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Drs. Jessica Glasscock and Cord Eversole, assistant professors of forest wildlife management at Stephen F. Austin State University, have been awarded a grant of over $1 million from the Texas Department of Transportation. This funding will support their research project focused on the conservation and ecology of the alligator snapping turtle, a vital yet at-risk species in East Texas.

The five-year project, set to begin in spring 2025, will evaluate the effects of road construction and maintenance on the habitats of alligator snapping turtles. The research aims to understand how these activities influence turtle populations and to develop conservation strategies that can mitigate negative impacts on the species.

“Studies like ours enhance scientific knowledge and lay the groundwork for targeted management and conservation actions,” Eversole said. “For example, our project’s results will improve the currently limited understanding of alligator snapping turtle nesting habitats and behaviors, as well as enhance our ability to manage anthropogenic disturbances and their effects on the species’ life history characteristics and movement patterns.”

The alligator snapping turtle is considered an at-risk species due to perceived population declines across much of its North American range. In East Texas, the alligator snapping turtle is a vital component of freshwater ecosystems and contributes significantly to the region’s ecological identity.

Glasscock and Eversole’s research will focus on studying how the turtles use bank habitats near culverts and bridges, as well as assessing in-stream environments. A key objective of the project is to design and implement a barrier fence that will prevent the turtles from entering construction zones, reducing the risk of harm to the species.

The project’s findings will be presented at scientific conferences, including TxDOT’s Environmental Conference and the Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society meeting, providing valuable insights for both the scientific community and transportation authorities. The project is scheduled for completion in early 2029.

The pair will collaborate with Chris Schalk, U.S. Forest Service, and Matt Buckingham U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, on this project.

For more information about SFA’s forestry and wildlife management program, visit sfasu.edu/forestry.

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 37 academic facilities, nine 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 more than 120 areas of study. Learn more at sfasu.edu.

By University Marketing Communications

Stephen F. Austin State University’s SFA Gardens will host the monthly Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series at 7 p.m. Nov. 14 in the Brundrett Conservation Education Building.

Retired University of Arkansas extension specialist, Dr. Jim Robbins will present “Eleven Gardens in Ten Days: An England Adventure.”

Robbins has a unique blend of 28 years of academic experience and nine years of nursery industry experience. From 1989 until his retirement in January 2022, Robbins was an extension specialist in commercial ornamentals at the University of Arkansas System’s Division of Agriculture. His role was to support all green industry businesses, including garden centers, wholesale growers and landscapers.

His research program focused primarily on nursery production-related issues, such as automation, growing media, fertilizer, weed control and woody plant evaluation. For the past 14 years, he has been primarily focused on applications for drones in nursery production. Robbins currently operates Ornamental Hort Services out of Little Rock, Arkansas.

The Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series is held the second Thursday of each month and includes a rare plant raffle after the program. The lecture is free and open to the public, and donations to the lecture series fund are always appreciated.

Parking is available at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center or Raguet Elementary School.

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 37 academic facilities, nine 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 more than 120 areas of study. Learn more at sfasu.edu.

In a campus-wide vote, Stephen F. Austin State University students have selected Pineywoods Dining as the official name for the new dining facility currently under construction at the corner of Wilson Drive and East College Street, which is set to open next year.

Pineywoods Dining emerged as the top choice, beating out two other contenders: Pine Grove Eatery and Timber Pines.

“Our Student Government Association did a great job choosing the final three names to present to students, and it was incredible to see such strong student engagement in a vote that will leave a lasting mark on our university,” said Dr. Hollie Smith, executive director of Student Life. “We hope years from now when these students return to campus as alumni, they’ll remember fondly the part they played in the naming of this new building.”

The vote, which took place in early October, invited students to help shape the identity of the new dining hall. The name Pineywoods Dining reflects the university’s deep connection to the East Texas piney woods region and the surrounding natural beauty.

The dining hall, which is part of a broader effort to enhance campus life, is on track for completion in late spring 2025. While the name selection marks an exciting milestone, significant construction work remains before the building opens its doors.

“Right now, mechanical work is ongoing inside the building, and we’ve begun installing glass and brick on the exterior,” said John Branch, assistant vice president for facilities services and operations. “This phase of construction will continue for several months. We do expect construction to be completed by late spring.”

Designed by Kirksey Architecture, the dining hall will be the campus’s first mass timber building. The 20,000-square-foot dining facility will include outdoor seating for additional capacity and flexible space for such events as culinary expos and instruction. After the new facility opens, the current dining hall, Eatery on East, will permanently close. In its place is a proposed new green space area.

As construction progresses, some upcoming phases may affect campus traffic, but the SFA Physical Plant Department’s goal is to reserve those for times of the year when campus traffic is greatly reduced.

“We still have utility work to complete, which could impact both pedestrian and vehicle traffic,” Branch explained. “Fortunately, we don’t expect any disruptions before Thanksgiving or Christmas. We’ll aim to schedule utility work around those holidays to minimize interruptions. However, temporary closures are likely in late 2024 and into the first quarter of 2025.”

The other major construction project on the university’s horizon is the planned demolition of the Forestry Building and construction of a new facility in its place at the corner of East College and Raguet streets.

“That project is deep into the design phase, and we expect to begin demolition of the current forestry building in March or April 2025,” Branch said. “Once demolition and site preparation are complete, construction on a new, state-of-the-art facility for both the forestry and agriculture programs will commence.”

Both projects represent the university’s commitment to enhancing student experiences and modernizing facilities across campus while staying in tune with the region’s unique identity and natural surroundings.

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 37 academic facilities, nine 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 more than 120 areas of study. Learn more at sfasu.edu.

By Christine Broussard, assistant director for strategic communications at Stephen F. Austin State University