Everything Nac

Because of its growth in attendance and popularity, the annual Día de los Muertos Fiesta, or Day of the Dead festival, is moving to a different downtown location this year to accommodate larger crowds.

The 5th annual celebration is slated for 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, behind the Nacogdoches Convention and Visitors Bureau. The Nacogdcohes Public Library and the Nacogdoches CVB have joined the School of Art and College of Fine Arts in sponsoring and coordinating the event.

The new location means the role of the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art and its art galleries has shifted, according to Lisa Steed, events coordinator for SFA art galleries.

“The event just got too big for Church Street,” Steed said, referring to the street that runs alongside The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House. Church Street and areas around Cole Art Center is where the fiesta has been held since its local beginning.

The CVB’s Pilar Street stage, equipped with sound and lighting capabilities, is more conducive as a performance venue, specifically for the popular Chikawa Aztec Dancers and other musical entertainment, Steed said.

“The Chikawa Aztec Dancers will be returning for our 5th annual event,” she said. “They will perform earlier in the evening than in the past due to requests from many parents.” The dancers will go on stage shortly after 5 p.m.

Based in Conroe, the Chikawa Aztec Dancers with their colorful costumes are always a crowd pleaser, Steed said.

Also performing will be SFA faculty members Jeana-Paul and Juan Carlos Urena at 6 p.m., followed by the internationally renowned Los Llaneros performing the energetic and haunting music of the savannas of Colombia and Venezuela at 7:15 p.m.

The Friends of the Visual Arts will sell official Día de los Muertos T-shirts, along with ceramic bowls made by SFA art students. There will be other booths, including those with children’s activities, and food booths and food trucks. The festivities will also include a Day of the Dead-themed costume contest with prizes.

Streets will be blocked off and booths and food trucks will be located around three sides of the CVB, with Main Street remaining open to traffic.

For more information, contact Steed at (936) 468-6557.

Several new leaders were approved for Stephen F. Austin State University’s Rusche College of Business during Monday’s meeting of the Board of Regents.

Robert Crocker, professor and chair of the Department of Management and Marketing, will serve as associate dean of the business college. Matthew Lindsey, associate professor, was approved as chair of the Department of Management and Marketing. Kelly Noe, associate professor of accounting, was appointed chair of the Schlief School of Accountancy.

In the James I. Perkins College of Education, Leonard Thornton, associate professor of kinesiology and health science, was approved as chair of the department. Other status changes in the education college included Alison Cope, from adjunct faculty to visiting lecturer of secondary education and educational leadership; Elizabeth Gound, from visiting instructor of secondary education and educational leadership to instructor of elementary education; and Robyn Whitehead, from adjunct faculty to visiting assistant professor of kinesiology and health science.

Regents approved the appointment of 23 assistant professors representing each of the university’s six colleges, including:

Rusche College of Business – Alan Campbell, accounting; Pamela Rogers, management and marketing; and Stephen Shrewsbury, business communication and legal studies;

Perkins College of Education – Jillian Dawes, human services; Michael Lemke and Melinda Watts, kinesiology and health science; and Brian Uriegas, secondary education;

College of Fine Arts – Samantha Inman, Kristin Lyman and Jacob Walburn, music; and Stephanie Murphy, theatre;

Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture – Candis Carraway, agriculture; Frantisek Majs, agriculture and director of the Soil, Plant and Water Analysis Lab; and Christopher Schalk, forestry;

College of Liberal and Applied Arts – Bailey Thompson, mass communication;

College of Sciences and Mathematics – James Adams, physics, engineering and astronomy; Brittney Falahola, Jacob Turner and Ryan Jensen, mathematics and statistics; John Gary and Xiaozhen Han, chemistry and biochemistry; Debra Gibbs, nursing; and Dae Glendowne, computer science.

Several additional faculty appointments were approved by regents Monday. In the James I. Perkins College of Education, regents approved appointments for Donna Fickes, clinical instructor of human sciences; Jeffrey Forsse, instructor of kinesiology and health science; Marym Lakhani and Sharon Rice, visiting lecturers of kinesiology and health science; Ronda McClain; lecturer of elementary education; Deena Petersen, clinical instructor of human services; and Raul Prezas, associate professor of human services.

Appointments in the College of Liberal and Applied Arts include Long Bui and Hunter Hampton, lecturers of history; Meta Henty, visiting lecturer of English and creative writing; Catherine Huh and Laurie Lawrence, lecturers of languages, cultures and communication; Paul Shockley, lecturer of multidisciplinary studies; Diane Sizemore, lecturer of social work and program director of child welfare professional development project and Title IV stipend program; Robert Velez, lecturer of government; and Michael Welsh, visiting assistant professor of languages, cultures and communication.

Regents approved the following changes of status in the College of Liberal and Applied Arts: Lisa Bentley, from visiting lecturer to lecturer of history; Suparna Chakraborty, from adjunct faculty to lecturer in history; Peyton Gooch, from adjunct faculty to lecturer in government; Sheila Jones, Eralda Lameborshi, Aaron Milstead and Dylan Parkhurst, from adjunct faculty to lecturers in English and creative writing; Billy Longino, from adjunct faculty to visiting assistant professor in English and creative writing; Thomas Reynolds, from visiting lecturer to lecturer in languages, cultures and communication; and Charles White, from adjunct faculty to visiting instructor of psychology.

New appointments in the Rusche College of Business included Nicole Brantley visiting lecturer of accounting, and Gerald Scott, lecturer of management and marketing. Regents also approved Laurie Rogers, former adjunct faculty member, as visiting assistant professor and Manuel Guerrero, former manager of vendor relations, as lecturer of business communication and legal studies.

Michael Murphy, associate professor of music, and Kenneth Verdugo, visiting assistant professor of theatre, received faculty appointments within the College of Fine Arts.

In the College of Sciences and Mathematics, new faculty members include Catherine Kwiatkowski, lecturer of chemistry and biochemistry; Laurel Matthews, clinical instructor of nursing; and Puntitra Sawadpong, visiting assistant professor of computer science. The following changes also were approved: Lorna DeSha, from graduate teaching assistant to lecturer in mathematics and statistics; Hazel Kimbrough, from adjunct faculty to clinical instructor of nursing; and Rebecca Self, from assistant coordinator to coordinator of the Simulation Lab in the DeWitt School of Nursing.

In the Steen Library, regents approved appointments for Melissa Clark, librarian III; Alexandra Schutz, librarian II; Cheryl Janusa and Michael Johnson, program directors of the Academic Assistance Resource Center; and Theunis Oliphant, former lecturer of management and marketing in the Rusche College of Business, as technology program coordinator in the Center for Teaching and Learning.

New appointments approved in the Department of Athletics included Rebeca Alvidrez, assistant women’s basketball coach; Manual Bolanos and Kevin Meyer, assistant directors of athletic media relations; Tyler Boone, director of athletic development; Caleb Clowers, assistant men’s baseball coach; Daniel DeLuca, assistant women’s golf coach; and Kailee May, assistant volleyball coach. Approved staff changes included Charles Hurley, from assistant director to director of athletic media relations, and Kira Rubin, from assistant athletic trainer to athletic trainer.

Additional staff appointments include Walter Seaton, coordinator in Campus Recreation; Hsin-I Huang and Huyn Oh, music accompanists in the College of Fine Arts; and Taylor Anderson, hall director in Residence Life.

Additional changes of status include Michael Coffee, from assistant director of information technology services to interim chief information officer; Patricia Ashworth, from teller supervisor to assistant bursar; and Pamela Corman, from assistant bursar to bursar, Office of the Controller.

Further status changes approved by the board are John Calahan, from coordinator of academic space scheduling and utilization to coordinator of academic space scheduling and utilization and interim director of institutional assessment, Academic Affairs; Jennifer Hanlon, from assistant director to interim director of Research and Sponsored Programs; and Gavin McCarty, from manager of the SFA Post Office and interim director of printing to director of printing and postal services, Student Services.

Aryendra Chakravartty, assistant professor of history, was granted faculty development leave for spring 2018.

The board approved the retirements of the following faculty and staff members with 125 years of combined service to the university: Tim King, professor of music; Greg Patterson, lecturer of mass communication; Roger Dale Perritt, professor of agriculture; Jeffrey Watson, technology program coordinator; and Bobby Williams, bursar.

Stephen F. Austin State University’s Board of Regents approved several new face-to-face and online degree programs during its quarterly meeting Monday.

As part of the SFA Envisioned Strategic Plan, the university seeks to engage students in experiences that prepare them for the challenges of living in a global community, and SFA administrators are working to develop relevant new programs through a variety of delivery methods and at various locations.

Two degree programs approved within the James I. Perkins College of Education include a Bachelor of Science in human services and a Bachelor of Science in food and nutrition. In the College of Liberal and Applied Arts, regents approved a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice, Bachelor of Arts in intercultural communication and a Master of Arts in publishing.

“There are ‘three Rs’ in higher education: rigor, relevance and relationships,” said Dr. Steve Bullard, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “We need to offer our students rigorous programs while staying relevant in regard to technology and industry standards. We must continue to develop meaningful and impactful relationships with our students, alumni and industry professionals to better prepare our students for successful careers.”

The board approved new online programs: Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees in both public administration and communication studies, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in intercultural communications. These programs will begin fall 2018, pending approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

“Part of SFA’s Strategic Plan is meeting students where they are, and that involves offering content online and offsite,” Bullard said. “Through our recent partnerships with select institutions and our development of additional online programs, we continue to expand SFA’s reach and invest in the East Texas community and in opportunities to provide services to students throughout the state and beyond.”

In order to improve SFA’s online efforts, regents approved a five-year contract renewal and upgrade of the university’s learning-management system, Desire2Learn. This $1.2 million contract includes upgrades that allow secure online access to students, faculty members and SFA employees. The system’s functions include course creation, lesson management, testing, grading and communication tools.

In other business, the board selected Bentz Whaley Flessner to serve as campaign consultants for a comprehensive fundraising campaign. For 40 years, Bentz Whaley Flessner has specialized in providing strategic fundraising counsel and offering innovative and collaborative advice to public and private colleges and universities, hospitals, academic medical centers, health care systems and community organizations.

Regents approved issuing a request for qualifications to architectural firms to develop architectural programming for athletic facility renovations.

“SFA’s Campus Master Plan 2020 serves as a guide to ensure that campus facilities meet educational program needs and operational requirements,” said Dr. Danny Gallant, vice president for finance and administration. “The university recently received architectural design services for a proposed Performing Arts Center complex, and we will seek similar assistance in developing detailed plans for renovating our athletics facilities.”

Gina Oglesbee, chief audit executive, updated regents on the university’s audit plan and reported on a variety of audits, including audits of the JAMP grant, contract management, School of Art, Controller’s Office and Department of Elementary Education. Regents approved the annual audit report.

Regents ratified $98,726 in additional grant awards allocable to fiscal year 2017 and grant awards totaling more than $4 million for fiscal year 2018.

Two repair projects were approved by the board Monday. Regents approved an electrical infrastructure project that includes replacing a transformer and equipment in the Griffith and Kerr power plant, and installation of a new main transmission line. Additionally, the board approved installing a new sewer line from the tennis pavilion across Wilson Street to the city sewer main line.

Regents received reports on the Texas government code contract reporting, information technology assessment, current construction, the Intercollegiate Athletic Advisory Committee and the Nacogdoches – SFA Joint Economic Development Committee.

SFA President Baker Pattillo, Faculty Senate Chair Le’Ann Solmonson and Student Government Association Vice President Nikki Wood also reported to the board.

In addition to approving policy revisions, course fee deletions and minutes from the July meeting, regents approved:

• updated agreements between SFA and the SFA Alumni Association and SFA and the SFASU Foundation;

• a marketing campaign budget of approximately $930,000;

• an agreement with Myers and Stauffer, certified public accountants, for information technology audit services; and

• a contract amendment to the human resource applicant tracking and onboarding system, PeopleAdmin, to include tools that will help the system work with the university’s current Banner system and to meet SFA’s security standards.

The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art and the SFA Galleries will host the exhibition “Collective Transference: Houston Area Clay” Oct. 31 through Dec. 30 in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.

The ceramics exhibition, curated by Jeff Forster and Michelle Matthews, features clay artists who highlight the quality and diversity of artists working in Harris, Montgomery, Fort Bend, Liberty, Galveston, Chambers, Waller and Brazoria counties.

“Many were born and raised out of state and landed in Texas via job opportunities, relationships and/or education,” explained John Handley, director of SFA Galleries.

The selected artists include George Bowes, Susan Budge, Lauren Clay, Sharon Dennard, Trey Duvall, Kelley Eggert, Carter Ernst, Jeff Forster, Roy Hanscom, Clara Hoag, Jessica Kreutter, Clay Leonard, Michelle Matthews, Anthony Sonnenberg, Kamila Szczesna, Sharon Warrington, Carolyn Watkins and Tracye Wear.

Anna Walker, Windgate Foundation Curatorial Fellow for Contemporary Craft at the The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, stated: “The curators have provided a snapshot, a moment in the trajectory of a field, that captures the energy and range of Houston-based artists.”

A reception and artist talk will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16, at The Cole Art Center. Among the sponsors are the SFA Friends of the Visual Arts, the Nacogdoches Junior Forum and The Flower Shop. Admission is free.

The Cole Art Center is located at 329 E. Main St. For more information, contact Michelle Matthews at michelle-matthews@att.net.

The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art and the Friends of the Visual Arts will present a free, one-night screening of “DamNation” at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3, in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.

Directed by Travis Rummel and Ben Knight, “DamNation” is a 2014 advocacy documentary about the changing attitudes in the U.S. concerning the nation’s large system of dams.

“DamNation” takes a powerful film odyssey across America to explore the change in national attitude from pride in big dams as engineering wonders to the growing awareness that the future is bound to the life and health of rivers, according to information at http://damnationfilm.com/the-film. Where obsolete dams come down, rivers bound back to life. “The film’s majestic cinematography and unexpected discoveries move through rivers and landscapes altered by dams, but also through a metamorphosis in values, from conquest of the natural world to knowing ourselves as part of nature,” the website says.

“DamNation” won the Audience Choice Award at Austin’s 2014 South by Southwest and at the 2014 Environmental Film Festival at Yale, where it also won the Grand Jury Prize. The film was named Best Conservation Film at the 2014 International Wildlife Film Festival. It won numerous environmental documentary awards. The film runs 87 minutes.

This screening is part of the School of Art’s monthly Friday Film Series and is sponsored in part by William Arscott, Nacogdoches Film Festival, Karon Gillespie, Mike Mollot, David Kulhavy, Brad Maule, John and Kristen Heath, Galleria Z, Jill Carrington, Jean Stephens, Jim and Mary Neal, Richard Orton, Nacogdoches Junior Forum and Main Street Nacogdoches.

The Cole Art Center is located at 329 E. Main St. For more information, call (936) 468-1131.

Kirk Phillips, president and CEO of Wintrust Commercial Bank and Stephen F. Austin State University alumnus, recently spoke to students in the Rusche College of Business about the keys to a successful career.

During his “So you want to be a CEO?” discussion, Phillips recalled the various jobs he held before achieving his current position. Phillips has spent more than 25 years in the commercial finance industry beginning with ITT Commercial Finance. He has experience with credit analysis, underwriting, sales and marketing.

“It is exciting to come back to SFA and interact with students. If even one student can benefit from my experiences since graduating from SFA, then I consider it a success,” Phillips said. “The education and experiences I had as a Lumberjack definitely helped me during my career.”

Phillips explained to attendees how he had always wanted to travel, but although his path was not the one he had originally imagined, he was able to reach his goals and be successful by following opportunities.

“Mr. Phillips’ presentation was an exceptional example of our dedicated alumni helping our students learn how to achieve career success,” said Dr. Tim Bisping, dean of the Rusche College of Business. “We are grateful for his willingness to help our students launch successful careers and ultimately become leaders in their fields.”

Megan Sellers, academic advisor and coordinator for career success and corporate engagement in the College of Business, helped organize this Student Success Passport Program event. Students in the program compete for scholarships and receive credit for attending sponsored events like this one, which enhances their scholarship opportunities.

“Events like this help students see successful CEOs and presidents of corporate America were once in their shoes. The advice the CEOs share is invaluable for students,” Sellers said. “It gives them courage and drive to know their dreams are attainable with hard work, a positive attitude and the drive to follow their dreams.”

Phillips also advised students on various keys to success, including never stop learning, attitude is everything and always look for opportunities.

“This kind of real-world advice always seems to hit students harder when it comes from someone in the business world where students someday hope to be,” Sellers said.

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

Stephen F. Austin State University’s dance program will showcase senior choreographic works during its production of Danceworks: In Retrospect, which premieres at 7 p.m. Nov. 9 in the HPE Complex Dance Studio, Room 201, on the university’s campus.

Additional showings are scheduled for 7 p.m. Nov. 10 and 3 p.m. Nov. 11. Tickets cost $5 for students, $8 for faculty and staff members, and $10 for general admission and can be purchased at the door.

The production will feature 11 senior choreographic works focused on the theme “In Retrospect.”

“Each dance is personal to the choreographer, and they all focus on memories,” said Heather Samuelson, assistant professor of dance. “Each piece either recalls a memory or is trying to evoke a memory from the audience.”

Danceworks serves as the capstone course for dance seniors. During the summer, seniors research concepts for their works, and on the first day of the semester, rehearsals begin. SFA senior Maryelle Stephenson, of Fate, Texas, is performing in two pieces.

“It’s cool to learn from two different student choreographer’s perspective because each piece I’m performing in is different and equally as great,” Stephenson said.

Samuelson explained producing the concert teaches students a variety of skills other than choreography. For example, students learn how to cast a show, promote a performance, design lighting, select costumes, edit music and more.

“Whether our students teach dance or work in a dance company in the future, Danceworks gives them the background they need to assist a company in organizing and producing a dance concert,” Samuelson said. “When students leave SFA, they are fully capable of producing a concert in entirety by themselves.”

Jazz and contemporary dance are the main styles that will be featured during this production. Ten pieces are appropriate for all audiences. One piece deals with a sensitive topic and is not recommended for children. The audience will be notified before that piece’s performance.

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