Everything Nac

Members of the Parent Teacher Organization for Stephen F. Austin State University’s Early Childhood Lab are selling to-go fajita dinners for their spring fundraiser.

Each dinner includes fajitas, beans, rice, three tortillas and a cookie. La Carreta restaurant is sponsoring the meals.

Tickets cost $10 and will be available until April 13. To purchase a ticket and order a meal, contact Dr. Lori Harkness, director of the Early Childhood Lab, at (936) 468-4006.

Meals will be passed out from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. April 19 at the Janice A. Pattillo Early Childhood Research Center north entrance.

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

Dr. Kevin Langford, associate professor of biology and pre-health professions program director at Stephen F. Austin State University, will be the interviewer during the 2018 Archie McDonald Speaker Series.

The speaker series event is free and scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 23, in the Baker Pattillo Student Center Grand Ballroom on the SFA campus. Langford will interview guest speaker Dr. Jennifer Arnold, medical director for the Simulation Center at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida, and television personality on The Learning Channel’s docu-drama “The Little Couple.”

A native of East Texas and third-generation graduate of SFA, Langford earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biology from SFA.

Following completion of his doctoral research at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, Langford spent the next seven years at the Arkansas Cancer Research Center in Little Rock. He joined the SFA biology faculty in fall 2002.

“I am pleased to have this opportunity to interview Dr. Arnold,” Langford said. “She is a highly sought after speaker who is well-known in the medical community for her vast expertise in simulation education. I look forward to interviewing her and learning more about her career and family.”

Langford accepted the role of pre-health professions program director at SFA in 2006, and he has served in that capacity for the past 12 years, assisting students in achieving their dream of becoming doctors, dentists and other health care professionals.

He also is the Joint Admissions Medical Program faculty director, a position that allows Langford to assist economically disadvantaged students in reaching their goal of becoming doctors.

Langford maintains active research in the areas of cellular and molecular events that direct cardiac development in the embryo. He has published papers on the development of healthy blood vessels and is now working on understanding events during heart development that may one day help reduce the risk or eventually eliminate heart defects in newborns.

The Archie McDonald Speaker Series was created in 2010 by SFA’s College of Liberal and Applied Arts. Dr. Brian Murphy, dean of the college, designed the event to honor and preserve the legacy of Dr. Archie McDonald as a distinguished scholar, educator and community commentator. In the tradition of McDonald’s writings and oral presentations, a prominent national figure is hosted annually at SFA to discuss contemporary cultural issues.

McDonald taught history at SFA for 48 years and served as director of the East Texas Historical Association and editor of the association’s journal for 37 years. He was a past president of the Texas State Historical Association, past vice chair of the Texas Historical Commission and author/editor of more than 20 books on historical topics. Along with teaching, he was a commentator on Red River Radio in Shreveport and wrote a weekly column for area newspapers. He passed away Aug. 16, 2012.

McDonald participated in the first three events in the speaker series, interviewing former heavyweight champion boxer and iconic businessman George Foreman, Apollo 12 astronaut and professional artist Alan Bean, and 61st U.S. Secretary of State James A. Baker III. Additional guests have included former U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, Grammy award-winning singer, composer and actor Lyle Lovett, Olympic All-Around Gold Medal winner in gymnastics Mary Lou Retton, legendary head football coach Gene Stallings, and noted presidential historian Douglas Brinkley.

SFA’s Student Government Association sponsors the speaker series, which is open to the public. Passes may be obtained at the Involvement Center on the first floor of the Baker Pattillo Student Center on the SFA campus or the Nacogdoches Convention and Visitors Bureau, located at 200 East Main St.

A private reception for 100 guests will be held prior to the main event. Private reception tickets can be purchased by contacting April Smith, SFA associate director of development, at (936) 468-5406.

Shelby Kolek, Stephen F. Austin State University social work undergraduate, recently received the National Association of Social Workers East Texas Chapter Undergraduate Social Work Student of the Year Award.

Kolek, who has served as vice president for both the School of Social Work Student Council and the Student Association of Social Workers, felt humbled when she found out she received the award. “I was shocked and honored that Dr. Copeland even nominated me, and it was even more amazing when I found out I won.”

Dr. Sam Copeland, Bachelor of Social Work director and professor of social work, nominated Kolek for the award. Copeland met Kolek two years ago when she was offered the SFA Regents Scholarship. Copeland said he nominated Kolek for the award because she sets an example for other social work students.

“She has the intelligence, compassion, and commitment to diversity that will serve her well in social work practice,” Copeland said. “Shelby is developing leadership skills and naturally mentors, tutors and supports other students. She is very gifted and enjoys sharing her knowledge while helping others.”

According to Copeland, the School of Social Work focuses on a holistic approach to prepare the next generation of social workers. “Shelby is one of many students who is benefitting from our efforts to prepare competent and effective social workers,” Copeland said. “This award is merely confirmation of what professional social work BSW programs can accomplish when educating students is the first priority.”

Kolek, a junior from Navasota, plans to use her BSW to work in a juvenile justice center and then eventually in a drug rehabilitation center.

By Emily Brown, marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.