Everything Nac

Stephen F. Austin State University officially unveiled the Pineywoods Dining Hall during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday. The 20,000-square-foot dining facility, which is the first mass timber building on campus and the first mass timber project in The University of Texas System, features two unique dining areas connected by a breezy open-air walkway and patio.

Stephen F. Austin State University officially unveiled the Pineywoods Dining Hall — the university’s first mass timber building and the first mass timber project in The University of Texas System — on Thursday, ushering in a new era of campus dining and welcoming both the university and Nacogdoches communities to explore the new space.

“This project is really special for a lot of reasons,” said Dr. Neal Weaver, SFA President. “One, it is the first mass timber project in The University of Texas System. No other campus in the system has a building like this. And the most important part is it highlights what makes East Texas special and the unique opportunities we have as a region of our state to contribute to all of Texans and hopefully a new way of building buildings all across the country.”

Weaver described the project as a symbol of Lumberjack perseverance. He noted that the new dining facility — approved seven years ago — was shepherded with care and devotion by many, including Dr. Steve Westbrook, SFA’s 10th president; John Branch, associate vice president for facilities services and operations; and the late Dr. Baker Pattillo, SFA’s eighth president.

The 20,000-square-foot dining hall has two unique dining areas connected by a breezy open-air walkway and patio. Its design features exposed wooden beams and angled columns supporting a raised timber roof. Large windows framed in dark trim mimic the look of tall trees, while the brick exterior blends with the rest of campus architecture and adds a natural touch.

“Nacogdoches and SFA were a natural fit for such an innovative project, given the region’s deep connection to the forestry and lumber industries,” Branch said. “Beyond its beauty, this dining hall enriches students’ daily lives and serves as a living example of sustainability in practice.”

Kirksey Architecture, a renowned Texas-based interiors and architecture firm, was chosen to design the dining facility showcasing mass timber, specifically southern yellow pine. Due to its proximity to the vast Texas Forest Country, SFA selected mass timber to demonstrate how this type of wood can boost local timber landowners, timber-adjacent industries and sustainable building practices.

“As a firm dedicated to sustainability and innovation, this project highlights the benefits of mass timber while furthering the university’s mission to reconnect with its roots through the state’s southern yellow pine lumber industry,” said Steve Durham, Kirksey Architecture managing director of collegiate practice.

For more information about the Pineywoods Dining Hall, including photos and fun facts, visit sfasu.edu/pineywoodsdining.

ABOUT STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY

Stephen F. Austin State University, the newest member of The University of Texas System, began a century ago as a teachers’ college in Texas’ oldest town, Nacogdoches. Today, it has grown into a regional institution comprising six colleges — business, education, fine arts, forestry and agriculture, liberal and applied arts, and sciences and mathematics. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, SFA enrolls approximately 11,000 students while providing the academic breadth of a state university with the personalized attention of a private school. The main campus encompasses 421 acres that include 40 academic facilities, 11 residence halls, and 68 acres of recreational trails that wind through its six gardens. The university offers more than 80 bachelor’s degrees, more than 40 master’s degrees and four doctoral degrees covering over 120 areas of study. Learn more at sfasu.edu.

By University Marketing Communications

Stephen F. Austin State University’s SFA Gardens will host a fruit research field day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 19 featuring kiwifruit, muscadine grapes, blueberries, figs, feijoas and other fruits.

Stephen F. Austin State University’s SFA Gardens will host a fruit research field day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 19 featuring kiwifruit, muscadine grapes, blueberries, figs, feijoas and other fruits.

Speakers will include Dr. David Creech, director of SFA Gardens, with “The SFA Gardens’ Fruit Research Plots” and Dr. Tim Hartmann, Texas A&M University’s Department of Horticultural Sciences, with a talk on “Alternative Fruits for the Home Orchard or Commercial Field.”

The day will start at 9 a.m. with presentations at the Brundrett Conservation Education Building in the Pineywoods Native Plant Center, located at 2900 Raguet St. There will be a break for attendees to leave for lunch. After the break, participants will then go to the fruit research plots at SFA Gardens around 1 p.m.

The cost of the field day is $15 per person. Register on-site the day of the event or in advance online at sfasu.edu/gardens.

For more information, email sfagardens@sfasu.edu.

ABOUT STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY

Stephen F. Austin State University, the newest member of The University of Texas System, began a century ago as a teachers’ college in Texas’ oldest town, Nacogdoches. Today, it has grown into a regional institution comprising six colleges — business, education, fine arts, forestry and agriculture, liberal and applied arts, and sciences and mathematics. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, SFA enrolls approximately 11,000 students while providing the academic breadth of a state university with the personalized attention of a private school. The main campus encompasses 421 acres that include 40 academic facilities, 11 residence halls, and 68 acres of recreational trails that wind through its six gardens. The university offers more than 80 bachelor’s degrees, more than 40 master’s degrees and four doctoral degrees covering over 120 areas of study. Learn more at sfasu.edu.

By University Marketing Communications

Graduate students from Stephen F. Austin State University’s Department of Education Studies visited San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, for a summer study abroad program focusing on bilingual teaching strategies. Pictured, from left, are Pablo Marvin, director of Hacienda Santa Clara; Elizabeth Pierce, Dr. Sarah Straub, Kacie Clopp, Kayleigh Moran, Sarah Kloesel, Angel Driver, Skylar Smith and Dr. Kevin L. Jones.

From local flavors to international classroom experiences, six graduate students in Stephen F. Austin State University’s Department of Education Studies traveled to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, for a summer study abroad program, immersing themselves in Mexican culture while teaching local students through hands-on learning experiences.

Led by Drs. Sarah Straub and Kevin L. Jones, associate and assistant professors, respectively, in the Department of Education Studies, students in the “ESL/Bilingual Teaching Methods in the Content Area” course connected with local elementary students and explored ESL/bilingual teaching strategies such as sharing bilingual books and engaging with international approaches to education.

“I learned more from this experience than I ever have in any professional development I have attended,” said Skylar Smith, a recent graduate from Montgomery. “It was an experience that opened my eyes to different cultures, people and beliefs. It changed my perspective as an educator, and it will be an experience that I will never take for granted.”

Aside from classroom exploration, graduate students also traveled throughout the heart of central Mexico to visit ancient pyramids, the silver mines of Guanajuato and the vibrant streets of San Miguel de Allende.

“Studying abroad in Mexico was an amazing way to immerse oneself in a rich cultural environment,” said Elizabeth Pierce, a Master of Education student from Lufkin. “We were able to experience vibrant local traditions, diverse cuisine and historical landmarks on our journey. While we were there, we focused on language acquisition, cultural studies and teaching to gain a deeper
understanding of Mexican society.”

In the fall, Pierce will present on the experience at the Texas Association for Bilingual Education Conference with Straub, Jones and Carrie Wright-Davis, assistant director of the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.

“Dr. Straub made this experience unforgettable,” Smith said. “She made sure we had everything we needed to make this an unforgettable experience for ourselves, but also for the students we taught. She had things for anchor charts, tactile learning pieces, art supplies and anything else you could think of to make this experience unforgettable for everyone involved.”

For Jones, the greatest reward came from watching how the international field experience shaped the students into more confident, capable teachers.

“The most meaningful part of my experience with San Miguel de Allende was observing incredible graduate students teach amazing children,” Jones said. “It truly highlighted the vital role that international field experiences play in shaping both graduate and undergraduate teacher educators’ learning experiences. San Miguel de Allende is an amazing community that deeply values diversity, and we were welcomed with open arms. That spirit of inclusion made all the difference.”

This study abroad trip was supported in part by a grant from the Texas International Education Consortium in order to engage in international field experiences at a graduate level.

“I want to thank the Texas International Education Consortium, the Office of International Programs and the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs for their support in making these transformative experiences possible for our students,” Straub said. “Partnerships like these create unparalleled opportunities for future educators to connect across cultures and grow in ways that will shape their teaching for years to come.”

For more information about graduate programs in the Department of Education Studies, visit gosfa.com/edmasters. To hear more about the student experiences, watch their study abroad video at gosfa.com/mexicofieldexperience.

ABOUT STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY

Stephen F. Austin State University, the newest member of The University of Texas System, began a century ago as a teachers’ college in Texas’ oldest town, Nacogdoches. Today, it has grown into a regional institution comprising six colleges — business, education, fine arts, forestry and agriculture, liberal and applied arts, and sciences and mathematics. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, SFA enrolls approximately 11,000 students while providing the academic breadth of a state university with the personalized attention of a private school. The main campus encompasses 421 acres that include 40 academic facilities, 11 residence halls, and 68 acres of recreational trails that wind through its six gardens. The university offers more than 80 bachelor’s degrees, more than 40 master’s degrees and four doctoral degrees covering over 120 areas of study. Learn more at sfasu.edu.

By University Marketing Communications