Everything Nac

Politics and child development and family living may not seem like your typical match, but for Sydni Mitchell, the two go hand in hand.

As communications director and policy analyst for Texas State Sen. Robert Nichols, Mitchell, a two-time Stephen F. Austin State University graduate, utilizes her unique background and perspective in her daily interactions and to affect policy.

“Every day a constituent calls or I meet with lobbyists or associations about a bill or topic, and it always involves people,” Mitchell said. “To step back and rely on my knowledge of how people’s upbringing impacts who they are and how they act in certain situations is extremely helpful.”

Mitchell majored in child development and family living as an undergraduate and studied public administration in graduate school. She was the SFA student regent from 2010-11, which is where her interest in politics began. She also served as president of the Student Government Association, Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honor Society and Jacks Council of Family Relations.

“When people ask me what my major was I always get a head tilt. I honestly say I fell into politics,” Mitchell said.

Recently, Mitchell presented to current Jacks Council on Family Relations members in SFA’s School of Human Sciences. She discussed her career journey and encouraged students to not limit their careers to those typically associated with the major.

“I believe my degree gives me an advantage as it enables me to see things from a different perspective. You can use this major for any number of jobs,” Mitchell said. “I’m proud to say I’m an SFA alumna and this was my major. I don’t think I’d be as sympathetic a person without this major.”

Jaycie Case, current JCFR president, said Mitchell’s visit gave her further insight into the human development and family studies field.

“I was extremely thankful and honored to meet a past JCFR president who took time out of her busy schedule to inform us on how family policies are dealt with in state and national politics,” Case said. “Hearing about the path she took after graduation let us know our degree could take us on many different paths.”

During her presentation, Mitchell discussed the importance of internships. She interned for Nichols and then worked as a staff member in his office. In her newest role as communications director, Mitchell handles policy work and media for the senator’s office, which includes press releases and monthly and weekly columns. She admits a communications course she took in the School of Human Sciences has saved her in this position.

“I loved this class and it was my introduction into the communication world. When I became the communications director, I had no idea what to do or how to write a press release other than what the previous director had done,” Mitchell said. “I keep all my papers from my classes, and I was flipping through my stuff, and thankfully I found my book with the papers from that class in it.”

The SFA Alumni Association recognized Mitchell with the 2017 Lumberjack Pride Award, and she continues to be an avid supporter of SFA athletics.

For more information about SFA’s human development and family studies program, visit sfasu.edu/hms/71.asp.

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

The Orchestra of the Pines at Stephen F. Austin State University will perform a program featuring great string repertoire at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 24, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

Dr. Gene H. Moon, director of orchestras at SFA, said the concert will include “one very staple work in the string orchestra repertoire and another that is rather quite obscure.”

“As a university orchestra, we primarily focus on the performance art of orchestra repertoire that usually directs us towards full orchestra music, which includes the complement of woodwinds, brass and percussion,” Moon said. “However, we never have the opportunity to truly pay homage to the great string orchestra literature. Therefore, we wanted to program a concert that is lighter in nature but offers a sampling of some great string repertoire.”

The program features a not-so-well-known work – a love song titled “Langsamer Satz” by Anton Webern, a 20th century composer known for his work in the 12-tone compositional technique.

“While not the most melodic or tuneful, the 12-tone composition technique was designed to prove that all notes are create equal and thus each given the greatest harmonic and melodic sounds,” Moon explained. “What usually results is a work that is, perhaps in my sole opinion, more mathematically intellectual than melodically memorable.

“However, Webern did dabble in the tonal side of music,” he said, explaining that “Langsamer Satz” translates to slow movement.

“Webern, deeply in love, penned the work as an ode of to his beloved, remarking upon his words, ‘To walk like this forever among the flowers, with my beloved beside me, to feel myself so utterly at one with the Universe, without a care, as free as a lark in the sky above – Oh, what splendor . . . Our love filled the air. We were two drunken souls . . . ‘”

The program also features Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “Serenade for Strings,” which Moon described as a “dynamite opus” that is a staple in the string orchestra repertoire. Written in C major and in four movements, the serenade is a work that the composer expressed as “a heartfelt piece written from inner conviction.”

Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $3 for students and youth. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu.

The SFA Friends of Music and School of Music will honor Dr. Wesley J. Broadnax at Extravaganza 31, Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music’s annual gala banquet. The event is planned for 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 27, in the Grand Ballroom of SFA’s Baker Pattillo Student Center.

Broadnax, who is assistant professor and director of bands at Drexel University, will be recognized as the 2018 Outstanding Music Alumnus.

This year’s Extravaganza, “An Evening with the Stars of SFA,” celebrates the 31st anniversary of the gala and fundraiser, which features gourmet dining, performances by student soloists and ensembles, and the presentation of student awards in an exciting evening of music, according to Dr. Gary Wurtz, director of the SFA School of Music.

“There is no better way to experience a cross section of what the SFA School of Music has to offer than at our annual Extravaganza,” Wurtz said. “While enjoying a good meal, those in attendance hear performances by the top choir, band, orchestra, jazz band, student recitalists, opera performers, and more. Our fantastic students provide both dinner music and a dance to end the evening. It is really a lot of fun!”

Part music student awards ceremony, part formal dinner, and part musical potpourri, Extravaganza features jazz, wind ensemble, choir, opera, string quartet and orchestra. Additional highlights include awarding Outstanding Music Alumni and Outstanding Recitalists of the Year.

As is tradition with Extravaganza, the music faculty has selected an outstanding music graduate to honor.

“Dr. Broadnax is the ultimate East Texas success story,” said Dr. Charles Gavin, professor of horn in the School of Music. “He came from a quite humble background in Marshall, Texas, and took advantage of every opportunity presented him. Many times, if the opportunity was not there, Wes found ways to create one. In addition to being a superb musician, Wes is one of the warmest people I have encountered.”

Prior to his work at Drexel, Broadnax served as director of bands/instrumental music education on the faculties of the University of Delaware, California State University East Bay and Michigan State University. He is also artistic director/conductor of the Mid-Atlantic Chamber Players and assistant conductor of the Newark Symphony Orchestra in Delaware.

Broadnax graduated from SFA in 1993 with a Bachelor of Music Education and went on to receive both the master’s and doctoral degrees in wind conducting from Michigan State University. While at MSU, he was a regular performer on bass trombone and euphonium. He was a member of the West Shore Symphony, Greater Lansing Symphony, Grand Rapids Symphony, Jackson Symphony, Kalamazoo Symphony and Midland Symphony, in addition to various chamber ensembles that included both the West Shore Symphony Brass Trio and Capitol Brass Quartet in Lansing. In California, he performed as bass trombonist with the Silicon Valley Symphony and Mission Chamber Orchestra.

He maintains an active schedule as a guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator. He is a sought-after presenter at national conferences and has published articles on a variety of topics related to music education.

The Extravaganza 31 committee includes John and Melinda Rohrer, co-chairs, Carolyn King, Caryl Hall, MaryAnn and Farrar Bentley, Kimberly LaGraff, Barb Stump, Shirley Watterston and Marinell Booth.

This year’s Friends of Music officers include Marinell Booth, president; Carolyn Andrews, president-elect; Missy DeVine, secretary/treasurer; and Caryl Hall, past president.

“We want to invite everyone to come and celebrate this 31st Extravaganza with us,” Melinda Roher said.

Reservations and payments should be made by noon Friday, April 20.

Tickets are $40 for adults and $10 for SFA students. Patron level tickets range in prices from $65 to $140, and donations will be accepted for the Friends of Music scholarship fund. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu.

The Stephen F. Austin State University Department of Biology will host the 29th annual J.H. Burr Jr. Distinguished Lecture Series at 7 p.m. Friday, April 27, in the Baker Pattillo Student Center Twilight Ballroom.

SFA alumna Laura Livingston will present “The World is your Ostreoidea: The Diversity of Opportunities in Health Professions.”

Livingston currently serves as associate director of the Clinical Learning Resource Center at Texas A&M University. She is also the co-principle investigator on an area grant from the National Institutes of Health and has presented research at multiple professional conferences.

“I will provide insight into the diversity of professionals required to prepare students for a career in health care and highlight some of the most innovative educational modalities currently employed,” Livingston said. “I hope to inspire individuals to embrace life-long learning and understand the exponential impact they can have on the global community.”

The speaker series is endowed in honor of Professor J.H. Burr who taught at SFA from 1951 to 1986 and hosts speakers who discuss topics relating to biological research.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the Department of Biology at (936) 468-3601.

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