Everything Nac

Rick Jones believes that working on plays like Jean Genet’s “The Maids” is “how you get better.”

“Any actor or director who isn’t a little scared of this play isn’t paying sufficient attention,” the Stephen F. Austin State University professor of theatre said of the final play he will direct before his retirement from SFA at the end of the academic year.

The SFA School of Theatre will present Genet’s “The Maids” at 7:30 nightly Feb 23 through 27 online and in-person in Kennedy Auditorium on campus. With expansion and renovation work underway at Griffith Fine Arts Building, the School of Theatre’s Mainstage Series performance venue, W.M. Turner Auditorium, is currently not available. Instead, theatre students will use Kennedy Auditorium as their main venue for the next two years.

Jones describes “The Maids” as one of the most famous plays of theatre of the absurd. Like “No Exit,” which the School of Theatre presented in the fall, it was written in the mid-1940s and features a small cast; in this case, three women.

“All three roles are excellent and will provide significant challenges for even our best and most experienced actors,” he said. “It works well in a space not designed as a theatre, and it provides the actors with an opportunity to really sink their teeth into roles … the two maids are both on stage for virtually the entire show.

“It’s a fascinating work dealing with issues of violence, jealousy, mental health, sexuality, gender and especially class,” he added. The play is recommended for mature audiences.

The title characters are sisters in the employ of “Madame.” “Monsieur” has been imprisoned based on an anonymous tip from the maids. The two plot to murder their employer, running through a series of episodes that might be ritual, might be fantasy, and might be reality, Jones explains.

One of the more interesting elements of the production, Jones said, will be that there are understudies for each role; all of the understudies will be guaranteed a performance, provided that health and COVID protocols allow.

“We’ll be handling the understudy roles a little differently than standard practice: they will not be expected or encouraged to do what the other actors are doing,” Jones said. “Actors will need to be ‘in the moment’ even more than in a standard production, responding to the stimuli that are actually happening on stage rather than to what may have been rehearsed with someone else. Assuming all goes well, we’ll have four different casts for a five-night run.”

“The Maids” was one of three plays Jones, who is in his 20th year of teaching at SFA, submitted more than a year ago as possibilities to perform this year. Submissions for consideration were made pre-COVID and long before he contemplated retirement. But things have a way of working out like they’re supposed to.

“I think it’s an apt coda,” he said. “The small cast works particularly well under these circumstances. It’s an intellectual, ‘talkie’ play, but it will be accessible if we do it right. There’s a chance that it won’t work, of course; this just might be the most difficult play I’ve ever attempted, and heroic failures are still valuable. They pay me to get students better more than to necessarily do great productions. I think I can guarantee the former, and, at this point in the rehearsal process, I’m pretty confident about the latter, as well.”

Patrons who attend the show in person will be required to wear face coverings and socially distance themselves from other audience members not in their immediate group. Actors will be maskless if the School of Theatre gets approval from SFA health and safety officials. All participants in all rehearsals prior to technical/dress rehearsals will wear masks at all times. Company members will be tested for COVID regularly throughout the process and must pass a temperature check before every performance.

General ticket prices are: adult, $15; senior (62+), $10; non-SFA student, $10; SFA faculty/staff, $7.50; youth, $7.50; SFA student, $5; virtual access, $15. Live virtual access is available for all performances. Purchase tickets/access at boxoffice.sfasu.edu or call (936) 468-6407. For questions about the play, contact the School of Theatre at (936) 468-4003. Seating is limited.

Stephen F. Austin State University’s Office of Multicultural Affairs will discuss self-reflection, empowerment, community building and radical empathy during the first Brave Space Series of the spring semester.

Solo El Pueblo Salva Al Pueblo (Only the People Save The People) is a workshop where participants will have the opportunity to discuss how the power of the people can help overturn worldwide systems of oppression, as well as participate in activities that demonstrate the steps individuals can take in their own sphere of influence.

“The purpose of this workshop is to educate the audience about the power that exists within all of us to build a new world where true freedom and justice are possible,” said Andrea Flores, OMA student ambassador. “The workshop includes activities and discussions that will encourage participants to be honest and vulnerable with one another to highlight the importance of empathy, love and trust, which are essential for community building.”

The activities are designed to educate participants about the current state of worldwide systems of oppression and the impact behind individuals’ everyday decisions and assist participants in finding what realistic steps they can take to help build community within their own social circles.

“I hope participants leave the workshop knowing about the power they have to fight against these worldwide systems of oppression,” Flores said.

The workshop will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, in the Baker Pattillo Student Center Multimedia Room. In-person attendance is limited, so participants also can join via Zoom.

To make accommodations, such as captioning, or to register, visit sfasu.edu/oma.

For more information, contact the Office of Multicultural Affairs at oma@sfasu.edu or (936) 468-1073.

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

Nacogdoches will become a more pedestrian-friendly community thanks to actions taken by members of the Stephen F. Austin State University Board of Regents during their quarterly meeting Tuesday.

SFA will provide $13,282 to the Texas Department of Transportation in support of a pedestrian improvement project along Starr Avenue from Clark Boulevard to Cardinal Street.

“In July of 2019, the board approved the submission of grant project applications to the Texas Department of Transportation for pedestrian improvements,” said Dr. Danny Gallant, SFA vice president for finance and administration. “TxDOT liked the project so much that they assumed the project and significantly reduced the financial commitment from the university.”

Bidding for the next phase of the sidewalk project will begin in August.

As part of the meeting, regents toured the university’s new Beef Center facility located at the Todd Agricultural Research Center.

Dr. Scott Gordon, SFA president, said the new facility will greatly benefit SFA students and ensure that the university remains competitive among other agricultural programs in the state.

The 20,000-square-foot facility, equipped with an arena, classroom and office space, sits on the footprint of the previous facility destroyed by a fire in November 2018.

In January 2020, the SFA Board of Regents approved the construction of a replacement barn at a projected cost of $900,000.

“Additional donations from private industry, alumni and friends continue to assist in outfitting the new facility with state-of-the-art equipment that will not only benefit current students, but the surrounding community,” Gordon said.

Each year SFA’s Department of Agriculture hosts an array of workshops and clinics for area producers in addition to high school agriculture competitions and community outreach events, such as Breakfast on the Farm, according to Dr. Joey Bray, chair of SFA’s Department of Agriculture.

“This is an upgrade from the previous facility and will increase the department’s ability to provide instruction in areas such as food science and food safety,” Bray said.

Despite the setback of losing a key structure and adapting to coursework amid a global pandemic, student enrollment increased in the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture — an achievement that Dr. Hans Williams, dean of the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, attributes to the dedication and hard work of faculty and staff members.

Construction of the facility is expected to be completed later this spring.

Regents also approved an adjustment in the cost for dual-credit courses offered to high school students. During the September 2020 meeting, regents exempted dual-credit students from paying web-based distance education fees for the fall 2020 and spring and summer 2021 semesters and indicated that dual-credit tuition and fees would be reevaluated at a later date.

“This action eliminated dual-credit distance education fees for that time period,” Gallant said. “After surveying the tuition and fee costs of community colleges and other senior institutions, the SFA administration recommended a fixed price for dual-credit students, regardless of the delivery modality.”

Regents approved a tuition and fee charge of $258 for a three-semester-credit-hour dual-credit course, beginning with the fall 2021 semester.

Regents also approved keeping room rates the same for the upcoming academic year, but added a new eight-week residence hall price to accommodate eight-week courses being offered by the university. The new eight-week terms are priced at 5% more than 50% of the traditional term price.

The university’s move from the Southland Conference to the Western Athletic Conference, effective July 1, was approved by regents. SFA is one of four Texas universities that will be joining the conference.

Regents acknowledged receipt of the audit services report and approved a resolution acknowledging review of the investment strategy and policy. They also approved:

the final STEM Building project budget of $47.3 million
adding projected investment earnings of $732,845 from the Basketball Performance Facility bonds proceeds to the project budget, for a total budget of $29.2 million
grant awards totaling $284,832
qualified financial institutions and investment brokers
annual financial report
and grant awards and policy revisions.

The regents heard reports from President Gordon; Chris Moore, the president of the Student Government Association; Dr. Andrew Lannen, chair of the Faculty Senate; and the Intercollegiate Athletic Advisory Committee.

An award-winning author and poet was approved to serve as interim dean of the College of Liberal and Applied Arts during a quarterly meeting of the Stephen F. Austin State University Board of Regents.

Dr. Mark Sanders, associate dean and professor of English, has received awards including the Western Heritage Award and the Poetry Nebraska Book Award. His poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction and literary criticism have been published in the U.S., Canada, Great Britain and Australia.

Sanders holds two doctoral degrees – the first focusing on modern poetry from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the second in higher education from the University of Idaho. His bachelor’s and master’s degrees are from Kearney State College in Nebraska.

In addition to Sanders’ appointment as interim dean, regents approved the retirement of the previous dean of the college, Brian Murphy, as well as the appointments of Brandon Frye as vice president for student affairs and Graham Garner as chief marketing communications officer.

Other appointments by regents included Rebecca Spears as visiting assistant professor of English, Jessica Glasscock as assistant professor of forestry, and the following changes of status: Alison Reed, from learning experience design specialist to coordinator, Center for Teaching and Learning; Kallie Barrett, from accountant II to billing services coordinator, Controller’s Office; Alexis Guthery, from project coordinator to project analyst, Information Technology; Amy Camacho, from analyst to senior analyst, and Shelby Winthrop, from administrative assistant to analyst, Institutional Research; Michara DeLaney-Fields, from chief diversity officer to interim vice president, and Hollie Smith, from assistant dean of students to interim dean of students, Student Affairs; Sarah Kouliavtsev, from senior specialist to coordinator – web services, University Marketing Communications; and Ryan Brown-Moreno, from career coordinator to academic partnership coordinator.

In athletics, Andrew Glass was approved as assistant track coach, and Chelsea Groves was appointed assistant program director-strategic communications. Patricia Rivera was appointed Title IX compliance specialist.

Regents approved the retirement of James Towns, a professor in the Department of Languages, Cultures and Communication, and named him professor emeritus in the College of Liberal and Applied Arts. Towns has served as an SFA faculty member since 1970 and has authored 18 books.

Also in the College of Liberal and Applied Arts, regents approved the retirements of administrative assistant, Jane Robinson; Anne Duncan, adjunct faculty, English and creative writing; and Karen Price, associate professor, government.

Regents approved Perkins College of Education retirements including Paula Griffin, associate professor, elementary education; Karen Farris and Louann Williams, master teachers, Early Childhood Laboratory; Mitzi Perritt, professor, human sciences; and David Goodman, lecturer, kinesiology and health science.

In the College of Sciences and Mathematics, the following retirements were approved: Gene Sullivan, instructor, biology; professors Thomas Callaway and Edward Michaels, physics, engineering and astronomy; Carol Athey, clinical instructor, nursing; and Peggy Moss, administrative assistant, and Nola Schmidt, curriculum coordinator, STEM Research and Learning Center.

The retirement of Steve Westbrook, vice president for University Affairs, was approved, along with

Jeffery Williams, technology coordinator, forestry and agriculture; Keith New, lecturer, business communication and legal studies; Catherine Young, accountant II, Controller’s Office; Michael Carmical, programmer/analyst, and Glenn Millard, help desk analyst, information technology; Donna Crawford, administrative assistant, Student Affairs; Carol Woodson, reservation/conference coordinator, and Terry Witcher, building operator II, student center operations; Barbara Blackwell, costume shop foreperson, theatre; and Hardy Meredith, photography services coordinator, University Marketing Communications.

The retirement of Health Services Director Janice Ledet was among those approved, along with Jenny Henson, clinical lab scientist, and Charlene Honea, assistant to the director.

Retirements approved for SFA’s Physical Plant included Virginia Booth, Joie Fields and Garth Zimmerman, custodial workers; Lewis McPherson, grounds worker; Donald Shinn, electrical/electronics foreperson; Mary Evans, administrative assistant; James Radar, manager of residence life operations; Bobbie Sanders, auto services technician; and Gilberto Veliz and Angela Williams, both custodial forepersons.

In the University Police Department, regents approved the retirements of James Fincher, corporal; Tina Layton, parking office coordinator; and Muriel Taylor, dispatcher.

Stephen F. Austin State University President Scott Gordon has named the individual who will fill the newly created role as the university’s first chief marketing communications officer.

Graham Garner currently serves as chief officer for communications, marketing and external relations at The State University of New York in Morrisville, located 30 miles southeast of Syracuse. He developed and launched the institution’s first-ever major market research project and led the subsequent brand revitalization. He also initiated and managed strategy and tactics for digital advertising and social media campaigns.

“Graham Garner is known among higher education leaders for building a brand based on the perspective of education as a public good that can benefit from private enterprise as it brings value to individuals, communities and industries,” Gordon said. “He is well-respected for his ability to see trends on the horizon and to lead organizational change that benefits the entire institution.”

Gordon said the chief marketing communication officer role was created to replace the marketing efforts led by the Carlberg Agency, based in Houston, since 2013.

“We believe our marketing efforts will be more impactful if they are based on work that originates here on our campus,” Gordon said. “Graham will work to coordinate our marketing efforts across campus, including athletics, enrollment and fundraising.”

Prior to his employment with SUNY, Garner was a reporter for the Idaho State Journal and won an Idaho Press Club award for coverage of gubernatorial candidates. He went on to work in alumni relations for Idaho State University, where he was promoted to director of alumni relations before also heading offices of development, web communications and university relations. He later led marketing efforts at Wartburg College in Iowa for five years, including serving as vice president for marketing and communications.

“I am honored and excited to join SFA’s leadership and communications teams and expand on the successes the institution has earned,” Garner said. “The diversity of experiences and perspectives at SFA is rich, and I believe there are great opportunities ahead to share those stories as part of a larger effort to expand and elevate the university’s reputation.”

Garner holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and a Master of Public Administration degree and completed coursework for Doctor of Education in higher education leadership from Idaho State University.

As the chief marketing communications officer, Garner will be responsible for significantly enhancing the university’s visibility and increasing awareness and understanding of its mission, vision and academic programs.

For more information about SFA, visit www.sfasu.edu/about-sfa/newsroom.