Everything Nac

Stephen F. Austin State University has named Mary Ann Rojas the inaugural executive director of the Center for Applied Research and Rural Innovation.

A native of rural West Texas and graduate of Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Rojas comes to Nacogdoches with over 20 years of executive experience in government, nonprofit and for-profit organizations, and brings along a wealth of experience in education, training and workforce development. Rojas has served as an executive director of workforce development organizations in Missouri and Texas.

“I am very pleased to welcome Mary Ann Rojas to our SFA team,” said Dr. Lorenzo Smith, provost and executive vice president of academic affairs. “Her fluency in Spanish and executive experience with engaging rural communities in both Missouri and Texas allows her to seamlessly transition into the position. CARRI will be in great hands under her leadership.”

Smith also touted Rojas’ experience and successes of securing and managing grant awards, which will meet immediate needs of attaining resources for CARRI.

Throughout her career, Rojas has advocated for under-resourced populations and allocated available resources to address local needs. In 2020, Rojas created and implemented “Rural, Set, Go!” an innovative outreach project for Workforce Solutions in East Texas aimed at engaging with rural communities to provide education and workforce training resulting in economic mobility for its residents.

Named in 2019 by the Springfield Business Journal as one of the most influential women in the Ozarks, Rojas was recognized for creating programs and services that positively impacted thousands of individuals. The recognition also honored her work with community development organizations, higher education institutions and industry partners to create relevant workforce solutions.

Under her leadership, her teams have implemented several signature award-winning projects that have brought recognition and commendation to their respective organizations, including recognition on the national stage.

Rojas will begin the position on July 1.

SFA established CARRI in fall 2021 to engage faculty, staff and students in research projects that support academic programs and boost regional economic development.

For the third year in a row, Stephen F. Austin State University has been named a College of Distinction for supporting undergraduate experiences grounded in a philosophy of well-rounded, individualized engagement, with graduates entering the workforce ready to adapt in an ever-changing society.

Already honored in 2020 and 2021 for its high-impact approach to education, SFA has again been recognized for impactful business, education, nursing and engineering programs, as well as honors for military support, career development, and equity and inclusion.

The Colleges of Distinction selection process comprises a sequence of in-depth research and detailed interviews with the schools, accepting only those that adhere to the four distinctions: engaged students, great teaching, vibrant community and successful outcomes. These principles are all informed by the ways institutions enable students to have a fulfilling, individualized college experience both inside and outside the classroom.

“When we focus all of our attention on how schools stack up against one another, we lose track of what really matters: the students themselves,” said Wes Creel, founder of Colleges of Distinction. “Every student has individual needs and their own environment in which they’re most likely to thrive. We want to extend our praise to the schools that prioritize and cater to students’ goals.”

The equity and inclusion recognition is given to universities that provide noteworthy support to underserved students. SFA’s recognition, according to the university’s Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Michara DeLaney-Fields, was in part a result of the adoption of SFA’s diversity and inclusion statement approved by the Board of Regents in 2021. She also credits the creation of the Diversity and Inclusion Certification Program offered to faculty, staff and students through the Office of Multicultural Affairs.

“The equity and inclusion recognition from Colleges of Distinction means that we are positively affecting relationships with the administration, faculty, staff and, most of all, the students,” DeLaney-Fields said. “Engagement and education are paramount. We are here to ensure everyone has a positive educational experience in an inclusive and welcoming environment. However, that cannot be accomplished without each stakeholder’s commitment and the SFA community’s support. When you add it all together, you can see that we are succeeding.”

The career development recognition is given to institutions who have proven to meet the demands of the ever-changing job market while also preparing students to do the same. This is accomplished through ample career preparation resources, like résumé, cover letter and interview assistance, among others.

SFA’s Center for Career and Professional Development has accomplished this and more by integrating services and a career development framework into the student experience.

“This recognition is an acknowledgement that, as a center, we continue to place the necessary emphasis on all phases of our students’ career development,” said Brent McLemore, CCPD director. “From their first days with us to their graduation and beyond, we are providing services that help them find both support and success on their professional journeys.”

Since 2000, the Colleges of Distinction website and guidebook have honored schools throughout the U.S. for excellence in undergraduate-focused higher education. The schools in the Colleges of Distinction consortium distinguish themselves through a focus on the undergraduate experience. The website and guidebooks provide dynamic college profiles, customized tools and resources for students, parents and high school counselors.

Stephen F. Austin State University’s James I. Perkins College of Education was awarded a grant to create literacy-focused learning modules for teacher candidates that are meant to enhance their ability to teach reading once they enter the field.

Awarded by the T.L.L. Temple Foundation in partnership with Deans for Impact, the grant program also includes Sam Houston State University and Texas A&M University-Texarkana. SFA’s grant representatives are Ronda McClain, lecturer; Dr. Lauren Burrow, associate professor; and Dr. Adam Akerson, associate professor, all of the Department of Education Studies.

“We are excited to partner with other universities in East Texas to support the preparation of preservice teachers,” McClain said. “Equipping the next generation of early childhood educators to deliver effective literacy instruction using research-based, pedagogically sound methods is the goal of this project.”

With the grant funds, SFA representatives intend to create learning modules that can be used within a standard college course to train teacher candidates in the use of phonics rather than whole word methods when teaching children how to read. SFA and its partners were chosen because the program is aimed primarily at increasing literacy rates in rural communities, a specialty of all three universities.

Issued in the face of falling literacy rates triggered in part by the disruptions caused by COVID-19, the grant includes stipends for participating faculty members. During the pilot phase, pre- and post-testing data will be used to fine-tune the program, with the hope that the full pilot can be implemented by spring 2023.

“It is our hope this effort will provide intentional, systematic support to preservice teachers who are hired for early childhood classroom positions in the rural East Texas area within the next few years,” McClain said.

Learn more about SFA’s education degree programs at sfasu.edu/coe.