Everything Nac

Stephen F. Austin State University graduate student Lindsey Creel will present “Clean Fields: The Antidote to Overstimulation” as her Master of Fine Arts exhibition to be on view Nov. 1 through 18 in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.

Comprising 15 large-scale drawings on paper and linen, “Clean Fields” is part homage and part documentation of the emotionally restorative properties found in Creel’s horticultural practices. Constantly moving from the garden to the art studio, Creel transforms would-be garden waste into contemporary drawings. In reducing the vibrancy and color of a garden, she guides the viewer toward a more open interpretation of the content on view.

Creel’s presented works include traditional materials, such as charcoal, with the addition of more obscure materials, like plant emulsions. Composition and scale are at the forefront of the exhibition and aim to move the viewer into a simulated meditative state, according to Creel.

“The work reflects the allure of the garden – of being drawn to something you do not need to fully understand to enjoy,” she said.

Creel is a designer and artist currently living in Garrison and attending SFA with a focus in studio arts (drawing). She graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2009 with a B.F.A. in fashion. Creel said she considers art and design two branches on the same tree and does not discriminate when it comes to art media. She has a background in patternmaking and drafting in the apparel industry and was featured on Season 14 of Lifetime TV’s “Project Runway.”

An artist talk will be at 4:45 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19, in Room 106 of the Lower Art Building on the SFA campus. An opening reception for “Clean Fields” is from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 4, in Reavley Gallery at Cole Art Center, 329 E. Main St. Gallery hours are from noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Admission is free. Contact Cole Art Center at (936) 468-5500.

In the spring semester of 1946, Stephen F. Austin State Teachers College welcomed an influx of returning World War II servicemen to the student body. Among the courses offered to these new and returning students was an entirely new academic program — one that is inexorably tied to the heritage, economy and natural history of the region.

By the mid 20th century, the U.S. had transitioned away from viewing forests and their resources as purely extractive, and the creation of SFA’s Bachelor of Science in Forestry program reflected the growing understanding of the need for responsible, renewable, science-based forest management.

In 1966, the program received accreditation from the Society of American Foresters, the national organization representing and setting the standard for the forestry profession, making SFA home to the first accredited forestry program in the state.

The new Department of Forestry was initially housed in the basement of the Austin Building, and although campus location, technology and course offerings have changed during the past 75 years, one aspect has remained consistent.

“I think one of our strengths is that we have held on to the hands-on, learning-based experience model,” said Dr. Hans Williams, dean of SFA’s Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture. “Our students go to the forest and field every day to work closely with faculty members and learn.”

The field-based curriculum is perhaps best exemplified by the program’s intensive six-week summer field camp for students entering their junior year. Each week of the course focuses on a different aspect of the forestry profession and challenges students to apply the knowledge they have gained throughout the program to real-world scenarios.

For most of the program’s history, the camp took place off campus — first at a leased property equipped with dormitories and a dining hall near Milam, and later at the SFA-owned Piney Woods Conservation Center on Lake Sam Rayburn. In 2015, the camp transitioned to a non-residential format with students returning to their respective homes each night. Although locations of the camp have changed, the physical and mental rigor remain.

“Before I started field station, my friends told me that it’s the most fun you will never want to have again,” said Charlie Jordan, 2015 forestry graduate. “They were 100% correct. I’ve never had more fun during a summer class, but I never want to go through that mental and physical exhaustion again.”

Although tucked away in rural Texas Forest Country, SFA’s forestry program, faculty members and students have gained national recognition for their contributions to the profession.

Currently, the program is home to four faculty member recipients of the Carl Alwin Schenck Award. This national award, presented by the Society of American Foresters, recognizes outstanding performance in the field of forestry education. Additionally, the student chapter of The Wildlife Society and the student chapter of the Society of American Foresters have been recognized as the nation’s top-performing student chapters. Furthermore, the SFA Sylvans, the university’s timbersports team, has won multiple Southern Forestry Conclave championships, excelling in both the academic and physical portions of the competition.

When contemplating the program’s greatest accomplishments, Williams immediately points to alumni.

“When you get down to it, the success of any program is based on the success of its graduates, and I think what you see with our graduates is that they have achieved leadership positions in the public and private sectors of forestry all over the country,” Williams said. “Because we’re such a large program and have graduated so many students over the years, we’ve gained a reputation through their success of being a fine forestry program that produces strong graduates.”

Among the program’s notable alumni are a Nobel Prize co-recipient and top scientist for the U.S. Geological Survey, as well as top leaders within the Texas A&M Forest Service, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and private companies such as Weyerhaeuser and Davey Tree Expert Company.

“What amazes me is that as we try to select alumni for our Outstanding Alumni Award, we can’t seem to catch up,” Williams said. “We are so far behind in recognizing our outstanding alumni who have made great contributions to the profession.”

In addition to extensive teaching, research and outreach, the program manages 3,449 acres of East Texas forestland through the Lumberjack Legacy Forest Program. Through sustainable forest management, these properties have sequestered more than 600,000 tons of carbon dioxide and generated more than $239,000 for student scholarships and graduate research.

The Lumberjack Legacy Forest Program initially began in 2000 through a relationship with STMicroelectronics, a global electronics and semiconductor manufacturer focused on reducing its carbon footprint. The company purchased and afforested marginal East Texas pastureland and then donated the land to the SFA Real Estate Foundation to be managed in perpetuity by the college.

“This relationship was made possible through the vision and leadership of past deans and faculty members, as well as guidance from the SFA development office,” Williams said. “We have been able to meet STMicroelectronics’ goals, as well as our goals of supporting students and facilitating faculty development.”

While the forest industry and higher education have dramatically changed during the past 75 years and will no doubt continue to evolve, Williams speaks of the future of SFA’s forestry program with enthusiasm and purpose.

“We will continue to hold on to hands-on, experienced-based learning,” Williams said. “I think that is part of our culture, what we are known for and why employers seek out our graduates. We will continue to seek out ways to improve our academic quality and produce well-rounded professionals.”

Story by Sarah Fuller, outreach coordinator for Stephen F. Austin State University’s Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture.

Contact information: (936) 468-1185 or fullersa@sfasu.edu.

All prospective graduate students and working professionals looking to advance their careers through graduate study are invited to attend Stephen F. Austin State University’s first virtual graduate school informational session.

Representatives from SFA’s Office of Research and Graduate Studies will present a one-hour overview about applying for and attending graduate school. The virtual info session also will review SFA’s own master’s degree, doctoral degree and certification programs.

“We understand that many who are interested in a graduate-level education face real life constraints, including time and distance,” said Dr. Freddie Avant, interim dean of research and graduate studies. “Our virtual information session is intended to bring the answers directly to you.

“Whether you’re transitioning straight out of an undergraduate program into graduate study or looking for professional advancement, this info session will answer all of your questions about making graduate school work for your schedule,” he added. “With more than a dozen fully online SFA graduate programs, it’s more possible than ever before to pursue graduate study while still balancing a family, a full-time job or any other pursuits.”

The virtual session will begin at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 9. Avant and Dr. Lorenzo Smith, SFA’s provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, will kick off the session with a welcome message. Details on graduate school requirements and the application process will follow, as will breakout rooms discussing SFA’s own graduate programs.

Optional Q&A sessions will close out the info session, where attendees can connect with representatives of SFA’s Steen Library, Center for Teaching and Learning, SFA Online, Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, and the Veterans Resource Center.

For more information and to register, visit sfasu.edu/graduate-admissions.

By Christine Broussard, marketing communications coordinator at Stephen F. Austin State University.

The Singin’ Axes and Kantorei choirs at Stephen F. Austin State University will present “To Vienna and Beyond …” when the choral ensembles perform at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

Under the direction of Dr. Tod Fish, associate director of choral activities at SFA, the choirs will perform works by composers from Austria and Germany written from the early 17th to the late 19th centuries. A number of SFA music faculty members will collaborate with Fish and the choirs.

Among the works to be performed is Georg Philipp Telemann’s Laudate Jehovam, omnes gentes, which will be sung by the combined Kantorei and Singin’ Axes choirs. SFA music faculty members Dr. Margaret Fay, bassoon, and Professor Graham Mackenzie, oboe, will play the continuo and obligato parts, respectively.

“Dr. Fay will also join Kantorei for Erhöre mich from Kleine Geistliches Konzerte I on continuo,” Fish said. “Dr. Andrea Denis and my wife, Alice Codieck, will join Kantorei to provide a horn duet for two movements of Johannes Brahms’ op. 17 Vier Gesänge für Frauenchor. In addition to Dr. Denis and Ms. Codieck joining us, we will also have singing with us the varsity treble choir from Lufkin High School, directed by Nicole Stewart and Tracy Cole, as the Brahms is part of the 2022 All-State Choir repertoire.”

The Singin’ Axes will also perform two tenor-bass duets from Brahms’ Liebeslieder Walzer, op. 52. “The Singin’ Axes will have the distinction of performing with our two outstanding collaborative pianists, Dr. Maria Lyapkova and Dr. Thomas Nixon,” Fish added.

The combined choirs will sing two classical period Latin motets: Insanae et vanae curae by Joseph Haydn and Ave verum corpus by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

“We are excited to have our new graduate choral conducting student, Caroline Van Landingham of Cypress, conducting both the Singin’ Axes and Kantorei,” Fish said. “With Kantorei, Caroline will conduct Robert Schumann’s beautiful setting of Herbstlied, and J.S. Bach’s Der Herr segne euch from BWV 196, Der Herr denket an uns.

“As always, the Singin’ Axes are thrilled to work with Dr. Nixon again, and Kantorei welcomes Dr. Lyapkova,” he added.

Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $3 for students and youth. To purchase tickets, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit finearts.sfasu.edu. For additional information, contact the SFA School of Music at (936) 468-4602.

The Stanley Center for Speech and Language Disorders at Stephen F. Austin State University has received a 2021 Speak Out and Loud Crowd grant from the Parkinson Voice Project, the only 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in the world dedicated to helping individuals with Parkinson’s disease improve their speech and swallowing.

The center is among a select group of hospitals, university speech therapy clinics, private practices and nonprofit organizations worldwide to receive this funding. The grant provides free Speak Out training for the clinical instructors and graduate students in SFA’s speech-language pathology program. It also funds materials that are used in the Speak Out and Loud Crowd programs.

“Up to 90% of people with Parkinson’s are at high risk of losing their ability to speak, and complications account for a 70% mortality rate in this patient population,” said Parkinson Voice Project founder and CEO Samantha Elandary. “Our vision at Parkinson Voice Project is to make our highly-effective speech therapy program accessible to people with Parkinson’s worldwide.”

East Texas has a large population of people diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, according to Deena Petersen, director of the Stanley Center for Speech and Language Disorders.

“We are fortunate to be trained in the Speak Out program to help these clients communicate better,” she said.

The clinic offers free therapy sessions to East Texans with Parkinson’s disease to help them learn how to speak with intent, Petersen said.

“People with Parkinson’s disease do not realize they are speaking softly, and people cannot hear them. In the Speak Out program, clients become more aware of their speech and learn that when they speak, it must be with intention.”

In addition to individual Speak Out sessions, the Stanley Center for Speech and Language Disorders offers the Loud Crowd program, which is a maintenance program for patients with Parkinson’s disease offering ongoing vocal practice, support and encouragement. When clients complete the Speak Out program, they transition to Loud Crowd.

The Parkinson Voice Project’s grant program honors Dr. Daniel R. Boone, a world-renowned speech-language pathologist and voice expert who recognized in the late 1950s that individuals with Parkinson’s disease could improve their communication if they spoke with intent. The Parkinson Voice Project combines individual and group therapy to convert speech from an automatic function to an intentional act.

For more information on the center’s services, call (936) 468-7109.

By Nathan Wicker, senior marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University

Crystal Adams, who joined the Stephen F. Austin State University Early Childhood Laboratory as director in June, is no stranger to Nacogdoches, the university or the ECHL.

Adams is a lifelong Nacogdoches resident and received her bachelor’s degree from SFA in interdisciplinary studies in 2010. She earned her master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Texas at Tyler in 2012 and a master’s degree in school counseling in 2013.

Adams previously worked at the ECHL as assistant to the director from 2007 through 2010, and she has spent years with Nacogdoches ISD in a number of roles, including teacher, counselor and assistant principal in middle and elementary schools.

“Crystal is exceptionally prepared to hold the director’s position and to be able to provide appropriate instructional leadership and coordinate professional development for the lab’s professional staff,” said Dr. Judy Abbott, dean of SFA’s Perkins College of Education. “During the past 11 years, Crystal was employed with Nacogdoches ISD at the middle and elementary school levels. That employment allowed her to come to know many families across the community, which has been helpful as she stepped into the director role at the lab,” Abbott said.

As she takes on the lead position at the ECHL, Adams said she’s excited to get to know the children and play a pivotal part in their lives.

“My absolute favorite part of the job is interacting with children and learning more about them and their families,” Adams said. “Children have a special ability to make you laugh and smile no matter what. I see my role as director as an advocate for them. Everything I do is based on putting their safety, needs, health and learning first.”

The ECHL’s program offers benefits for SFA students, area children ages infant through pre-kindergarten and the community. The facility provides a learning laboratory for SFA educator candidates to observe teacher and student interactions. Area children benefit by receiving an education focused on their total development. Curriculum is intended to develop intellectual and personal competence rather than training children in performing a limited set of academic skills.

The community also benefits by having a state-of-the-art learning laboratory nearby, where children receive personalized instruction from experienced teachers who also are mentoring SFA education students training to be the next generation of teachers.

“The university is well-known for its teaching program. It is the foundation SFA was built on,” Adams said. “I’m proud to be associated with an integral part of that legacy. The Early Childhood Laboratory is such a unique facility. It provides the forum for college and young students to come together to learn from each other and our educators.”

Adams has set goals for the laboratory, including expanding to serve more students and families, partnering with local schools, and incorporating a dual language program. She also hopes to be able to resume fundraising activities to help support the lab.

For more information about the ECHL, visit https://www.sfasu.edu/echl/.

By Nathan Wicker, senior marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University