problems that affect the lives of millions is commendable,” said Darkoh, who is now an assistant professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston. “This research is very important and may one day lead to the treatment of Celiac disease and a solution to a major pest problem that can affect the livelihood and food safety of the majority of people living in the Middle East and North Africa.

SFA seeking patent for ‘Purple Pride’ - April 24, 2013

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Researchers at Stephen F. Austin State University have filed for patent protection for “Purple Pride,” a new type of Chickasaw Plum tree known for its purple fruit and foliage.

At a meeting Tuesday, the Board of Regents authorized agreements with several nurseries interested in selling SFA’s new cultivar of Prunus angustifolia. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of “Purple Pride” will be returned to the university.

“This project is part of our ongoing plant evaluation program,” said Dr. David Creech, associate director of the SFA Mast Arboretum. “We have introduced many SFA plants to the industry, but this is the first one we decided to patent. We are especially excited because it is a native plum that is very well adapted to Texas conditions, including extreme heat and drought.”

Also at their meeting Tuesday, regents approved moving the Department of Computer Science from the Nelson Rusche College of Business to the College of Sciences and Mathematics, where it resides at many other universities, in order to increase effectiveness and efficiency of the programs. As of fall 2013, all computer science programs will move into the College of Sciences and Mathematics, with the exception of the Bachelor of Business Administration in computer information systems, which will remain in the business college.

Dr. Richard Berry, provost and vice president for academic affairs, also reported to the regents that SFA has received approval from the commissioner of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to submit a formal proposal for a Bachelor of Science in engineering physics. Berry said the preliminary proposal should be submitted to SFA regents within the year.

The board also approved an increase in designated tuition for the 2013-14 academic year. Designated tuition will be $158 per semester credit hour beginning in fall 2013, increasing from $141.86 per hour, a difference of about $242 for a 15-hour semester.

“We don’t take (this increase) lightly,” said Dr. Scott Coleman of Houston, chairman of the board’s Finance and Audit Committee. “We look at this from a lot of different angles for a long time before we decide on tuition costs.”

Room-and-board rates will increase 1.5 percent and 1 percent, respectively. The undergraduate admission application fee will increase from $35 to $45, and the graduate application fee will increase from $25 to $50.

The regents adopted a summer budget totaling approximately $3.69 million. The figure represents an increase of approximately $120,000 from last year’s summer budget, and includes funding for 24 additional courses, Berry said.

Regents also approved a construction budget of $876,895 for a planned Conservation Education Center to be located at SFA’s Pineywoods Native Plant Center. Sutton Mitchell Beebe & Babin Architects designed the facility, and J.E. Kingham Construction will manage the project, which is being funded entirely through private donations and foundation support.

The artificial field surface at Homer Bryce Stadium will be replaced this summer by Hellas Construction, which has installed artificial surfaces in more than 80 stadiums around the state, including Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. Regents approved the purchase, which is not to exceed $550,000, and it will be paid for with income from the university’s exclusive soft drink contract.

In addition to policy revisions and updates, the board also approved:

· a schedule of course and lab fees for the coming academic year;

· the purchase of new band uniforms, instruments and a cargo trailer for transporting band instruments and equipment at a cost not to exceed $300,000;

· entering negotiations with BancorpSouth/First Data for credit card payment processing services;

· revised tuition-share percentages with Academic Partnerships, a company that markets specific online educational programs for SFA;

· a new exclusive beverage agreement with Coca Cola with a total value of approximately $3.84 million;

· additional grant awards allocable to Fiscal Year 2013 totaling about $156,000 and financial-aid awards totaling approximately $1.06 million;

· the purchase of a five-year license for Collaborate Web Conferencing software to provide desktop videoconferencing tools for online teaching;

· replacing the existing core network switch servicing the residence hall and wireless networks;

· refinancing and/or redeeming some of the university’s outstanding bonds to reduce debt costs;

· undergraduate and graduate curriculum changes;

· extending the university’s contract with South Texas Technology Management for invention management and marketing services for an additional three years; and

· an agreement recognizing the Nelson Rusche College of Business Executive Advisory Board as a support group of the university.

SFA Bands to present annual ‘Concert in the Park’ - April 19, 2013
Submitted by Robbie Goodrich

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS – The SFA Bands will present the annual “Concert in the Park” beginning at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 28, on the lawn in front of the Wright Music Building on the Stephen F. Austin State University campus.

All four concert bands will perform, according to Fred J. Allen, director of bands at SFA. A highlight of the concert will be the induction of SFA alumnus Jim C. Jones into the SFASU Band Directors’ Hall of Fame.

Opening the concert will be University Band, under the direction of graduate assistant Jay Weems along with David W. Campo, associate director of bands and director of the Lumberjack Marching Band.

The Symphonic Band, under the direction of Tamey Anglley, assistant director of bands at SFA, will play “Black Horse Troop March” by John Philip Sousa and other pieces.

The Wind Symphony, also directed by Campo, will perform "Storm and Sunshine March” by J.C. Heed, among other numbers.

The Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Allen, will close the concert performing “Festive Overture” by Dmitri Shostakovich and “Battle Of Shiloh March” by C.L. Barnhouse.

The 2013 inductee into the SFASU Band Directors’ Hall of Fame, Jones will conduct the Wind Ensemble in “Melody Shop March.”

Originally from Gilmer and currently residing in Carthage, Jones taught at Center, Pittsburg, Cleveland and Carthage ISDs before retiring in 2009, having received 27 UIL Sweepstakes awards during his 36-year career. His bands have received numerous first-division ratings and Outstanding in Class awards at the National Association of Military Bands’ state contest. Jones was a recipient the Demirus UIL award and selected to Outstanding Young Men of America. His bands have performed at Disneyland, Disney World, the nation’s Capitol, Lincoln Memorial and the White House.

Jones attended Gilmer High School and Kilgore Junior College before earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees from SFA. While at SFA, he received the Outstanding Bandsman Award and was president of Kappa Kappa Psi band fraternity. Jones was AAA state representative, president of the All Texas Small School Band Association, Texas Music Educators Association Region 10 band chairman, the Region 21 representative for the Music Advisory Committee and past chairman of the Southeast Texas Honor Band. He is a member of the UIL State Music Advisory Committee and current executive secretary and a past president of the National Association of Military Marching Bands. He is also president of the SFA Lumberjack Band Alumni.

Jones travels the state as a UIL adjudicator and honor band clinician. He has been associated with SFA in the evaluation of student teachers and currently works for Tatum Music Company.

Jones is the husband of Deanna Jones, father of Misty Hall and Jessica Anton, and stepfather to Cameron and Spence Burkert.

The “Concert in the Park” setting was created by SFA’s Director of Bands Emeritus Melvin B. Montgomery. Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma, honorary band service fraternity and sorority, will sell hamburger plates for $5 for a burger, chips and drink beginning at 1 p.m.

Admission to the concert is free. For additional information, call the Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu.

SFA student filmmakers to screen their original works - April 18, 2013

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS – Four original short films by Stephen F. Austin State University student filmmakers will be shown during “An Evening of Short Films” beginning at 6 p.m. Friday, April 26, at The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.

Each graduate student will introduce his film, screen it and then take questions from the audience, according to Brad Maule, acting and directing lecturer in the SFA School of Theatre and a lecturer in the School of Art’s cinematography program.

“Filmmaking is a creation from the ground up,” Maule said. “These students must write the story, cast the actors, film the script, find the crew and locations, buy or make the costumes, edit the footage, add the sound, correct the color, and on and on.

“By having these students explain the filmmaking experience, I believe it will help the audience understand the extreme difficulty of the students’ chosen occupation,” he said.

The original works are creations of Peyton Paulette of Lufkin, who will screen his film, “Hollywood Ending,” Ricky Kennedy of Alto, who will screen his film, “In The Original Geek,” Justin Herring of Granbury, who will screen his film, “Leave Me With a Smile,” and Dudley May of Nacogdoches, who will screen his film, “Same Odds.”

“This gives the students a chance to explain the filmmaking process before a live audience,” Maule said. “It also gives the students feedback from a neutral platform. Anyone interested in films and filmmaking will enjoy this evening.”

Cinematography has been taught at SFA for more than 20 years. The program has graduated hundreds of students who are working in all aspects of the professional field throughout the country.

The Cole Art Center is located at 329 E. Main St. For more information about “An Evening of Short Films,” call (936) 468-6239.

SFA announces ‘Texas National 2013’ art winners - April 17, 2013

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS – During Saturday night’s opening reception of “Texas National 2013” in Cole Art Center, juror Dr. Peter Selz announced the winners of the annual competition and exhibition presented by the Stephen F. Austin State University’s School of Art, and an SFA graduate student and East Texan took top honors.

Le’ Anne Alexander of Lufkin received first place for her oil on canvas “Unspecified Shape Blue.” Other winners were Harry Clewans of Oakland, Calif, earning second place for “Myron,” ink on paper on wood, and William Stoehr of Boulder, Colo., receiving third place for “Hauna 3,” acrylic on canvas.

Honorable mentions went to Anthony Monaco of Denver, Colo., for “Alzheimer’s Sucks: Dad’s Last Letter #3,” digital imagery with acrylic medium on panel; Mark Harris of Santa Fe, N.M., for “Lost,” limestone and steel; and Richard Martinez of Walla Walla, Wash., for “Untitled,” alkyd, graphite on drafting film.

Now in its 19th year on the national scene, “Texas National” is open to all artists living and working in the United States. This year’s exhibition features work by 87 artists from 30 states. Showing in Cole Art Center at the same is “Patrick Graham – Thirty Years: The Silence Becomes the Painting,” which includes pieces from Graham’s recently critically acclaimed U.S. museum tour curated by Selz.

“Texas National 2013” is being exhibited in Ledbetter Gallery, while the Graham exhibition is on display in Reavley Gallery. Both shows run through Saturday, June 8.

The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House is located at 329 E. Main St. in downtown Nacogdoches. Gallery hours are 12:30 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. For additional information, call (936) 468-1131.

Cutline: “Texas National 2013” juror Peter Selz selected Le’ Anne Alexander’s oil on canvas titled “Unspecified Shape Blue” as the competition’s first place award winner.

Cutline: “Texas National 2013” juror Peter Selz selected Harry Clewans’ ink on paper on wood titled “Myron” as the competition’s second place winner.

Cutline: “Texas National 2013” juror Peter Selz selected William Stoehr’s acrylic on canvas titled “Hauna 3” as the competition’s third place winner.

Interior design expert speaks with SFA students - April 15, 2013

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – A nationally acclaimed interior designer and author specializing in universal design visited with Stephen F. Austin State University students this week in conjunction with Fair Housing Month. Cynthia Leibrock explained how universal design promotes the idea that all structures, public and private, should be accessible to everyone, regardless of ability level.

Universal design allows for “aging in place” and permits individuals to live without the fear of having to relocate in the event they experience mobility issues related to age or a temporary or permanent disability, according to Dr. Mitzi Perritt, SFA human sciences professor.

“They allow a person to build a new home, raise their family in the home, and then age in the home and never have to be transplanted,” Perritt said.

Leibrock’s home in Colorado incorporates 200 universal design features and has been featured on the cover of The New York Times. It serves as the basis for a presentation she made to the SFA students and is titled “Interior Design for Health and Longevity.”

“I’m not trying to encourage people to target a product for elderly and disabled people. I’m encouraging them to design one product that works for people of all ages and abilities,” Leibrock explained.

Students in Perritt’s residential design studio course were tasked with incorporating universal design features into an interior design project this semester, and they shared their work with Leibrock during her visit.

“I benefited so much from having Ms. Leibrock visit and expand upon the material we learned in class,” said MacKinley Donaldson, an interior design major from Houston. “She is an internationally recognized expert on universal design, and having the opportunity to discuss my project with her face to face was incredible.”

For more information about the interior design program at SFA, visit www.sfasu.edu/interiordesign.

SFA Sylvans win annual forestry conclave - April 15, 2013

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – A team of forestry students from the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture at Stephen F. Austin State University captured the championship trophy at the 56th annual Southern Forestry Conclave in Alabama.

The SFA Sylvans Forestry Club placed first in wildlife identification, dendrology, timber estimation, women’s crosscut and pole climbing. A total of 13 universities accredited by the Society of American Foresters participated in this year’s event, which was hosted by Auburn University’s School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences.

In order to be successful at the annual competition, teams must do well in both technical and physical events. SFA’s team, originally founded in 1946, has either placed first or second overall in 26 of the 28 yearly competitions.

The purpose of the annual contest is to promote cooperation and friendly competition among schools, as well as establish and maintain a high standard of ethics among all students and professional foresters.

SFA students participating in the events were Allen Akin, Ryan Assenheimer, Brian Blades, Brant Day, Mike Hartford, Grant Korbel, Chelsea Lopez, Conor McInnerney, Caleb Murray, David Robinson, Ethan Straley, Brock Vinson, Scott Wahlberg and Courtney Williams.

For more information about the SFA Sylvans and/or the forestry and wildlife programs, visit atcofa.sfasu.edu or call (936) 468-3301.

SFA to present Teaching Excellence Awards - April 12, 2013

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Nine Stephen F. Austin State University faculty members will be honored for their teaching abilities at the annual Teaching Excellence Convocation beginning at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 17, in Regents Suites A and B of the Baker Pattillo Student Center.

The Teaching Excellence Awards were established in 1994 to honor outstanding classroom teachers at SFA. Each of the university’s six colleges selects a member of its faculty to receive the annual award based on knowledge of subject matter, quality of lectures and assignments, enthusiasm for teaching, interest in and availability to students, commitment to continuous improvement, and contribution to the quality of teaching within SFA by assisting and encouraging other faculty members. Recipients of Teaching Excellence Awards for service learning and adjunct teaching also will be presented during the convocation.

Nelson Rusche College of Business

Dr. J. Keaton Grubbs joined the SFA faculty in 2000. During the course of 23 years of private law practice, he was a partner in two law firms where he engaged in transactional, trial and appellate representation. Grubbs received his bachelor’s, master’s and law degrees from Texas Tech University. He teaches the foundation Business Law course in both classroom and online formats, as well as Employment Law, International Business Law and Negotiation. He also instructs International Business Law and Negotiation at the graduate level, and he has co-led several study abroad trips.

James I. Perkins College of Education

Dr. Ginger Kelso joined the Department of Human Services in 2009 after receiving a doctoral degree in disability disciplines from Utah State University. She received her bachelor's and master's degrees in special education from SFA. Kelso teaches classes in the undergraduate special education program and the doctoral program in school psychology. Her research at SFA has focused on methods to improve problem-solving skills and creativity in children, as well as effective teaching practices for children and adults with disabilities.

College of Fine Arts

Dr. Tim King joined the SFA School of Music in 1983 after a successful teaching career in the Texas Public School System. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Texas Tech University and his doctoral degree from the University of Illinois. The music profession’s most prestigious associations – Texas Music Educators Association, Music Educators National Conference and the American Choral Directors Association – have recognized his choirs’ excellence through invitational performances. King directs the SFA A Cappella Choir and Madrigal Singers. As director of choral activities, he supervises the choral program and teaches both undergraduate and graduate Conducting and Choral Literature classes.

Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture

Dr. Warren Conway joined SFA in 2002 as an assistant professor of wildlife management and was promoted to professor in 2012. He received his bachelor’s degree in wildlife biology and management from the University of Rhode Island and his master’s and doctoral degrees in wildlife science from Texas Tech University. Conway teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in wildlife management including Wildlife Techniques, Vertebrate Natural History, Non-Game Wildlife Ecology and Wetland Wildlife Management. He has served as major professor for 21 past and current master’s and doctoral candidates and was the 2009 recipient of the SFA Foundation’s Faculty Achievement Award in Research.

College of Liberal and Applied Arts

Dr. Dusty Jenkins joined the Department of Psychology at SFA in 2010 after earning her doctoral degree in human development and family studies from Auburn University. She also holds a master’s degree in counseling from Oklahoma State University and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Houston-Clear Lake. Jenkins regularly teaches undergraduate psychology courses, including Introduction to Psychology, Human Sexuality and Scientific Writing, as well as a graduate-level teaching seminar. Her research focuses on adolescent and adult development, with a specific focus on psychosocial adjustment, problem behaviors, and risk and protective factors.

College of Sciences and Mathematics

Dr. Josephine Taylor joined the SFA Department of Biology in 1992 after receiving a doctoral degree in plant pathology from the University of Georgia. She received a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from SFA in 1985. Taylor teaches Introductory Biology, Mycology, Plant Pathology and Electron Microscopy. Through her research, she investigates fungal diseases of plants. Among her service activities are several leadership roles in professional organizations, including two terms as president of the Texas Society for Microscopy.

Adjunct Teaching

Juanita Finkenberg teaches stage movement classes and acts as dance and staged combat choreographer for productions in the College of Fine Arts’ School of Theatre. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in exercise science with a dance specialization from California State University, Los Angeles. Finkenberg has performed as a company member of Landrum’s Dance Theater, Synergism, Salve Dance Company and Ele Johnson Dance Company. She was named to the Nacogdoches City Women’s Hall of Fame in 1999 and was selected as the American Association of University Women’s Woman of the Year, Physical Fitness in 2009.

Service Learning

Dr. Della Connor is an assistant professor of nursing in the Richard and Lucille DeWitt School of Nursing. Her specialty and interests are in the area of kidney and urological disorders, including dialysis and chronic kidney disease. Connor earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from SFA, her master’s degree in nursing from University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston and her doctoral degree from University of Texas at Tyler. She teaches courses in SFA 101 and electives in the nursing field.

Dr. Janice Hensarling is an assistant professor of nursing in the School of Nursing. She received an associate’s degree in nursing from Angelina College, a bachelor’s degree in nursing from SFA, a master’s degree in nursing as a family nurse practitioner from the University of Texas at Galveston, and a doctoral degree in nursing from Texas Woman’s University. Hensarling has been a registered nurse for 37 years and a family nurse practitioner for 17 years. She has practiced in clinical areas throughout East Texas and has taught Community Health Nursing for 12 years at SFA.

As a clinical component of the Community Health Nursing course, students of Connor and Hensarling gain a wealth of practical experiences in local schools, home health agencies, Hospice, rural health clinics and health fairs.

Horticulturist to discuss Italian gardens at upcoming SFA lecture - April 4, 2013

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The SFA Gardens at Stephen F. Austin State University will host the next installment of the Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 18, in the Agriculture Building, Room 110, located at 1924 Wilson Drive.

Dr. Leonardi Lombardini, a Texas A&M University horticulturist, will present “Italian Gardens through Time: from Rome to the Renaissance and Beyond.”

Lombardini received his Laurea degree (equivalent to bachelor’s and master’s degrees) in forestry from the Università degli Studi di Firenze, Italy, in 1993, and his Ph.D. in horticulture from Michigan State University in 1999. He held a post-doctoral position at the Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center at Washington State University and joined the faculty of the Department of Horticultural Sciences at Texas A&M as horticulturist/pecan physiologist in 2002.

Lombardini’s research focus is plant physiology, especially concerning gas exchange and environmental stress, with a particular emphasis on pecans. In addition, he is interested in investigating the nutritional aspects of pecans and their properties in relation to human health.

The Theresa and Les Reeves Garden Lecture Series is normally held the third Thursday of each month at the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture’s SFA Mast Arboretum. A rare plant raffle will be held after the program. The lecture is free and open to the public, but donations to the Theresa and Les Reeves lecture series endowed fund are always appreciated.

For more information, call (936) 468-1832 or email ggrantgardens@yahoo.com.

SFA Gardens to host Spring Plant Sale - April 9, 2013

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – SFA Gardens at Stephen F. Austin State University will host the annual Garden Gala Day Spring Plant Sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 20, at the SFA Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet St.

A wide variety of hard-to-find, “Texas tough” plants will be available, including Texas natives, heirlooms, tropicals, perennials, shrubs, trees and exclusive SFA introductions. Most of the plants are extensively trialed in the gardens before being offered to the public, and most are produced by SFA Gardens staff members and volunteers.

This popular event benefits the SFA Mast Arboretum, Pineywoods Native Plant Center, Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden, Gayla Mize Garden and educational programs hosted at the gardens. The educational programs at SFA Gardens reach more than 15,000 visitors each year.

Plant sale patrons are encouraged to arrive early and bring a wagon. For more information, call (936) 468-4404 or visit sfagardens.sfasu.edu. Click on “garden events” for a list of available plants.

SFA to host ‘East Texas Chopped’ cooking competition - April 4, 2013

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Hospitality Administration program at Stephen F. Austin State University will host the second annual “East Texas Chopped” event at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 23, at the Hotel Fredonia in downtown Nacogdoches.

Similar to the television show “Chopped,” the event will feature local “celebrity” couples, as well as renowned judges with various culinary experiences. Couples will receive a mystery basket and are required to create several dishes that incorporate the mystery ingredients located within.

Judges for this year’s event are chefs Simon Webster, Jackson York, Todd Barrios and Christian Mailloux and Tyler Morning Telegraph food editor Christine Gardner.

Brookshire Brothers will sponsor a wine tasting featuring award-winning Washington and California wines from 5:30 to 6 p.m. A silent and live auction will offer more than 50 items, including a four-course gourmet dinner prepared by York for five couples, as well as a stay in a private beach house on Galveston Island.

“This event is such a great way to promote culinary tourism right here in East Texas,” said course instructor Breezy Lake-Wolfe. “This is also a great opportunity for our students to network and gain real-world experience executing a large-scale event.”

The fundraising event is produced and executed by meeting planning students in the hospitality program. Tickets are $25 and available for purchase through the SFA hospitality program’s website, www.sfasu.edu/hms.

For more information, visit www.SFAHMS.wix.com/Chopped2013.

SFA Gardens to host Spring Plant Sale - April 1, 2013
Submitted by Greg Grant

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The SFA Gardens at Stephen F. Austin State University will host its annual Garden Gala Day Spring Plant Sale from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday, April 20, 2013 at the SFA Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet St. in historic Nacogdoches, Texas.

A wide variety of hard-to-find, “Texas tough” plants will be available, including Texas natives, heirlooms, tropicals, perennials, shrubs, trees, and exclusive SFA and Greg Grant introductions. Most of the plants are extensively trialed in the gardens before being offered to the public and most are produced by the SFA Gardens staff and volunteers.

This popular event benefis the SFA Mast Arboretum, Pineywoods Native Plant Center, Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden, Gayla Mize Garden, and educational programs hosted at the gardens.

The educational programs at SFA Gardens reach over 15,000 students ages 1 to 100 on a yearly basis.

The public is encouraged to arrive early and bring a wagon. For more information, call (936) 468-4404, or visit www.sfagardens.sfasu.edu and click on “garden events” for a list of available plants.

Texas National 2013, Patrick Graham exhibition to open April 13 - March 26, 2013

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS – Renowned art historian Peter Selz will be the juror for the Texas National 2013, Stephen F. Austin State University’s annual art competition and exhibition, which will open with a reception at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 13, in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.

A highlight of the evening will be the simultaneous opening of the exhibition “Patrick Graham – Thirty Years: The Silence Becomes the Painting,” which includes pieces from Graham’s recently critically acclaimed U.S. museum tour curated by Selz.

Texas National 2013 is a joint presentation of the SFA College of Fine Arts and School of Art and is sponsored in part by the SFA Friends of the Visual Arts and Nacogdoches Junior Forum.

“SFA’s annual juried competition and exhibition attracts entrants from across the nation,” said John Handley, director of SFA galleries, “providing artists an opportunity to have work juried by highly acclaimed artists and critics.”

Selz is a past curator at the Museum of Modern Art and founding director of the University Art Museum at Berkley. He has curated shows on Alberto Giacometti, Morris Graves and Mark Rothko and has written for many art publications. The recipient of numerous awards, he is the author of “The Art of Engagement.”

Prior to the opening reception, Selz will discuss the Graham exhibition with Handley and David Lewis, professor of art history at SFA, during a 5 p.m. interview session in the upstairs Reavley Gallery, which will house the Graham exhibition through June 8.

The subject of numerous museum exhibitions, Graham has impacted artists on both sides of the Atlantic, while art critics and historians sing his praises, Handley said.

“Widely regarded as Ireland’s most important contemporary artist, Graham is credited by art historians with changing the face of Irish painting with his exquisite draftsmanship and expressive layering of images and words in mixed media works on paper and monumental canvasses,” he said.

Graham has been recognized by Ireland as a “Living National Treasure,” according to Handley.

“With the exception perhaps of Anselm Kiefer, Patrick Graham is the only 20th century artist who can take his place among the great masters spanning the Renaissance to the present day,” Selz has said.

The Graham exhibition has been provided courtesy of Jack Rutberg Fine Art, Los Angeles, Calif. The exhibition catalog will be available for sale in limited quantity. It contains color photographs of each work in the show (plus others) and contains essays by Selz, Handley and artist/writer Jarrett Earnest,

The opening reception for both Texas National 2013, now in its 19th year and featuring work by 87 artists from 30 states, and the Graham exhibition, which will feature 16 seminal pieces from the museum tour including the painting “Wreath: Collateral Series,” will be in the downstairs Ledbetter Gallery. Selz will announce the Texas National competition winners at that time.

All SFA art exhibitions, receptions and gallery talks are free and open to the public. Cole Art Center hours are from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call (936) 468-1131.

SFA to host two spring graduation ceremonies - March 6, 2013

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Due to a high number of expected graduates of Stephen F. Austin State University this spring, the May 11 commencement exercises will be split into two ceremonies for the first time.

Graduates from SFA’s James I. Perkins College of Education and College of Fine Arts will participate in a 9:30 a.m. ceremony that Saturday. Candidates from the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, the Nelson Rusche College of Business, the College of Liberal and Applied Arts, and the College of Sciences and Mathematics will participate in a 2 p.m. ceremony.

Master’s and doctoral candidates will graduate with their respective colleges, and both ceremonies will be held in William R. Johnson Coliseum. May graduates will be provided more specific information about the graduation ceremonies in separate communications.

“As a result of recruiting and retention efforts across campus coupled with statewide initiatives to produce more college graduates, SFA has been experiencing an increase in the number of successful students persisting to graduation for the last several years,” according to Monique Cossich, executive director of enrollment management.

“A large percentage of SFA students are the first in their families to graduate from college, and it is important to the administration that we not do anything to limit the number of proud friends and family members who are able attend this important milestone in our students’ lives,” she said. “Holding two separate commencement ceremonies for spring graduation will ensure that all of our graduates’ guests feel welcome and comfortable at this special occasion. As always, we also want to encourage the entire SFA family and the Nacogdoches community to attend the celebration of our students’ success.”

Currently, there are no plans to split the August or December graduation ceremonies, Cossich said. The structure of future May graduation activities will be determined on a case-by-case basis, according to the number of students expected to participate.

For more information about May 2013 graduation ceremonies, please email Cossich at cossichm@sfasu.edu.

SFA offering Art Educators’ Retreat in June - March 1, 2013

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS—Registrations are still being accepted for the Art Educators’ Retreat, a four-day workshop for art educators offered by the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art.

Open to community college, elementary, middle and high school art teachers, the retreat will be held on the SFA campus Sunday, June 16, through Thursday, June 20.

The retreat offers art educators a chance to renew their creative selves and to attend workshops, explained Marsha Blount, SFA assistant professor of art education and director of the retreat.

This year's guest artist will be Leslie Neumann, a painter from Florida.

SFA faculty members Peter Andrew, Runsie Tatnol, Les Butler and Aloma Marquis will teach studio art workshops.

The retreat concludes with a final exhibition of participants’ artwork and a hands-on gala.

All meals, art supplies and on-campus lodging are included in the $400 registration fee.

Registration for the retreat is limited, and the registration deadline is Friday, May 24. Applications and instructions for registering are available at www.art.sfasu.edu/retreat.

For more information, e-mail Blount at blountmarsh@sfasu.edu. Inquiries should include the educator’s school name, teaching level, school telephone number and educator’s e-mail address.

Live music festival to benefit SFA Alumni scholarships - February 28, 2013

Tickets are on sale now for the Barn Burner Old Town Jam, an all-day, outdoor live music festival benefitting SFA Alumni scholarships, from noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday, April 20, at The Barn Bar & Grill, 2304 North St.

The line-up includes some of Texas country's rising stars like Cory Morrow, Steel Magnolia, Rich O’Toole, Johnny Cooper, Lincoln Durham, Folk Family Revival, Mark McKinney and The Bigsbys.

Tickets are $25 pre-sale and $30 at the door, and limited VIP tickets are $100. Regular tickets purchased in person at The Barn by midnight, Thursday, Feb. 28, will be entered into a drawing to win an upgrade to a VIP ticket. Additionally, tickets purchased in person by Wednesday, March 13, will be entered to win a private concert by Rich O'Toole at their home on Sunday, April 21, or an autographed guitar by all of the bands. Tickets also may be purchased at www.outhousetickets.com, but are not eligible for the drawings.

Please contact (936) 468-3407 or visit www.sfaalumni.com for more information.