Everything Nac

Stephen F. Austin State University and Houston Community College will kick off the semester and their interior design partnership with an open house showcasing HCC’s Central campus facilities from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 19 in the Learning Hub Building, Room 100, on the HCC Central campus.

Students, faculty, staff, interior design alumni and community members are invited to attend the free event.

Sally Ann Swearingen, SFA associate professor of interior design, said the event is a celebration.

“We are excited to celebrate this collaboration and welcome the incoming class to this unique program,” Swearingen said. “The open house will provide a great opportunity to network and familiarize students with the campus.”

The two institutions began a partnership in 2017 that allows HCC students the opportunity to earn their bachelor’s degree in interior design from SFA while remaining at the HCC campus.

Students who have graduated from HCC in interior design and have completed the core course requirements have the opportunity to enroll in the last 42 hours of SFA interior design courses either online or face-to-face on the HCC campus. Also, the partnership allows a fast-track approach with 78 approved HCC course hours that transfer to SFA.

Students who graduate with a bachelor’s degree in interior design at an accredited university such as SFA are allowed to take the first portion of the National Council for Interior Design Qualification exam, which is the industry’s professional certification. After six months of experience, students will be able to take the final portion of the exam, Swearingen said.

For more information, visit sfasu.edu/hms/103.asp or hccs.edu/sfa/.

Event parking will be available at the garage located on La Branch and Alabama streets.

By Kasi Dickerson, senior marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.

Stephen F. Austin State University’s SFA Gardens will host its annual Fabulous Fall Festival Plant Sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 6 at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center, located at 2900 Raguet St. in historic Nacogdoches.

The sale will feature a variety of hard-to-find, “Texas-tough” plants, including Texas natives, heirlooms, perennials, shrubs and trees, with an emphasis on pollinator-friendly plants, as well as exclusive SFA introductions. The featured plants are extensively trialed before being offered to the public and are produced by SFA Gardens’ staff members and volunteers.

This popular event benefits the SFA Mast Arboretum, PNPC, Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden and Gayla Mize Garden, along with educational programs that are hosted monthly at the gardens. SFA Gardens’ educational programs reach more than 15,000 participants annually.

Parking will be available at SFA’s Janice A. Pattillo Early Childhood Research Center, located at 2428 Raguet St. Visitors are encouraged to arrive early and bring a wagon for their plants.

For more information and a list of available plants, call (936) 468-4404, or visit sfagardens.sfasu.edu two weeks before the sale.

A new initiative involving Stephen F. Austin State University’s Rusche College of Business and corporate leaders will help support student success and provide a link between the academic and corporate worlds.

Through this new launching partnerships program, corporate partners can have a consistent and lasting impact on the Rusche College of Business’ students, programs and facilities.

“The launching partnerships initiative is special because everyone wins,” said Dr. Tim Bisping, dean of the Rusche College of Business. “Employers have new opportunities to get to know our students, and students have the opportunity to network with business professionals. As a whole, the Rusche College of Business wins because all aspects of this program advance our Learn, Launch, Lead mission.”

Building business networks for students is a key goal of the college. This partnership will provide opportunities for corporate partners to visit classes multiple times per year to meet with students, discuss job opportunities and share insight into the business world.

Additionally, the college will host corporate events dedicated to the partner company to give business leaders an avenue to meet with students one-on-one. Corporate partners also will be recognized with special signage within the college’s McGee Business Building.

Dr. Trey Turner, executive director of development, said this initiative aligns with the university’s SFA Envisioned Strategic Plan to provide transformative experiences for students and increase connections.

“The launch of the new corporate partner initiative creates an ideal opportunity to secure new sponsorships from business and industry, as well as increase the visibility of these new corporate partners on campus,” Turner said. “The additional funds and collaboration that stem from these partnerships will create exciting new experiential-learning opportunities for many SFA students.”

To learn more about this endeavor, contact Bisping at (936) 468-3101 or bispingto@sfasu.edu.

By Kasi Dickerson, senior marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.

Whether she is promoting Stephen F. Austin State University’s educational programs or working in the Nacogdoches community with young people, Dr. Judy Abbott, dean of SFA’s James I. Perkins College of Education, is all about education and the community.

Recognizing Abbott’s leadership, involvement and service to the community, the Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce recently named her Citizen of the Year. This award acknowledges an individual who has performed outstanding services for the betterment of the community, made exceptional and sustained contributions to the community, and possesses the characteristics of honesty, sincerity, integrity, and benevolence.

In 2010, Abbott and her husband, Ralph, moved to Nacogdoches when she was named dean. In this role, Abbott oversees SFA’s largest college, which comprises five academic units ranging from elementary education to human services.

Within the community, Abbott shares her passion for education. She finds opportunities for people to learn how they can impact a community’s economic health, and she works with citizens to help them understand how a community invests in the educational system and in them as individuals. She also helps locate opportunities for educators to connect to civic and business leaders in order to invest in public education.

Abbott is a member of Friends of Historic Nacogdoches, American Association of University Women, SFA University Women’s Club, the Federation of Women’s Clubs, Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce and a volunteer for Master Gardener programs.

Barbara Holl, operations vice president for the Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce, said Abbott’s work as chair of the chamber’s education committee has been instrumental in helping high school students continue in their academic pursuits.

Abbott oversees the Nacogdoches County’s Opportunity for Better Learning Experience banquet and scholarship program, which honors graduating high school seniors who chose a more rigorous recommended or distinguished program of study in their high school courses and completed documented service hours.

Additionally, Abbott co-chairs the Leaders of Tomorrow Crew, which provides opportunities for eighth graders to learn about their community and teaches leadership skills.

“Through her leadership, scores of students have chosen SFA,” Holl said. “She devotes her time and resources to all these events. Dr. Abbott is passionate, committed and positive about her work. She is a great example to others.”

Members of the Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce submit names and supporting criteria to an executive committee each year for the Citizen of the Year award. The executive committee reviews the nominations and narrows the selection to three candidates. Nominations are presented to members of the chamber’s Board of Directors, who vote by secret ballot.

By Kasi Dickerson, senior marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.

Stephen F. Austin State University’s SFA Gardens will host a Saturday Seminar on wildscaping for pollinators from 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 22 at the Brundrett Conservation Education Building at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center.

“Pollinators are responsible for one out of every three bites of food we eat, but their populations are threatened with serious decline,” said Dawn Stover, SFA Gardens research associate and pollinator plant specialist. “Anyone can help native pollinators by planting their own backyard pollinator habitat.”

During the seminar, Stover will present how to effectively garden to attract pollinators. Participants will learn about the different kinds of native pollinators and other beneficial insects and their roles in the garden. Stover also will explore appropriate plants to use and effective gardening techniques to maximize pollinator participation in the garden.

The workshop will include a hands-on opportunity to make pollinator-friendly seed balls and an option to tour pollinator plants in the landscape and nursery at the PNPC.

Participation for the garden design seminar is limited, and advanced registration is required. The cost is $25 for SFA Gardens members and $30 for non-members. Call (936) 468-4129, or email sfagardens@sfasu.edu to reserve a seat.