Everything Nac

The Stephen F. Austin State University College of Fine Arts will recognize four students during the presentation of the annual Dean’s Awards at 5:30 p.m. Friday, April 24, at The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.

Megan Eve Henderson, Round Rock junior art major; Amanda J. Sheriff, Houston junior music education major; Kaylea A. Fleming, Kingwood junior music education major; and Shelby K. Gilliland, Frisco junior theatre major, were selected by the faculty of their respective schools on the basis of their potential to further develop their artistic goals and serve as role models, according to Dr. A.C. “Buddy” Himes, dean of the College of Fine Arts.

The Dean’s Awards not only recognize the recipients for what they have already accomplished, but the awards are also designed to inspire them to reach deep from within to aspire to a higher level of excellence, Himes explained. The awards were established by the Dean’s Circle, an external support organization of community members founded in 2008 and “dedicated, in part, to nurturing potential young artists within the College of Fine Arts,” Himes said.

Henderson, who will receive the Ed and Gwen Cole Dean’s Award in Art, is working toward a Bachelor of Fine Arts. She came to SFA in the spring of 2013 to study graphic design with a focus on illustration. She has begun exploring the creation of modern, visual interpretations for traditional oral storytelling and folklore. By combining digital illustration with conventional printmaking techniques, she opened up a new arena in the exploration of her voice as an artist. Holding a position in the School of Art office has allowed Henderson to connect with her professors in a more direct way, giving her new mentors in her development as an artist. She also works as a tutor for the art history department, allowing her to help guide incoming art students. Her involvement in the School of Art has been incredibly rewarding, and she hopes to continue the relationships she has begun within the school following graduation.

Sheriff, who will receive the Jack and Naioma Ledbetter Dean’s Award in Music, has been a member of ensembles such as Choral Union, A Cappella Choir and the exclusive Madrigal Singers. She has been cast in SFA opera since 2013 and was given the lead soprano role in the 2014 production of “Gianni Schicchi” and the 2015 production of “The Most Happy Fella.” Throughout her semesters at SFA, Sheriff has competed at the National Association of Teachers of Singing, placing fourth as a sophomore and second as a junior. Sheriff also was a guest soloist for her high school, Cypress Falls High, at the Texas Music Educators Association Conference in 2015. She has been recognized on the Dean’s List since 2013, made the President’s List in fall of 2014, is a third-year recipient of a voice scholarship through SFA and received the Charles Burklin Alumni Scholarship. Sheriff is a choir member at First United Methodist Church in Nacogdoches, under the direction of Dr. Tod Fish since 2013. She was an active member of Student Activities Association in 2014 and will tour Italy with the A Cappella Choir in May.

Fleming, who will receive the Dr. Robert Sidnell Memorial Dean’s Award in Music Education, is a member of the A Cappella Choir, a former member of the Women’s Choir and has participated in graduate choral conducting recitals. She appeared in SFA’s productions of “Amahl and the Night Visitors” in 2012, “Street Scene” in 2013, “Suor Angelica” in 2014, and the 2014 Opera Scenes program. She is a member of the School of Honors and has held a place on the President’s List and received an Academic Excellence scholarship every semester while at SFA. She is the recipient of the 2012 Ron Anderson Vocal Scholarship, the 2014 Pi Kappa Lambda sophomore scholarship, and a Vera Dugas Memorial Scholarship. She is also a finalist in the 2015 Undergraduate Research Conference for work in musicology. She is an active member of the Wesley Foundation, serving as worship chair on the student council, leading freshmen groups, serving in the Forge mentorship program, and volunteering at various service and fellowship events. She appeared in SFA’s production of “The Most Happy Fella” in April and will travel to Italy with the A Cappella Choir in May.

Gilliland, who will receive the George and Peggy Schmidbauer Dean’s Award in Theatre, is earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in acting and directing and a minor in marketing. Her Mainstage credits include “Stage Door,” “Blood Wedding,” and during SFA’s SummerStage Festival, “To Kill A Mockingbird.” She has appeared in the student-directed productions of “Miracle at Blaise,” “The Interrogation,” “Blood Relations,” and most recently, “God of Carnage.” She is also a member of Improv Strikes Back. Gilliland was the props master for the student-directed production of “Brainpeople” and for the SummerStage production of “To Kill A Mockingbird.” She is currently props assistant for “August: Osage County.” She also served as the publicist for the radio show “Phoenix on the Sword” and was the head of publicity for the 2013-2014 term. In addition, Gilliland is co-historian of the Beta Phi cast of Alpha Psi Omega and will serve as president next year. She received the Service Award from the School of Theatre last year. This summer, she will intern at the Rover Dramawerks Theatre in Plano and at the Circle Arts Theatre in New Braunfels.

Each student will be awarded $2,000 to be used to further artistic endeavors.

The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art presents an exhibition of the work of artist David Yapp showing April 16 through June 13 in the Reception Gallery at The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.

“David Yapp: California Landscapes” features plein air (painted outdoors) landscape and seascape paintings.

“This exhibition includes landscape paintings using oils, featuring sweeping views of the California coast in heavy impasto paint with fine brushwork,” said John Handley, director of galleries for SFA. “I personally met this artist five years ago and have been closely watching how his paintings have developed over time.”

Growing up in rural southern England, Yapp spent his youth exploring and observing nature and the changing scenery, seasons and weather patterns in his home county of Wiltshire.

“The landscapes and towns of the county are rich in history and have fed the artistic hearts and minds of artists such as Sir John Constable and J.M.W. Turner and writers such as Thomas Hardy and George Herbert,” Yapp said.

Since moving to California in 2001, Yapp predominantly paints plein air, directly on location, working in oils. He uses a combination of palette knives and brushes. The paint is applied using thin passages of color and thick impasto. Often this is further worked into with a scraffito technique, which means scratching back the paint to reveal the tinted ground of the canvas beneath, Yapp explained. This may then have further paint applied to create a multi-layered relief to the painting.

“The application of the paint in this way enables me to create a sense of depth and movement within the painting and to capture what is to me the essence of a particular landscape and my emotional response to it,” he said.

An artist’s reception for “David Yapp: California Landscapes” is planned for 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 30, at the art center. The exhibition is sponsored in part by the SFA Friends of the Visual Arts, Nacogdoches Junior Forum and Hampton Inn. All exhibitions, gallery talks and receptions are free.

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

The Stephen F. Austin State University Texas AHEC East–Piney Woods Region recently held a health careers camp for students enrolled in Shelby County ISDs.

This year’s camp hosted 45 high school students who gained hands-on experiences and knowledge about health careers in their field of interest. The students spent three days participating in activities that educated them in individual health careers, health career training programs and college preparation.

“Students have an opportunity to meet local health care professionals in their communities and build long-lasting relationships,” said Mavis Yarbrough, health careers and promotion coordinator for TAE-PWR.

Yarbrough added that the overall goal is for students to complete college and return to their communities as health care professionals.

On the camp’s first day, students heard from physician assistant students who are currently serving clinical rotations in the East Texas area. As part of a current grant program through the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the Physician Assistant Learner Support program allows for participating students to receive information regarding various aspects of this field. This grant program teaches high school students about the PA profession and how to enter the field, as well as how to gain PA shadowing experience. Students also learned about other health careers, hands-only CPR and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

During the camp, students had the opportunity to shadow PAs, physical therapists, nurses, physicians and other allied health professionals at Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital.

“The staff and I enjoyed having the students join us,” said Nicki Gregston, Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital nurse. “We see a lot of nursing and physician assistant students but rarely get the opportunity to interact with high school students. Their energy and enthusiasm is contagious, and we all thoroughly enjoyed the day.”

Students also toured the SFA campus and visited with faculty members and students. They experienced college life, learned how to apply for various programs, gained insight into different educational paths and acquired various important college resources. Drs. Alan Larson and Robert Choate with the SFA Department of Human Services gave an insightful presentation about understanding patients with disabilities, as well.

The camp concluded with student presentations highlighting individual experiences captured during the event.

“My experience at AHEC was an unforgettable experience,” said Alexis Salas, Center High School student. “It opened my eyes to the real world and let me see what I would be dealing with if I were to become a CRNA. My AHEC experience helped me know for sure that I want to be a CRNA and with hard work, I will achieve it.”

Among other supporters, this year’s TAE-PWR health careers camp was made possible by Glenda Webb, registered nurse at Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital; Alease Copelin, career technology counselor for Center High School; and Karen Fallin, counselor for Tenaha High School.

TAE-PWR is a grant-funded program of SFA, which strives to create healthier communities through growing a quality health care workforce. Annual health career camps allow TAE-PWR to provide opportunities for communities to grow their own future health care workforce.

To learn more about Texas AHEC East-Piney Woods Region and its programs, contact Mark Scott at (936) 468-6901 or visit txaheceast.org/piney-woods/.

Stephen F. Austin State University awarded the 2015 Edna Wilkin Teagarden Award for Exemplary Service in Human Sciences to an SFA alumna with 40 years experience as an educator.

Jeannie Summers, who is the director of career and technical education at Nacogdoches ISD, accepted the award during the School of Human Sciences Honors Convocation. The annual award recognizes an SFA human sciences graduate who exemplifies extraordinary professional achievement in the human sciences field.

Summers earned her bachelor’s degree in vocational home economics from SFA in 1975. She continued her education at SFA and earned a master’s degree in 1979.

The honor is among numerous awards Summers has received during her career as an educator. Other awards include: Texas Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher of the Year award, Nacogdoches ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year award and the Outstanding Leadership Award from the East Texas Technology Students Association.

“Jeannie has received almost every award possible for her work during the past 39 years,” said Dr. Lynda Martin, director of SFA’s School of Sciences. “We are honored to add the Edna Wilkin Teagarden Award to her impressive list of accomplishments and are proud to have Jeannie as an SFA alumna.”

Summers began her career in 1975 as the student relations coordinator at the Community Education Center in Nacogdoches. She taught family and consumer sciences at Laneville High School from 1976-82 and at Nacogdoches High School from 1982-2006. She has worked in her present role at the district since 2006. She was an adjunct faculty member at SFA from 2005-07.

She has held numerous other titles, including president of the Family and Consumer Science Teachers Association of Texas and president of the Area 3 Association for Career and Technical Education

New dean among appointments approved by SFA Board of Regents

Dr. Timothy Bisping was officially appointed dean of the Nelson Rusche College of Business during the Stephen F. Austin State University Board of Regents meeting Tuesday. Bisping, currently interim dean of the College of Business at Louisiana Tech University, is expected to begin his duties as dean and professor of economics at SFA in July.

Bisping received his doctorate in economics from Oklahoma State University and his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics from Wichita State University. Prior to his appointment at Louisiana Tech University, Bisping served as associate dean of graduate programs and research and associate professor of economics at Louisiana Tech University.

Bisping also has served as the chair of the Department of Economics, Finance, Insurance and Risk Management for the University of Central Arkansas, as well as the director of institutional research and assistant professor of economics for Concordia University. He has served as a consultant and has 21 refereed articles in numerous academic journals.

Dr. Ray Darville, sociology, was named Regents Professor for the 2015-16 academic year. Regents also honored two long-term faculty members who have recently retired with the title professor emeritus: Ronald Anderson, music, and Heinz Gaylord, psychology.

The following SFA faculty members were granted tenure by the board: Timothy Bisping, economics and finance; Joey Bray, agriculture; David Cook, computer science; Ben Dixon, multidisciplinary programs; Paula Griffin, elementary education; Robert Henderson, mathematics; Janice Hensarling and Karen Migl, nursing; Lora Jacobi, psychology; Ginger Kelso, Frank Mullins and Terry Overton, human services; Stephen Mullin, biology; Jessica Sams, English; Paul Sandul, history; Jeremy Stovall and Yanli Zhang, forestry; and Todd Whitehead, kinesiology.

Regents approved the following faculty promotions:

To professor: Bea Clack and Donald Pratt, biology; Christopher Comer, forestry; David Cook, computer science; Sam Copeland, social work; Mitchell Crocker and Marlene Kahla, management, marketing and international business; Keith Hubbard, mathematics; Scott LaGraff, music; John McDermott, English; and Anne Smith and Owen Smith, multidisciplinary programs.

To associate professor: Joey Bray, agriculture; Ben Dixon, multidisciplinary programs; Mark Faries, Christina Sinclair and Todd Whitehead, kinesiology; Robert Henderson, mathematics; Janice Hensarling and Karen Migl, nursing; Lora Jacobi, psychology; Ginger Kelso, human services; Jorge Davi Salas, music; Jessica Sams, English; Paul Sandul, history; and Jeremy Stovall and Yanli Zhang, forestry.

Promotions from the Steen Library include Erica Chapman and Marlinda Karo, librarian II; Kyle Ainsworth, librarian III; and Susan Clarke and Linda Reynolds, librarian IV.

In addition, regents approved the following faculty appointments: James Ewing and Mark Montgomery, assistant professors of elementary education in the James I. Perkins College of Education; Daniel Anguiano, assistant professor of art in the College of Fine Arts; Stephen Mullin, professor and chair of biology in the College of Sciences and Mathematics; and in the College of Liberal and Applied Arts, Megan Condis, assistant professor of English; George Day, assistant professor of government; and Paulo Dutra, assistant professor or languages, cultures and communications.

Regents approved the appointment of Rachel Jumper as assistant director of university assessment and Michaelle Coker as equine supervisor for the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture.

The following changes of status in the Perkins College of Education were approved: Adam Akerson, from assistant professor of elementary education to assistant professor and early childhood to grade 6 coordinator; Susan Casey, from assistant professor of elementary education to assistant professor and early childhood master of education coordinator; Erica Dillard, from lecturer of elementary education to lecturer and elementary education resource room director; Gloria Gresham, from professor of elementary education to professor and master of elementary education coordinator; Paula Griffin, from assistant professor of elementary education to assistant professor and early childhood to grade 6 online coordinator; Robert Patterson, from coordinator of human services to coordinator and student supervisor; Kimberly Welsh, from associate professor of elementary education to associate professor and reading specialist coordinator; Claudia Whitley, from associate professor of elementary education to associate professor and middle-level grades program coordinator; and Dawn Williams, from associate professor of elementary education to associate professor and middle-level grades online coordinator.

Other changes of status include: Tim King, from professor of music to professor and director of choral activities in the College of Fine Arts; John Wyatt, from senior human resources representative to senior human resources representative and team lead for training software implementation; and Amy Roquemore, from assistant director of University Marketing Communications to director of Student Publications and Divisional Media.

Lauren Selden of the School of Art and Troy Davis of the Department of History were granted faculty development leave for the fall 2015 semester. Faculty development leave for the spring 2016 semester was granted to Fred Allen, music; Court Carney, history; and Thomas Judson, mathematics. Leave of absence without pay for one academic year was approved for Dr. George Franks, government.

The Board of Regents approved the following retirements: Greta Haidinyak, associate professor of nursing; Carl Pfaffenberg, associate professor of human sciences; Marie Saracino, professor of human sciences; and Tom Segady, professor of social and cultural analysis.

The Stephen F. Austin State University Board of Regents heard a report from the agency in charge of the university’s marketing campaign and approved an extension of the campaign for the next fiscal year.

During the board’s annual spring meeting, the Richards/Carlberg agency reported that a variety of metrics show the campaign is having the desired effect – attendance at Showcase Saturday events has increased, applications are up 8 percent as compared to this time last year, and both admitted students and housing applications are up 14 percent.

“While these numbers look great, we know that we have to wait until the 12th class day this fall to be able to call this a success with certainty,” said Chuck Carlberg, principal of the Richards/Carlberg agency.

The current goal for the campaign is an increase of 300 new students for fall 2015.

Digital advertisements on more than 400 desktop and mobile websites such as Facebook, Pandora and YouTube have provided viewers with more than 8 million impressions of SFA advertising this spring. “These ads have garnered 50,592 clicks to the landing page, and thousands of viewers have gone on to visit another SFA page, such as ‘areas of study,’ ‘become a student,’ or ‘apply now,’” Carlberg said.

Impressions resulting from the combined spring and fall campaign exceed 27 million views.

The campaign recently received numerous awards from the Higher Education Marketing Report’s 30th annual Educational Advertising Awards, including four gold awards: total integrated marketing campaign, total digital marketing program, social media and outdoor transit/billboard.

Regents approved extending the campaign through the 2015-2016 academic year, including fall and spring branding and enrollment campaigns and continued work on the SFA website redesign project, at a cost not to exceed $1.6 million.

Regents approved increases in room and board rates, as well as designated tuition and student service fees for the upcoming academic year. The designated tuition rate will increase from $171 to $185.50 per semester credit hour, and the student service fee will increase from $12 to $12.50.

“We are in the process of developing a strategic plan for the university, and certain institutional initiatives will require revenue support,” said Danny Gallant, vice president for finance and administration. “We do keep an eye on what other institutions are doing, and with these new rates, we are still in the position where we need to be relative to our peers.”

Course and lab fees were approved by the regents to provide instructional departments with the funds necessary to support the actual cost of consumable supplies, service and travel related to specific courses.

Regents approved a 2 percent increase in room rates and a 2.9 percent increase in board rates. A portion of the proceeds from housing will be designated for an improvement to the wireless network.

“By today’s standards, the wireless network we installed just a few years ago is becoming overwhelmed,” said Dr. Steve Westbrook, vice president for university affairs. “At that time, it was typical for there to be one wirelessly connected device between every couple of people; today that ratio has changed to almost three devices per person.”

Incoming SFA students who want to have more predictability in paying for college can make use of a fixed-rate designated tuition plan. Regents approved a rate of $213 per credit hour for first-time freshmen with no previous college enrollment entering the university during the 2015-2016 academic year. The rate applies for up to 12 semesters from the point of initial enrollment.

“We currently have more than 1,550 students enrolled in a fixed-rate plan,” Gallant said. “This is intended to provide price-increase protection and also encourages a more timely graduation rate for these students.”

Regents approved the university’s participation in the Student Success Collaborative provided by the Education Advisory Board Academic Affairs forum, a nationwide network of colleges and universities that works with research and data specialists to identify best practices and improve educational offerings and opportunities.

“The Care Coordination Platform allows us to use data to improve retention and graduation rates,” said Dr. Richard Berry, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “It’s a valuable tool for our academic advisers and other staff members who focus on student success.”

Regents authorized the university to refinance bonds to obtain a more favorable rate, when possible, and to utilize unspent tuition revenue bond proceeds for renovation projects that were initially funded with Higher Education Fund or designated funds.

Additionally, regents approved:

· Summer budget,

· Grant awards,

· Outdoor pool renovation budget increase,

· Replacement of the floor in the William R. Johnson Coliseum,

· Curriculum changes,

· Additional licensing agreements for the Purple Pride plum tree,

· Audit services report, and

· Policy revisions.