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The Stanley Center for Speech and Language Disorders at Stephen F. Austin State University has received a two-part grant to fund Speak Out! and Loud Crowd, a program developed by Parkinson Voice Project, to offer free speech therapy to people with Parkinson’s disease for a second year.

The Parkinson Voice Project is a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing speech disorders that people with Parkinson’s disease develop.

Through the grant, faculty members in SFA’s Department of Human Services and all graduate students studying speech-language pathology have been trained to conduct the program.

“Up to 90% of people with Parkinson’s are at high risk of losing their ability to speak, and aspiration pneumonia caused by swallowing issues accounts for 70% of the mortality rate in this patient population,” said Parkinson Voice Project’s founder and CEO, Samantha Elandary. “Awarding these grants has substantially increased access to quality speech treatment for those living with Parkinson’s.”

Speak Out! is an intensive individual therapy program designed to address the motor speech deficits associated with Parkinson’s disease, such as softer speech, a hoarse or scratchy voice and inconsistent speech volumes. Typically, the program comprises 12 individual speech-therapy sessions.

After completing the Speak Out! phase, participants will progress to the Loud Crowd portion, where they will engage in a group therapy setting once a week for maintenance.

The Stanley Center for Speech and Language Disorders doubles as a community clinic and learning facility for SFA students to hone their skills in a supervised setting. Graduate students will conduct the therapy supervised by licensed speech-language pathologists for both parts of the program.

“Our clinic provides speech/language services, such as therapy and evaluations to clients of all ages and with varying disorders in the East Texas area. We see at least 60 clients per semester,” said Deena Petersen, director for the Stanley Center for Speech and Language Disorders at SFA. “We are excited to offer the Speak Out! and Loud Crowd therapy for the second year to help those with Parkinson’s speak with intent.”

For more information, contact the center at (936) 468-7109.

By Kasi Dickerson, senior marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.

Stephen F. Austin State University’s Board of Regents approved promotions and the appointment of new faculty and staff members during its quarterly meeting.

Regents approved the promotion of Brandon Fox, an associate professor of elementary education, to chair of the Department of Elementary Education.

Fox has been a member of the SFA faculty since 2012 and earned bachelor and master’s degrees from SFA, an additional master’s degree in early childhood education from Texas A&M Commerce and a doctorate from Texas A&M. He was awarded SFA’s Montgomery Professorship for Humane Education in 2017. The professorship supports the teaching of humane education concepts and methods in public and private elementary and secondary schools to assist children in developing compassion and respect for all living things.

Faculty appointments include Ryan Anderson, assistant professor of geology; Anne Collier, Alysa Cummings and Alyson David, clinical instructors of nursing; Michael Read, lecturer of geology; and Richard Skuza, visiting assistant professor of secondary education and educational leadership.

In the Department of English and Creative Writing, Meta Henty was appointed as lecturer, and Jason McIntosh and Sara Parks were appointed as assistant professors.

Staff appointments included Mark Young, who will serve in a newly created position as director of public safety – emergency management with the University Police Department. Young previously served as a specialist with the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. He holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Rust College and a master’s degree in emergency and disaster management from the American Military University, as well as a master’s degree in hazardous material management and doctorate in public administration from Jackson State University.

New teachers in the SFA Charter School include Kendall Berger, Stephanie Hudspeth and Sydney Thornell. In information technology services, Ross Bowman is systems programmer I and Henry Jaynes is programmer/analyst I.

Shea Roll was appointed assistant director of Residence Life, and Colton Rudder is a hall director.

In Athletics, Brynn Baca was appointed assistant softball coach, and Leonard Hankerson was appointed assistant football coach.

Other new appointments include:

· Talyn Sands and Shelby Waller, Campus Recreation coordinators;

· DeAnna Schlebach, learning experience design specialist I, Center for Teaching and Learning;

· Jennifer Wesoloski, associate director, Procurement and Property Services;

· Kay Winfield, program director, Academic Assistance and Resource Center; and

· Gregory Moore, safety officer, Environmental Health, Safety and Risk Management.

Changes of status for current SFA employees include:

· Matthew Romig, from safety officer to senior safety officer, Environmental Health, Safety and Risk Management

· Nathan Amer, from programmer/analyst III to programmer/analyst IV; Tyler Davenport, from technical support specialist II to systems programmer I; Charles Fox, programmer/analyst II to programmer/analyst III; Karrie Robertson, from systems programmer I to systems programmer II; and Mary Smith, from assistant director of instructional technology to assistant director of technology classroom support, Information Technology Services

· Heather Howell, from executive assistant to the vice president for university affairs to interim special assistant to the president

· Jonathan Helmke, from associate director of library information systems to interim library director

· Katherine Ivancic, from contracting specialist to contracting specialist II; and Teresa Rhodes, buyer to contracting specialist I, Procurement and Property Services

· Emily Jefferson, from coordinator of disability services support to coordinator for transfer students, Admissions

· Kara Carpenter, from athletic academic advisor to assistant director of athletics – compliance; and Mackenzie Wenger, from athletic academic advisor to assistant director of athletics – academic services

· Megan Weatherly, from coordinator of instructional design to interim director of instructional technology

· Veronica Beavers, from director of multicultural affairs to interim director of student rights and responsibilities, and

· Livia Pierce, from assistant to the dean of students to interim executive assistant to the vice president of university affairs; and Nick Stallworth, from associate director of student center administration to interim director of auxiliary services.

Regents approved the retirements of the following faculty and staff with 252 years of combined service to the university: Kenneth Austin, professor of secondary education and educational leadership; Lauree Faires, Jana McCall and Jan Wisener, charter school teachers; Carolyn Hardy, assistant director of admissions; Karen Embry-Jenlink and Patrick Jenlink, professors of secondary education and educational leadership; Rebecca Parr, assistant professor of biology; Elizabeth Vaughn, professor and chair of elementary education; Jack Watson, associate professor of anthropology, geography and sociology; Ann Wilson, professor of business communications and legal studies; and Lone Wittliff, lecturer of management and marketing.

For more information about jobs at SFA, visit sfasu.edu/hr.