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    Seven Stephen F. Austin State University faculty members will be honored for their teaching abilities at the annual Teaching Excellence Convocation at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 18, in Regents Suites A and B of the Baker Pattillo Student Center.

    The Teaching Excellence Awards were established in 1994 to honor outstanding classroom teachers at SFA. Each of the university’s six colleges selects a member of its faculty to receive the annual award based on knowledge of subject matter, quality of lectures and assignments, enthusiasm for teaching, interest in and availability to students, commitment to continuous improvement, and contribution to the quality of teaching within SFA by assisting and encouraging other faculty members. The university’s outstanding adjunct faculty member also will be recognized at the convocation.

    Dr. Louise Stoehr, assistant professor of German and director of the SFA Language Resource Center, was selected from the College of Liberal and Applied Arts. Her teaching interests include German language, culture and literature, foreign language pedagogy, applied linguistics, theory and practice of translation, and study abroad. She earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in German and linguistics from Occidental College and her doctorate in German from the University of Texas.

    Dr. Betty S. Johnson, professor of general business, received the honor from the Nelson Rusche College of Business. Johnson teaches business communication courses at the sophomore, junior, senior and graduate levels. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business education from Arkansas State University and her doctorate in business and office education from the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville.

    Dr. Clint Richardson, associate professor of mathematics and statistics, was chosen by the College of Sciences and Mathematics. His specialization is in complex analysis and geometric function theory, but he also has taught mathematics courses intended for pre-service and in-service teachers at the elementary, middle and secondary levels, courses in the calculus sequence, and graduate courses in both real and complex analysis. Richardson holds a bachelor’s degree from Angelo State University and a doctorate from Texas Tech University.

    Dr. Heather Olson Beal, assistant professor in the Department of Secondary Education and Educational Leadership, was selected from the James I. Perkins College of Education. She teaches courses in curriculum, instruction, classroom management, content-based literacy and diversity to both graduate and undergraduate students. Olson Beal earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and secondary education from Brigham Young University, a master’s degree in modern languages from Texas A&M University, and a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from Louisiana State University.

    Lauren McAdams Selden, assistant professor of art metals/jewelry, received the honor from the College of Fine Arts. She teaches metalworking and jewelry, three-dimensional design, and graduate seminar. McAdams Selden received her bachelor’s degree in art from Murray State and her Master of Fine Arts from Arizona State University.

    Dr. Erin Brown, associate professor of agriculture, was chosen from the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture. Brown teaches classes in animal science, livestock production and animal nutrition at both the undergraduate and graduate levels and serves as faculty director of the university’s beef, swine and small ruminant facilities. She received her bachelor’s degree in animal science from Texas A&M University, her master’s degree in dairy nutrition and mammary physiology from Michigan State University and her doctorate in animal nutrition from Texas A&M University.

    Kimberly Squyres, a lecturer in the Department of Languages, Cultures and Communication in the College of Liberal and Applied Arts, was named Outstanding University Adjunct Faculty Member. She teaches courses in debate and public speaking and serves as the university’s debate coach. Squyres earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of North Texas and her master’s degree in communication from SFA.

    The Symphonic Band and University Band of Stephen F. Austin State University will present a joint concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 17, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

    The University Band will open the concert with Randall Standridge’s energetic “Steel,” which features electrifying percussion and syncopation, said David W. Campo, SFA associate director of bands and the ensemble’s conductor.

    Graduate student Michelle King of Henderson will be conducting most of the University Band’s program since the performance serves as her graduate conducting recital.

    The ensemble will present Samuel Hazo’s “Blue and Green Music,” a musical translation of Georgia O’Keeffe’s famous 1921 painting of the same name; “Chant and Jubilo” by W. Francis McBeth; and Karl King’s march “Coast Guards.”

    For the Symphonic Band’s portion of the program, SFA Assistant Director of Bands Tamey Anglley will lead the band in playing Pierre Leemans’ “March of the Belgian Parachutists” and Jan Van der Roost’s “Suite Provençale,” a four-movement work based on old folk songs; and Mark Spede’s arrangement of David Del Tredici’s “Acrostic Song.”

    The latter is part of Tredici’s “Final Alice,” inspired by “Alice in Wonderland” and originally written for soprano and orchestra.

    Graduate student Holly Royster of Wylie will guest conduct Brian Balmages’ “Summer Resounding!”

    The concert is a joint presentation of the SFA College of Fine Arts and School of Music. Cole Concert Hall is located it the Wright Music Building, 2210 Alumni Drive.

    Tickets are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and $2 for students. For tickets or more information, please go to www.finearts.sfasu.edu or call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.