Everything Nac

Stephen F. Austin State University hosted the East Region Winter Seminar offered by the Texas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, connecting dietetics experts, professionals and students to discuss the latest advancements in nutritional science and integrative health. The event highlighted SFA’s commitment to training future nutrition professionals and addressing health needs in East Texas. Students and professionals alike gained valuable insights and networking opportunities at the seminar.

“The more perspectives you can get, the more knowledge you’re going to have, so that’s one of the best things that come out of these seminars,” said Hailey Gamboa, an attendee and graduate student from Murphy in SFA’s Master of Science in nutrition and integrative health program. “We get to learn from people who research and dedicate their lives to a certain condition or area of study.”

Organized by Sarah Drake, clinical instructor in SFA’s School of Human Sciences and director of TAND’s east region, the seminar offered presentation topics ranging from nutritional strategies to the evolving role of dietitians in health care settings.

“Similarly to the first presenter’s story, I had my own nutritional health problems that led me to do research on what I was experiencing. That’s how I found my way to dietetics and discovered how nutrition plays a really big role in your physical and mental health,” said Tesla Maxwell, a senior from Frisco in the Bachelor of Science in dietetics and nutritional sciences program.

More conversation is happening around the concept that “your gut and your brain are connected,” Maxwell added. “That interests me a lot and is what I’m hoping to go into — mental health and women’s health specifically — after I graduate.”

Supporting both local and distance students, SFA’s bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nutrition offer multiple pathways for students who are interested in nutritional sciences, including a focus in integrative and functional nutrition.

“Our programs serve an important need given the alarming state of health in the area and the country,” said Dr. Darla O’Dwyer, professor of dietetics and nutritional sciences. “We train professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to deliver nutrition services in an environment where nutrition must be prioritized to improve the health of East Texans and the region.”

SFA’s BS in dietetics and nutritional sciences is designed for students seeking to become registered dietitians or to support further education as pre-health professionals. The MS in nutrition and integrative health assists students pursuing a registered dietitian pathway or those wanting to expand their knowledge base in integrative and functional nutrition.

“Nutrition is really the direction medicine needs to go,” said Garrett Smith, a junior dietetics and nutritional sciences major on the pre-med track from Little Elm. “The faculty in this program help improve the nutrition of East Texas through volunteer programs, their work as dietitians and their work as health care providers. They have personally encouraged me in my goal of becoming a doctor. They are by far the most supportive and inspiring people and professors I’ve ever met.”

To learn more about SFA’s bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nutrition, visit gosfa.com/BS-nutrition or gosfa.com/MS-nutrition.

ABOUT STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY

Stephen F. Austin State University, the newest member of The University of Texas System, began a century ago as a teachers’ college in Texas’ oldest town, Nacogdoches. Today, it has grown into a regional institution comprising six colleges — business, education, fine arts, forestry and agriculture, liberal and applied arts, and sciences and mathematics. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, SFA enrolls approximately 11,000 students while providing the academic breadth of a state university with the personalized attention of a private school. The main campus encompasses 421 acres that include 40 academic facilities, 11 residence halls, and 68 acres of recreational trails that wind through its six gardens. The university offers more than 80 bachelor’s degrees, more than 40 master’s degrees and four doctoral degrees covering over 120 areas of study. Learn more at sfasu.edu.

By University Marketing Communications

Laney Wise, senior graphic design student in Stephen F. Austin State University’s School of Art, received the Lyle Metzdorf Scholarship from the Advertising Education Foundation of Houston during an awards luncheon at the Junior League of Houston. Photo by Isabella Palmisano.

“Being an AEFH scholar has been rewarding as I prepare to graduate and search for a job in the industry,” Wise said. “The Advertising Education Foundation of Houston has connected me to new opportunities and given me the ability to expand my network, and that is something I am truly grateful for. The creative industry and greater advertising industry is a daunting field to break into, and I am incredibly thankful to AEFH for helping me get my foot in the door.”

According to Wise, AEFH, a chapter of the American Advertising Federation, selects one candidate from each university within AAF’s District 10, and those candidates serve as their university’s scholarship representative for the year.

“To be recognized alongside the prestigious list of other SFA award recipients from years past is something I am incredibly grateful for,” Wise said. “Since winning the award, I have been able to help my peers and those earlier on in their academic career at SFA learn about the application process and give them tips to make their applications to the AEFH scholarship fund more successful.”

Wise, a Keller native, serves as regional graphic design intern for Lumberjack Eats and Chartwells Higher Education as well as creative intern for SFA Athletics. Wise also is the Stone Fort yearbook editor-in-chief, garnering multiple Texas Intercollegiate Press Association and College Media Association Pinnacle awards for her work. She also is a two-time competitor in the AAF Houston annual conference and team leader on the 2025 AAF National Student Advertising Competition for client AT&T.

A student in SFA’s School of Honors, Wise has maintained a 4.0 GPA and earned a spot on the President’s Honor Roll. She is a multiple-time Lumberjack Achievement Award finalist for Student Journalist of the Year, Student Employee of the Year, SFA Way Award, Emerging Student Leader of the Year, and Baker Pattillo Student Leader of the Year.

According to Wise, the scholarship has provided a wide array of career-building opportunities and professional development. She credited the support of multiple SFA faculty members in helping her achieve this recognition, including Danny Anguiano, associate professor of graphic design; Peter Andrew, professor of graphic design; Dr. Marlene Kahla, professor of management and marketing; and Dr. Derek Walton, assistant professor of sports business.

“Laney’s qualifications for the Lyle Metzdorf Scholarship include her stellar academic achievements, extraordinary design accomplishments working on the Stone Fort yearbook, sheer enthusiasm and meritorious service work,” Andrew said. “Laney is fun to work with and super helpful to her classmates. A candidate like Laney models an array of character strengths at high levels.”

To learn more about SFA’s School of Art, visit sfasu.edu/art.

ABOUT STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY

Stephen F. Austin State University, the newest member of The University of Texas System, began a century ago as a teachers’ college in Texas’ oldest town, Nacogdoches. Today, it has grown into a regional institution comprising six colleges — business, education, fine arts, forestry and agriculture, liberal and applied arts, and sciences and mathematics. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, SFA enrolls approximately 11,000 students while providing the academic breadth of a state university with the personalized attention of a private school. The main campus encompasses 421 acres that include 40 academic facilities, 11 residence halls, and 68 acres of recreational trails that wind through its six gardens. The university offers more than 80 bachelor’s degrees, more than 40 master’s degrees and four doctoral degrees covering over 120 areas of study. Learn more at sfasu.edu.

By University Marketing Communications

Dr. Wenjing Li, associate professor of marketing in Stephen F. Austin State University’s Rusche College of Business, reviewed the goals of her students’ fall 2024 semester project before they presented potential strategic marketing plans to East Texas Community Health Services Inc. representatives in the audience. The graduate students gained real-world marketing experience while working with the nonprofit to inform more East Texans about its services, including primary care, dental care, mental health counseling and chronic disease management.

“This was a real-world learning project that our students could get excited about,” said Dr. Wenjing Li, associate professor of marketing at SFA who advised the students throughout the project. “We want to thank the East Texas Community Health Services leadership team and board for this opportunity for our students to not only apply their business skills but also give back to the community.”

Since East Texas Community Health Services Inc. was established in 1987 to provide health services to medically uninsured and underserved residents in rural East Texas, it has grown into the largest multispecialty primary care practice in a 50-mile radius of Nacogdoches. Through its sliding-scale fee discount program, ETCHSI provides 9,500 patients a year with primary care, immunizations, dental care, mental health counseling and management of chronic diseases, including diabetes and hypertension. ETCHSI would like to increase that number to 10,000.

“As a community health provider, reaching and engaging with our patients is crucial,” said Katlyn Humphreys, ETCHSI outreach program coordinator. “A strategic marketing plan allows us to connect more effectively with those who need our services the most, ensuring they have access to the care and resources available to them. With the evolving health care landscape, having a well-structured outreach and marketing approach is essential to serving our community better.”

To help craft this approach, Humphreys contacted SFA’s Business and Community Services office, which connected her with Li and her graduate students. Through BCS, local and regional businesses can work directly with faculty members and their students who have expertise in a particular area to conduct research and develop business plans.

The strategic marketing plans students presented to ETCHSI focused on enhancing digital outreach, strengthening community partnerships and increasing awareness of the nonprofit’s mobile clinic services. Recommendations also included creating internships for SFA’s marketing and social media students to help with ETCHSI’s outreach initiatives.

“Working with SFA graduate students was a fantastic experience,” Humphreys said. “Their fresh perspectives and innovative ideas gave us new ways to approach our marketing strategies, and their enthusiasm for our mission was truly inspiring. It’s collaborations like these that help bridge the gap between academia and real-world application, and we are grateful for their contributions.”

For more information on East Texas Community Health Services Inc., visit etchc.com. For more information on SFA’s Business and Community Services office, visit sfasu.edu/cob/services/bcs.

ABOUT STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY

Stephen F. Austin State University, the newest member of The University of Texas System, began a century ago as a teachers’ college in Texas’ oldest town, Nacogdoches. Today, it has grown into a regional institution comprising six colleges — business, education, fine arts, forestry and agriculture, liberal and applied arts, and sciences and mathematics. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, SFA enrolls approximately 11,000 students while providing the academic breadth of a state university with the personalized attention of a private school. The main campus encompasses 421 acres that include 40 academic facilities, 11 residence halls, and 68 acres of recreational trails that wind through its six gardens. The university offers more than 80 bachelor’s degrees, more than 40 master’s degrees and four doctoral degrees covering over 120 areas of study. Learn more at sfasu.edu.

By University Marketing Communications

Stephen F. Austin State University accounts for more than $348 million of local economic activity and supports 4,819 local jobs, or 18% of total local employment, according to a 2025 economic report produced by the Center for Business and Economic Research in SFA’s Rusche College of Business.

Given Nacogdoches County’s total regional output of about $3.3 billion, SFA is responsible for $1 out of every $9.50 of economic activity in the county, the report indicates.

“The university’s operations, the spending by students, SFA faculty and staff spending, and the spending by out-of-town visitors to the region all contribute to SFA’s impact,” said Dr. Mikhail Kouliavtsev, CBER director and chair of SFA’s Department of Economics and Finance.

The report, produced by Kouliavtsev with Drs. Rebecca Davis and Mark Scanlan, associate professor and professor of economics at SFA, respectively, breaks down these contributions. Student and employee spending are the most significant contributors, supporting over 4,000 jobs and generating more than $270 million of economic activity. The remaining impact is created by university operations, including construction projects, and spending by guests to the region.

Compiled at the request of the Nacogdoches Economic Development Corporation, the report is based on data from the 2022-23 academic year before SFA joined The University of Texas System.

“This report shows how important SFA is to the Nacogdoches economy,” said Larissa Philpot-Brown, NEDCO president and CEO. “And SFA’s economic impact will likely expand because of its affiliation with the UT System, which is expected to drive enrollment increases and, in turn, attract more businesses to the area.”

CBER provides expert economic research, analysis and consulting services to private and public clients in East Texas and beyond. To read the full report and learn more about CBER, visit sfasu.edu/cber/projects.

ABOUT STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY

Stephen F. Austin State University, the newest member of The University of Texas System, began a century ago as a teachers’ college in Texas’ oldest town, Nacogdoches. Today, it has grown into a regional institution comprising six colleges — business, education, fine arts, forestry and agriculture, liberal and applied arts, and sciences and mathematics. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, SFA enrolls approximately 11,000 students while providing the academic breadth of a state university with the personalized attention of a private school. The main campus encompasses 421 acres that include 40 academic facilities, 11 residence halls, and 68 acres of recreational trails that wind through its six gardens. The university offers more than 80 bachelor’s degrees, more than 40 master’s degrees and four doctoral degrees covering over 120 areas of study. Learn more at sfasu.edu.

By University Marketing Communications