The Stephen F. Austin State University Board of Regents approved faculty and staff appointments during its quarterly meeting Tuesday, including a new director of the university’s physical plant.
Ron Watson was named director of the physical plant, the university department responsible for the administration of all education and general facilities and associated services, such as grounds and building maintenance, custodial services, transportation services and campus construction projects.
Watson began his SFA career as a student while pursuing a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences. He worked as a hall director and coordinator of residence life before leaving the university to pursue a career in the restaurant industry. Watson has served the university for a total of 25 years.
Danette Sales was named SFA’s controller, having served as assistant controller since 2004. Sales has years of public and corporate accounting experience as well as experience working in school districts.
In finance and administration, Judith Kruwell was appointed director of financial services and Michaelyn Greene was named director of administrative services. An SFA accounting graduate, Greene worked for 20 years as the controller for Angelina College.
Additionally, regents appointed David Kaiser as lecturer of economics and finance and director of the Chadwick family banking program in the Rusche College of Business. This program prepares students to fill the growing need for qualified bank personnel and combines core coursework in business and finance with industry-specific learning opportunities.
Associate Professor Haskell Cooper was named associate director of the Center for Rural Social Work Research and Development. This center, housed in the School of Social Work, helps develop community-based social services and leadership capabilities of rural service providers.
In the College of Sciences and Mathematics, Deborah Dunn, professor, was named interim chair of the Department of Computer Science. Dunn has worked for more than five years in the industry as a programmer/analyst for a major oil company. Prior to joining the SFA faculty, she taught at various universities and colleges while also serving in leadership roles.
Other approvals in the College of Sciences and Mathematics included Joan Giudici, lab coordinator of biology; Julie Lewis, lecturer of mathematics and statistics; Jessica Williams and Allison Younger, clinical instructors of nursing; and Vance Imhoff, from biology lab coordinator to lecturer of biology.
Additional staff appointments include Jason Callico, assistant director of financial aid in the Office of Student Financial Assistance; Kirsty Dymond, assistant general counsel; Jason Wiggins, manager of network services in information technology services; and Sarahina Borgia and Jamaica Ethington, hall directors in Department of Residence Life.
The board also approved the following changes of status: Steffany Newsome, from accounting assistant III in student center administration to risk and compliance auditor; and Jane Ann Bridges, from risk and compliance auditor to assistant director of audit services in audit services; and Heather Burns from hall director to area coordinator in residence life; and Mary Smith from assistant director to interim director of instructional technology in the Center for Teaching and Learning.
In the Department of Athletics, staff appointments approved by regents included assistant football coaches Benjamin Beasley, William Best, Jeffery Byrd, Tony Gilbert, Jeremy Hammock, Thomas Howe, Joshua Lawson and Jeremy Moses.
Regents approved the retirements of the following staff members with more than 100 years of combined service to the university: James Lee Brittain, director of physical plant; Judy Duffin, payroll manager; Dora Fuselier, controller; Paul Weatherford, laboratory associate in the Soil, Plant and Water Analysis Laboratory; and Kathleen Williamson, director of financial services.
