Everything Nac

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Stephen F. Austin State University Board of Regents on Monday appointed an executive director of marketing and public affairs to lead the university’s strategic marketing efforts.

Shirley Luna, former associate director of SFA’s Office of Public Affairs, will now serve in the executive director position. Luna was appointed to fill the position on an interim basis in July 2011. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in communication from SFA and currently is pursuing her doctorate in educational leadership at the university. Luna previously worked as a freelance writer and as a newspaper reporter.

Also among the staff appointments approved by the Regents Monday was former SFA quarterback Jeremy Moses, who was hired as a new assistant football coach for the Lumberjacks. A two-time All American, Moses was named the 2010 Walter Payton Player of the Year, becoming the first Southland Conference athlete to receive the honor in the award’s history.

A two-time Southland Conference Player of the Year and the 2010 SLC Offensive Player of the Year, Moses led SFA to a 9-3 record and the university’s second consecutive conference title, guiding the Lumberjacks through a historical season that was capped by a return trip to the NCAA FCS Playoffs.

Regents approved the appointment of Robbie Goodrich, longtime reporter and editor at the Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel, who was named director of arts information in the College of Fine Arts. In her role at SFA, Goodrich is responsible for promoting performances, exhibits and other special events for the art, music and theatre schools.

The Board of Regents approved numerous other staff appointments Tuesday, including Judith Barroeta, coordinator of alumni marketing and communications; Steven Condon, athletic trainer; Stephanie Wooten, head tennis coach; Scott Wagner, assistant director of facility and member services in campus recreation; Jacqueline Cornelius-Tomsic, accountant II; Ann Drayman, nurse practitioner in health services; Beverly Morehouse, grants and contract specialist; and Julie Akers, coordinator of student publications.

The following staff appointments were approved in the James I. Perkins College of Education: Monique Nunn, project director for Deep East Texas P-16 Regional Council; Ragan Philliber and Juliana Rodriguez-Akerson, charter school teachers; and Nola Schmidt, project director of CONFIANZA.

Staff appointments within the Department of Residence Life included the following: Stephanie Ballard, Ryan Brinkman, Erin Ellis, Yvonne Hinshaw, Nechele McClinton and Jeremie Middleton, hall directors; and Kiet Le, area coordinator.

The Board of Regents also approved faculty appointments within all six academic colleges. New faculty members in the Nelson Rusche College of Business include Justin Blount and Kyle Post, assistant professors of business communications and legal studies; H. Banker Phares, senior lecturer of economics and finance; and Nikki Shoemaker, instructor of accounting.

Faculty appointments in the Perkins College of Education include Bryan Scott Bailey, assistant professor of secondary education and educational leadership; Kelli Drenner, assistant professor of kinesiology and health science; William Dwyer, visiting assistant professor of secondary education and educational leadership; and Sheila Lumar, visiting assistant professor of human sciences.

Visiting assistant professors of art Jeffery Brewer and Deitra Davis were appointed in the College of Fine Arts; assistant professors of agriculture Stacie Appleton and John Mehaffey were approved for the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture.

Appointments within the College of Liberal and Applied Arts included Patricia Foster, visiting instructor of psychology; Matthew Gailliot, visiting assistant professor of psychology; and Candice Kowalski, lecturer of psychology.

Five clinical instructors of nursing were appointed in the Richard and Lucille DeWitt School of Nursing housed in the College of Sciences and Mathematics. They include Angel Brewer, Debra McCarthy, Marcia Nelson, David Smith and Katy Trotty. Volha Minich was appointed lecturer of biology in the college.

Changes of status across the campus also were approved, including the following in the Rusche College of Business: Stephen Bradley, from instructor and assistant director of the computer science lab to business technology coordinator; Jack Ethridge, from professor of accounting to professor and interim MPA director; Geralyn Franklin, from professor and associate dean to professor and interim dean; Mikhail Kouliavtsev, from associate professor of economics and finance to associate professor and interim MBA director; and Michael Stroup, from professor of economics and finance to professor and interim director of the Gerald W. Schlief School of Accountancy.

The following changes of status were approved in the Perkins College of Education: Cyndra Krogen-Morton, from adjunct faculty member to visiting lecturer of kinesiology and health science; and Raquel Skidmore, from administrative assistant to academic adviser.

Approved changes of status in the College of Fine Arts included Scott Harris, from associate professor of music to associate professor and interim director of the School of Music. Additionally, Gene Moon was promoted to assistant professor of music.

In the Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, Paul Weatherford’s status changed from laboratory associate-Waters of East Texas to laboratory associate-Soils Lab.

Changes of status within the College of Liberal and Applied Arts include Julie Brotzen, from adjunct faculty member to lecturer of psychology; and Michael Martin, from associate professor of English to associate professor and director of the division of multidisciplinary program.

Within the College of Sciences and Mathematics, the following changes of status were approved: Mike Janusa, from professor and chair of chemistry to professor, chair and interim director of the Science Research Center; and Deborah Pace, from professor and chair of mathematics and statistics to professor, chair and interim associate dean of the college.

Other changes of status at SFA include the following:

Campus Recreation – Travis Lankford, from casual employee to coordinator of campus recreation – sports clubs and camps;

Counseling and Career Services – Binta Brown, from counselor to director of career services; and Brandi Hampton, from administrative assistant to coordinator of career services;

Disability Services – Margaret Hilton, from staff interpreter and coordinator to senior interpreter and coordinator of deaf and hard-of-hearing services; and Tiffany Rivers, from assistant director to director of disability services;

Multicultural Center – Amanda Flores, from assistant director to interim director;

Residence Life – Amy Tedesco, from hall director to area coordinator;

Student Affairs – Lacey Claver, from assistant coordinator to coordinator of student activities; James Maple, from head coach of the pom squad to head spirit coach; and Jason Williams, from assistant coordinator of spirit programs to head spirit coach.

The following SFA retirements also were approved: Joe Gotti, professor of agriculture; Gary Frields, professor of art; Sylvia Bierschenk, director of arts information; Judith Lauter, professor of human services; and Michael Rustad, supervisor of building trades.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Stephen F. Austin State University Board of Regents has selected the Tyler-based firm Freese and Nichols to study on-campus water resources, usage and distribution in accordance with the Campus Master Plan.

Freese and Nichols was selected from three firms invited to make presentations during Sunday’s meeting of the board’s Building and Grounds Committee. The Board of Regents approved the selection based on the committee’s recommendation at its quarterly meeting Monday.

Founded in 1894, the engineering, architecture and environmental science firm is the oldest in the state and has earned awards for its higher education projects. Past clients include Texas Christian University, Kilgore College, Texas State Technical College, Texas Wesleyan University and University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. Freese and Nichols will partner with the Nacogdoches firm Hydrex Environmental for its local resources and expertise.

The study will include an assessment of the university’s current and future water usage, along with considerations for water conservation and distribution. A significant portion of the water purchased by the university is used for irrigation, according to Danny Gallant, vice president for finance and administration.

The Board of Regents also approved a renovation of the Music Recital Hall inside the Wright Music Building. The $170,000 project will be funded through a combination of private donations, higher education (HEF) funds and designated funds.

“The Music Recital Hall serves as a performance venue for SFA music students and guest artists, as well as a teaching facility for courses in the music major and in the core curriculum,” said Dr. Richard Berry, provost and vice president for academic affairs.

The lighting system in the hall was installed when the hall was constructed in 1969, and only minor aesthetic upgrades were made during the 1998 renovation of the music building.

The Board of Regents also approved the following items during the business meeting:

· Undergraduate curriculum changes in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Science;

· Annual audit plan, audit charter and report;

· Continuation of the educational Leadership Scholarship program;

· Grant awards for Fiscal Years 2012 and 2013; and

· Numerous policy revisions related to building and grounds, financial affairs, and academic and student affairs.