Everything Nac

For the second consecutive year, the Society of American Foresters recognized the Stephen F. Austin State University student chapter among the top three in the nation during the organization’s virtual conference held in October.

“Winning this award for the second year in a row is very gratifying,” said Jacob Muggeridge, forestry major and president of the SFA student chapter. “I hope we can continue the tradition this upcoming year with further events and engagement in the spring semester.”

The recognition is based on the accomplishments of the student chapter, as well as its service to the community.

Muggeridge said that with the guidance of Dr. Rebecca Kidd, assistant professor of forest ecology and SAF student chapter faculty advisor, the chapter actively built and maintained relationships with local groups, such as the Angelina-Nacogdoches Forest Landowners Association, and conducted a number of service projects with Mission Tejas State Park and the Pineywoods Native Plant Center.

“Through Dr. Rebecca Kidd’s leadership, student members of the SFA student chapter of the SAF have developed an exemplary record of service to the forestry profession and the East Texas community,” said Dr. Hans Williams, dean of SFA’s Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture. “They are outstanding ambassadors for the SFA forestry program and deserving of this national recognition.”

For 45 years, Dr. Harry Downing, professor and former chair of the Department of Physics, Engineering and Astronomy, has made a career of serving others at Stephen F. Austin State University.

With a generous gift of support to the college, he has ensured this legacy and that of his late wife, Carolyn, will live on and continue benefitting students. In a recent meeting, the SFA Board of Regents named two rooms in the Cole STEM Building in their honor, the Harry and Carolyn Downing Physics Resource Commons and the Harry and Carolyn Downing Engineering Resource Commons.

Dr. Scott Gordon, SFA president, said Downing’s career with SFA makes the gift especially meaningful.

“Dr. Downing has invested his time and talent and dedicated his career to this university,” Gordon said. “His willingness to also invest financially in the education of SFA Lumberjacks is a visible manifestation of his devotion to our students. The Downings’ investment sets a benchmark for every SFA employee in demonstrating a firm belief in the university’s mission.”

Natives of Manila, Arkansas, Downing and Carolyn Brady were married in 1965 and celebrated 54 years together. Carolyn served as a licensed practical nurse for 40 years, working for Dr. Aaron Polk of Nacogdoches.

Downing received a Bachelor of Science in physics from Arkansas State University and a Master of Science in physics and a doctoral degree from Florida State University. Originally planning to pursue a degree in engineering, a suggestion from his professor changed his mind.

“When I took the required physics course, I was doing very well,” Downing said. “The professor convinced me that physics was a better fit for me than engineering. In retrospect, my professor was right about it being a better fit.”

Downing joined the faculty in SFA’s Department of Physics, Engineering and Astronomy in 1975 and became chair in 1988. He taught courses in general physics, introduction to engineering/physics, technical physics, engineering statistics, engineering dynamics and mathematical applications in physics. Downing was named 2013-2014 Regents Professor and received teaching excellence awards from both the Department of Physics, Engineering and Astronomy and the College of Sciences and Mathematics.

“I considered myself to be a good teacher with my ways of doing things,” Downing said. “When I became chair, I remember deciding to not impose my teaching style on the faculty. Guide them but not force them.”

This trust among the faculty was something Downing consciously strove to facilitate and promote within the department.

“It’s simple – I had great faculty,” he said. “We recruited well for new faculty, always making sure the new faculty met our qualifications but also were congenial. Harmony in the workplace makes for a great work environment.”

While teaching, Downing made extensive use of a small area near the physics faculty offices to study, leading to his desire to provide the same space for students.

“This quiet area for study and quick access to faculty help was very valuable to me, and I wanted to see this for our students at SFA,” he said. “When we worked on designing the Cole STEM Building, we made sure that such rooms would be included.”

The rooms provide a workspace with computers for students to utilize between and after classes, as well as refrigerator and microwave access and lounging areas.

“As the department chair within the College of Sciences and Mathematics for more than 31 years, Dr. Downing impacted thousands of lives through his teaching, research, service and departmental leadership,” said Dr. Kimberly Childs, dean of the College of Sciences and Mathematics. “Today, the Physics Resource Commons and the Engineering Resource Commons, dedicated spaces for students to study, are named in his honor.”

Learn more about the Department of Physics, Engineering and Astronomy at sfasu.edu/physics.

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

The A Cappella Choir at Stephen F. Austin State University will perform at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18, in a livestreamed concert.

The program, titled “Eternal Companion,” will feature works by Felix Mendelssohn, Elaine Hagenberg, Ralph Vaughan Williams and Aleksandr Kopylow.

Dr. Michael Murphy, director of choral activities in the SFA School of Music, is conductor. The program also features Dr. Ron Petti, collaborative piano; Dr. Evgeni Raychev, cello; James Held, baritone; and Greg Simmons of Tyler and David Zielke of Albany, Oregon, graduate student conductors.

Obtain free access to the online concert by visiting music.sfasu.edu on the day of the performance. For more information about the School of Music, call (936) 468-4602.