Everything Nac

Stephen F. Austin State University’s International Studies and Programs director Heather Catton has been awarded a grant through the U.S. Department of State’s Fulbright Scholar Program to support a two-week group seminar in Germany.

“I always thought of Fulbright scholars as those super-smart international students who were chosen to come to the U.S. to pursue their graduate degrees or conduct research projects,” Catton said. “I never realized that there were opportunities to get short-term Fulbright scholarships outside of academia.

“I’m thrilled that I found out about this program,” she added. “It fits so well into what we want to do to help develop more networks for study abroad, especially exchange programs. It’s an honor to be a Fulbright grantee, and I look forward to helping meet Sen. J. William Fulbright’s goal of developing international understanding through establishing open communication and long-term cooperative relationships.”

The two-week group seminar is designed to familiarize U.S. higher education administrators with Germany’s higher education system, society and culture, according to the program’s website. It is not the first time Catton has worked with the Department of State, though it is the first scholarship of its kind she has received.

“SFA hosts students through the state-department-sponsored UGRAD program — an exchange program that sends students to the U.S. on short-term programs from Pakistan, Eurasia and Kosovo,” Catton explained. “I also had the chance to serve on a scholarship selection committee in Tunisia for the U.S. Department of State’s Thomas Jefferson Scholarship Program. This program brings Tunisian students to the U.S. for one-year, non-degree programs. SFA started hosting students through this program in 2013, and so far we have hosted five Tunisian students.”

Catton was one of 20 Fulbright International Education Administrators from across the U.S. to be selected to connect with German educational leaders. The group will begin the two-week trip in Berlin where they will be provided an introduction to Germany and its higher education system through briefings, government appointments, campus visits and cultural events.

“We will then be split into four subgroups, which will visit different cities/universities,” Catton said. “I will be going to Frankfurt and will be based at Universität Frankfurt.”

The program will conclude in Bonn where participants will meet with the Fulbright group participating in the same program in France. Seven IEA seminar programs are hosted each year in India, Russia, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, France and Germany.

“I always love the opportunity to travel abroad,” Catton said. “Beyond that, I think this program will allow me to make valuable connections with colleagues from U.S. and German universities that SFA may be able to collaborate with in the future. I know that the program is going to offer so many opportunities and visits that I could never have arranged myself. I think it will be a real ‘behind the scenes’ tour of Germany with all of the resources and networks that the German-American Fulbright Commission has developed.”

Stephen F. Austin State University’s Culinary Café will host a closing reception for artist and alumna Umeki Earl-Nelson from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1, in the Culinary Café, located in the Education Annex, Room 121, on SFA’s campus.

The SFA and Nacogdoches communities are invited to attend this free event. Light refreshments will be served, and the dress is casual.

The Culinary Café features artwork by various artists each semester, and Nelson’s collection has been on display since June.

“It means a lot to have my work showcased at SFA. The university has given me the opportunity to grow personally and professionally,” Nelson said. “I truly value the relationships I have developed here, and I am excited about the opportunity to share part of my life that has given me so much joy. My hope is that the work I do is an inspiration to someone.”

Nelson explained her work represents her progress as an artist, and the display showcases various mediums, including charcoal, graphite pencil, and acrylic and oil paints.

“With each medium, I took on the challenge of trying something different. When I felt as though I used the medium successfully and as intended, then I was ready to accept the next challenge,” Nelson said.

Nelson graduated summa cum laude from SFA with a major in interior design and a minor in art in August 2016. A LaRue, Texas, native, Nelson now lives in Tyler.

“Umeki is an extremely talented and dedicated individual,” said Leisha Bridwell, SFA associate professor in the School of Human Sciences. “She is an excellent artist who studied art before coming to SFA to major in interior design.”

Nelson was awarded Outstanding Major and Outstanding Achievement during SFA’s School of Human Sciences Convocation in April 2016. She also recently completed an internship with Kirk Acheson, a registered architect with more than 20 years of experience, at Total Engineering Services in Tyler, which is an engineering and architecture firm.

“Umeki is a very creative and talented student, one you could always depend on to go above and beyond,” said Sally Ann Swearingen, associate professor in SFA’s School of Human Sciences.

Nelson said she finds inspiration in life, humans, family, her life experiences, fashion and of course, design.

The Freedom Brass ensemble of the U.S. Air Force Band of the West will perform at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, in Cole Concert Hall on the Stephen F. Austin State University campus.

The concert is a presentation of the SFA College of Fine Arts and School of Music and is featured in this year’s Cole Performing Arts Series.

Freedom Brass is a brass quintet with percussion, which showcases military professionalism at Department of Defense ceremonies and public concerts throughout the Gulf Coast region on behalf of the U.S. Air Force. The ensemble is a component of the USAF Band of the West located at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, according to information at www.bandofthewest.af.mil.

The USAF Band of the West has performed for presidents, heads of state and dignitaries from around the world earning an outstanding reputation among America’s military bands.

Cole Concert Hall is located in the Tom and Peggy Wright Music Building, 2210 Alumni Drive.

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

The College of Fine Arts at Stephen F. Austin State University will open the 2016-2017 University Series season with an extraordinary British actor performing the works of a Nobel Prize-winning playwright and poet.

Julian Sands will present “A Celebration of Harold Pinter” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15, in William M. Turner Auditorium on the SFA campus. In 2005, Sands was approached by Nobel Prize-winning playwright and poet Pinter to prepare a set of Pinter’s poems for a special presentation in London. Working closely with Pinter, Sands was granted a rare insight into his personality, life and work.

“This extraordinary collaboration evolved into a wonderfully humorous and fascinating solo show,” said Scott Shattuck, associate dean of the College of Fine Arts and director of the series. “We think this is a great way to open our new season, which also features a sensational blues concert, a Celtic Christmas celebration, one of America’s top female brass quintets and a dynamic Dutch vocal ensemble.”

Directed by Oscar nominee John Malkovich, “A Celebration of Harold Pinter” has been performed at the Edinburgh Festival in 2011 and subsequently at The Irish Repertory Theatre in New York and Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago, as well as in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Budapest, London and Paris.

“This will be an evening of heroic theater with an extraordinary actor,” Shattuck said. “‘A Celebration of Harold Pinter’ gets to the soul of the man not only as a poet, playwright and Nobel winner, but also as a husband, political activist and person.”

Sands is frequently seen worldwide in motions pictures, on stage and on television. He trained in London at The Central School of Speech and Drama and has appeared in more than 100 films, including “The Killing Fields,” “A Room With A View,” “Leaving Las Vegas,” “Arachnophobia,” “Oceans 13” and David Fincher’s “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.” On television, he is best known for his role on” 24″ but has also been seen on “Smallville,” “Ghost Whisperer,” “Dexter” and “Banshee.”

“A Celebration of Harold Pinter” was nominated for a 2013 Drama Desk Award. It is recommended for mature audiences.

This performance is sponsored in part by Commercial Bank of Texas.

Prior to the performance, Slade Billew, assistant professor of theatre, will present an informative talk about Pinter at 7 p.m. in Griffith Gallery. The gallery is located across the hall from Turner Auditorium, which is located in the Griffith Fine Arts Building, 2222 Alumni Drive. The audience is invited back to the gallery for a post-performance reception to meet the performer and to honor the event’s corporate sponsor.

Single event ticket prices are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and $10 for non-SFA students/youth. Tickets for SFA students are $3.

Other upcoming University Series performances include the Big Head Blues Club featuring Big Head Todd and Monsters with special guests on Oct. 13; Danú Celtic Christmas concert on Dec. 16; Seraph Brass Quintet on Jan. 24; and Olga Vocal Ensemble on Feb. 2. Season tickets are still available.

For tickets or more information on the 2016-2017 University Series, visit finearts.sfasu.edu, stop by the Box Office in Room 211 of the Griffith Fine Arts Building, or call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS. All performances are at 7:30 p.m. in Turner Auditorium.

Stephen F. Austin State University’s Gwen and Ed Cole Audiology Lab recently received the 2016 Best of Nacogdoches Award by The Daily Sentinel, which annually honors the achievements and accomplishments of local service providers and businesses.

Award recipients are recognized for their positive impact in the community and quality service they provide to their clients. Awards are distributed based on service or business category. This is the second year that the Cole Audiology Lab has received the award in the audiologist category.

“I am passionate about hearing health care and the opportunity to improve the quality of life of individuals,” said Dr. Kelly Jobe, director of the lab and clinical instructor. “Receiving this award is meaningful because the community is in a sense saying ‘job well done.’ It feels great to make a positive impact in the lives of our patients and community.”

SFA’s Cole Audiology Lab’s function is twofold. First, the lab serves as a hands-on learning facility for graduate students studying speech pathology. Students are required to complete 30 hours of audiology clinical practicum, which they can obtain at the lab. Additionally, students can apply their classroom instruction in a practical way by testing each other in the lab for course assignments, Jobe said.

Second, the Cole Audiology Lab also is open to the public. The lab provides comprehensive diagnostic hearing evaluations such as electrophysiological testing, which records the electrical activity and pathways of the auditory brainstem; aural rehabilitation such as hearing aid evaluations, fittings and follow-up care; and preventative care such as noise protection awareness.

Lab audiologists can evaluate and treat balance disorders and children with auditory processing disorders. The lab collaborates with Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital and serves Nacogdoches Independent School District, private schools and surrounding communities with school hearing screenings.

The lab is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with appointments available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday and is located on the SFA campus in the Human Services Building, Room 205, 2100 North Raguet St. For more information, call (936) 468-7109.

The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art and the Friends of the Visual Arts will present a free, one-night screening of “Tracks” at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.

The film, directed by John Curran, tells the true story of Robyn Davidson, a young woman who in 1977 undertook a solo trek across 1,700 miles of Australian outback. A chance meeting with National Geographic photographer Rick Smolan provides her with the necessary financing for her expedition under the condition that he be allowed to photograph parts of her journey for the magazine. With only her dog and four unpredictable camels for company, she embarks on an inspiring and life-changing journey of self-discovery, according to information at tracks-movie.com.

Nominated for numerous awards, “Tracks” won a Film Critics Circle of Australia award for best cinematography in 2015 and an Australian Cinematographers Society award for features in 2014.

“Tracks” runs one hour, 52 minutes. The suggested rating is PG-13 for some partial nudity, disturbing images and brief strong language, according to information at imdb.com.

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

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

Dr. Jennifer Newquist, assistant professor in Stephen F. Austin State University’s School of Human Sciences, has been elected to the Texas Council on Family Relations Board.

TxCFR promotes healthy families through a variety of resources and activities and is an affiliate of the National Council on Family Relations, which is a nonprofit multidisciplinary professional association focused on family research, practice and education, according to the council’s website.

In her role as board member, Newquist will attend monthly board meetings, providing feedback and voting on issues put before the board. She will serve as a member-at-large for a two-year term. Additionally, she also will serve as the public policy committee co-chair.

“I am honored the TxCFR membership has entrusted me to represent them on the board,” Newquist said. “I am very excited to work with my committee and the board to develop a plan to educate the Texas government on the importance of family life education and certified family life educators.”