Everything Nac

Touching on topics such as best practices for teaching students of poverty and a somatic approach to embracing diversity, Stephen F. Austin State University’s Office of Multicultural Affairs will host its fourth annual Diversity Conference from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9, on the SFA campus.

“Our theme has changed to ‘Embracing Diversity: Are We Really Listening?’” said Veronica Beavers, OMA director. “Many times, we fail to listen to other’s perspectives. During this year’s conference, we really want to challenge participants to actively listen to each other in order to grow personally and professionally.”

SFA faculty and staff members and students will offer 15 presentations on topics ranging from social issues, multiculturalism, religion, gender identity and more. SFA jazz band students will perform during lunch.

In previous years, the conference has been held on a Saturday. It was moved to a Friday this year to encourage and accommodate more participants.

“The Diversity Conference seeks to provide a platform for presenters to share their diversity-related work with conference attendees and engage in vital multicultural dialogue,” Beavers explained. “It is hosted by OMA, and the OMA Caucus, which comprises SFA faculty and staff members from many different departments, helps plan and coordinate the event.”

This year’s presenters are predominantly from the SFA campus and Nacogdoches communities. Attendees, however, come from all around Texas.

“We also have our second annual Diversity Museum during the conference,” Beavers said. “We are currently accepting submissions for this museum. We also offer continuing education units for the conference through the School of Social Work. Everyone can gain something by attending the conference.”

Registration will open at 8:30 a.m. To guarantee a lunch, preregister by Friday, Feb. 2. The public and campus community are invited, and the conference is free to attend.

For more information, to register or to apply for the Diversity Museum, visit sfasu.edu/multicultural/190.asp.

By Christine Broussard, senior marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.

Stephen F. Austin State University’s Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture will host an East Texas GIS and GPS user group meeting beginning at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 2, in Room 117 of the Forestry Building.

Speakers will address a wide range of geospatial applications and advancements, including GIS field apps used by the City of Nacogdoches and the use of drones in natural resources education at SFA. The event is free and open to the public. Surdex, a corporation that is among the largest digital orthophotography, GIS mapping and geospatial service providers in North America, will sponsor lunch, and a Surdex representative will present an update of East Texas aerial photography acquisition.

The purpose of the East Texas GIS and GPS user group is to bring together users at any level in public, private and educational sectors who are interested in geospatial technology. For more information, contact Dr. I-Kuai Hung at hungi@sfasu.edu or (936) 468-2464

Discover the benefits of fermented foods and how to create them with a workshop hosted by Stephen F. Austin State University’s SFA Gardens and led by Dr. Darla O’Dwyer, SFA associate professor of human sciences, from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 3, at the Brundrett Conservation Education Building.

Participants will learn the health benefits of fermented foods and the scientific background behind the proper technique of anaerobic fermentation.

“You will be surprised at how easy fermentation can be,” O’Dwyer said. “Sauerkraut will be prepared during the workshop and participants will take home sauerkraut to enjoy along with the fermentation vessel provided. Other fermented foods will be available for tasting with recipes provided.”

O’Dwyer has been a registered dietitian nutritionist since 1996. Prior to joining the SFA faculty in 2003, she was a clinical dietitian who practiced in pediatric and neonatal critical care at a large teaching hospital in West Texas. She graduated with a doctoral degree from Texas Tech University in 2003 and is currently serving as the dietetic internship director and coordinator for the food, nutrition and dietetics program at SFA.

O’Dwyer’s research interests include gastrointestinal nutrition, focusing on the role of the microbiome in health and disease. She was certified in functional medicine in 2015 and believes in discovering the root cause of illness through investigating a person’s gastrointestinal health, lifestyle, genetics and environment. She also owns a nutrition consulting business and works with an integrative physician, focusing on gastrointestinal and autoimmune disorders.

Space for the food fermentation workshop is limited, so advanced registration is required. The cost is $40 for SFA Gardens members and $45 for non-members.

For more information or to register, contact the SFA Gardens education office at (936) 468-1832 or sfagardens@sfasu.edu.