Everything Nac

SFA student lands graphic design scholarship

Sarah Bone listened to her father’s advice. Himself an artist, he told her to do what she loved, and to figure out a way to make a career out of it.

The younger Bone, a lifelong creator of art and a graphic design major, figured out how to put dad’s advice into action. She switched her major to a Bachelor of Arts, a move that gave her the option to add a minor in marketing from the Stephen F. Austin State University Rusche College of Business.

The subtle shift in academic direction is working out fine. Bone just received a $5,000 Skyline Displays of Houston Graphic Arts Education Scholarship for the fall semester through the Advertising Education Foundation of Houston. The nonprofit awards scholarships to those working on undergraduate or post-graduate degrees in advertising, communications, interactive marketing, journalism, radio/TV, commercial art, public relations or related fields.

For Bone, who spends the better part of her days in the Adobe Creative Cloud with Illustrator, InDesign and Photoshop, the scholarship opportunity was low-hanging fruit that had to be picked. She was encouraged to apply at the behest of marketing professor Dr. Marlene Kahla and graphic design professors Peter Andrew and Daniel Anguiano – a clear indication that business and art can work hand in hand.

While Bone still enjoys the fine-arts side of her life, she’s increasingly interested in marketing and advertising, the work she said will give her a salaried foothold in the workforce after graduation. So far, dad’s advice to Bone, backed by her advisors, has proven sage. All that remains is for Bone to make good on all of it.

“I feel blessed to have been chosen for the scholarship, and want to make everyone who got me there proud,” Bone said.

To view Bone’s portfolio, visit https://sarahnbone.wixsite.com/mysite-1/portfolio.

By Richard Massey, marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.

Stephen F. Austin State University has been ranked No. 2 in a list of “hidden gem” universities in Texas by College Gazette for its outstanding academic programs, focus on student success and school spirit.

College Gazette ranks schools based on articles and other media, striving to help students find the best fit for their educational needs. SFA attained its high ranking for a number of programs, including its forestry and nursing programs, and its state-of-the-art academic buildings and workspaces like the Early Childhood Research Center and the Cole STEM Building.

SFA’s forestry program is nationally recognized in a large part due to the learning and living environment at the university, said Dr. Hans Williams, dean of the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture.

“There is no better place to learn about forest resource management than at SFA, located right in the heart of the forest and water resources of Texas,” Williams said.

The Early Childhood Research Center houses SFA’s open-access charter elementary school, early childhood lab school and Department of Education Studies. This promotes professional contributions and experiences among the highly credentialed faculty members, mentors and coaches for the educator preparation students, as well as the infants and toddlers in the lab school and children in the charter elementary school.

“It is a remarkable blending of academic and pedagogic research and teaching focused on pre-K-16 learning,” said Dr. Judy Abbott, dean of the James I. Perkins College of Education.

To learn more about SFA and its academic programs, visit sfasu.edu.

By Joanna Armstrong, marketing communications specialist for Stephen F. Austin State University.

Dr. Nancy Shepherd, assistant professor in Stephen F. Austin State University’s School of Human Sciences, received the 2020 Leader of the Year Award from the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Texas Affiliate.

The award, which was presented online during the AAFCS-TX board meeting earlier this month due to the COVID-19 pandemic, honors family and consumer sciences professionals who have made significant contributions to the field through their involvement with AAFCS.

Shepherd was nominated for the award because of her achievements as a family and consumer sciences professional during the past 40 years, 13 of which she spent serving in Texas.

“It is a great honor to be nominated by my colleagues and friends who embraced me as one of their own when I moved to Texas,” Shepherd said. “I’ve been active with AAFCS since my undergrad years, which led to opportunities to work with national and international leaders who encouraged me to seek leadership positions.”

Shepherd has worked hard to pass on leadership skills to her students.

“I am inspired to encourage students to seek leadership positions as I believe good leaders help take people to a place they might not go by themselves,” she said.

Shepherd has served as coordinator of SFA’s family and consumer sciences program and as director of SFA’s Center for Economic Education, both part of the School of Human Sciences in the James I. Perkins College of Education.

“We are so proud that Dr. Shepherd has earned this award,” said Dr. Chay Runnels, professor in the School of Human Sciences. “To be honored by one’s peers is a big accomplishment, and we are pleased that Dr. Shepherd has received this recognition.”

President of the National Association of Teacher Educators for Family and Consumer Sciences, Shepherd has served as a state senator and national membership chair for AAFCS.

She has held several AAFCS-TX offices, including president, vice president of academic affairs, vice president of member relations and head of the Centennial Conference Committee.

“I particularly enjoyed my work with the national membership committee and the Texas vision team, which completed and published a study looking at the sustainability of the organization,” Shepherd said.

This award also recognizes Shepherd’s work advising and mentoring family and consumer sciences students and bringing together teachers, administrators and counselors to promote a seamless path for students in FCS careers. For example, Shepherd recently served on a national webinar panel that hosted more than 300 participants to examine how the field of family and consumer sciences is contributing during the COVID-19 crisis.

Nancy ​Granovsky, former president of the International Federation of Home Economics, congratulated Shepherd on her award.

“You have accomplished so much in your career and have been such a stellar thinker within our profession,” Granovsky said. “This is a well-deserved honor.”

By Jo Gilmore, marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.

The Counseling Clinic at Stephen F. Austin State University is accepting new clients and temporarily waiving all fees during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Though in-person appointments aren’t possible as SFA students shelter in place in their hometowns and residents in Nacogdoches County follow stay-at-home orders, the clinic is helping clients by phone and Zoom from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Appointments on Fridays and after 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday also can be made by calling (936) 468-1041.

The Counseling Clinic is part of the Department of Human Services and Educational Leadership in the James I. Perkins College of Education at SFA. It assists SFA students and community members while training graduate students who are in the practicum and internship portion of their education. These graduate students provide counseling services to clients under the supervision of licensed counselor education faculty members.

Counseling Clinic services include individual, parent and child, couples, family, and group therapy, as well as career planning and development.

Clients contact the clinic for help with issues that include anger management, anxiety, career counseling, depression, divorce, employment-seeking skills, grief, life adjustments (for example, homesickness), marriage counseling, parenting, problem-solving, social skills, stress management, substance abuse, test anxiety and time management.

Despite the anxiety and stress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, fewer people are calling the clinic for help, according to Nashae Turner, director of the Counseling Clinic.

“We’ve seen a decrease in requests for services; however, I believe there is an increase in need,” Turner said. “Those who need it are not aware we are available or are unaware that we’ve found ways to work around barriers.”

These barriers include limited or no internet service, inexperience with video conferencing technology, lack of privacy as family members shelter in place together and share equipment, and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act regulations.

“Because we are an instructional clinic, the sessions are all observed either live or on video,” Turner said. “Due to HIPAA regulations, we are unable to record Zoom sessions, so I or other faculty members must sit in on the sessions to monitor graduate students.”

Clients are informed of this policy when they attend sessions in person at the Counseling Clinic, but “they’re not actually aware when it is going on,” Turner said. “With Zoom, they can see when we are monitoring, and that can be uncomfortable for many clients.”

Turner wants to assure community members and SFA students that they can still get the help they need from the clinic.

“I am working closely with Dr. Robbie Steward, the department chair; Dr. Wendy Killam, the Master of Arts counseling program director; and Dr. Leigh Kirby, training director, to stay connected with our community member and student clients while assuring continued compliance with HIPAA and the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs training standards during this pandemic,” Turner said.

“We have been able to continue services for most of our clients through Zoom, and we are pleased with the institution’s support in making all required accommodations associated with COVID-19 so that our service delivery might continue.”

Once the pandemic is over, the Counseling Clinic will return to its usual fee system. The first five sessions are free for students and community members. Starting with the sixth visit, costs for community members are determined using a variable fee scale based on gross family income and family size ($5 to $20 maximum per service). SFA students pay $5 per service.

For more information, call the Counseling Clinic at (936) 468-1041.

By Jo Gilmore, marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.