Everything Nac

Students at Stephen F. Austin State University will soon be able to concentrate their studies on the science behind the creation of wine, beer and fermented foods.

This fall, the College of Sciences and Mathematics at SFA will offer a new concentration in fermentation science for students in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. The program will provide students with a broad, fundamental level of knowledge in the chemical, biochemical and microbiological principles and concepts integral to the fermentation process through a multidisciplinary curriculum, according to Dr. Xiaozhen Han, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry.

“Fermented products are everywhere, such as bread, cheese, yogurt, beer and wine, however we seldom ask ourselves what the science and technologies are behind these products,” Han said.

One of just a handful in the nation, the program will use a hands-on approach to address the use of microorganisms as processing agents in the production of wine and beer as well as in a variety of fermented foods. According to Dr. Michael Janusa, chair of the department, students also will learn the basic principles of food handling, hygiene, safety and regulatory prices in the industry, along with the basic principles of management and administration in the hospitality industry.

“While many certificate and two-year programs give you the basics, our four-year program teaches you the math and science behind the processes, which allows you to understand and control and be part of the management production team,” Janusa said.

For more information about the program, visit sfasu.edu/chemistry.

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

A new concentration available through Stephen F. Austin State University’s Master of Education in educational leadership prepares students to become leaders in the field of public-school athletic administration.

Beginning this fall, the James I. Perkins College of Education at SFA is offering an athletic director concentration that provides the needed skills and knowledge to effectively supervise both coaches and student-athletes.

“The Master of Education in educational leadership program at SFA has a rich history of preparing effective and capable school leaders who influence the educational setting and focus on instruction for student success, but the addition of a program specifically for future athletic directors is a new one,” said Dr. Barbara Qualls, director of SFA’s educational leadership program.

“Students are already enrolling in a cohort for this new program,” she added.

Through this 30-hour, completely online program, students can earn an educational leadership master’s degree, develop athletic administration skills and meet many of the requirements for eventual principal certification, all while remaining fully employed.

“In each course, a field-based component connects the university coursework with transformative leadership experiences in the school setting,” Qualls said. “The students complete assigned and creative experiences that directly apply to each course and comply with the Texas core competencies for administrators and Educational Leadership Constituent Council standards.”

Scholarships are available for the program.

For more information, email Qualls at quallsba@sfasu.edu.

By Jo Gilmore, marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.

As the COVID-19 pandemic forced university campuses to close throughout the country, Stephen F. Austin State University faculty members moved their normally face-to-face courses online.

The transformation of some courses to Zoom sessions presented more challenges than others.

Sally Ann Swearingen, associate professor and instructor for the professional practice in interior design course at SFA, said the class requires in-person job shadowing with interior designers to explore topics ranging from marketing to estimate preparation to professional ethics and job opportunities.

“Of course, it’s impossible for our students to participate in job shadowing right now because of the pandemic and stay-at-home orders,” she said.

At the end of March, Swearingen sent out a call to the interior design program’s alumni for help: “None of the students can job shadow right now. If you would graciously let them visit with you by phone or Zoom, please let me know. We want them to have the same experience you had. Thanks for giving back to SFA!”

Within an hour, Swearingen heard from more than 30 alumni across the nation who wanted to help.

“It was an overwhelming response,” she said. “And the students ended up liking it better than traditional job shadowing because talking to our alumni helped build up their confidence.”

Michaela Gensler, an interior design senior from Houston, received help from Brooke Brodlowicz, a 2013 SFA graduate who is now a senior design technician at Newberry Architecture in Houston.

“Brooke gave me good advice about getting out of my comfort zone and knowing when to ask for help,” Gensler said.

Brodlowicz answered Swearingen’s call for help because of her fond memories of job shadowing at SFA.

“I’m saddened these students didn’t get the chance to participate in the real working world in this course,” she said. “Because of the wonderful experience I had, I wanted to do my part in helping them learn some of what I learned.”

Brodlowicz said working with Gensler gave her new perspective, as well.

“This experience taught me that even though I have come a long way since I was in these students’ position, I still have a lot to learn in my career,” she said. “It made me very grateful for my mentors I have at my workplace, and I have since told them how much I have appreciated them teaching me. I hope these students can find wonderful mentors wherever they land, too.”

Brodlowicz also has advice specifically for interior design seniors graduating during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has greatly affected the processes designers, contractors and vendors in this field have relied on for their day-to-day work.

“Unfortunately, a lot of businesses are suffering due to this virus and have had to reduce their number of employees or implement furloughs,” she said. “New graduates may need to consider potentially taking an internship or position that does not pay or pays a lower salary at this time.”

Because of the success of virtual job shadowing this semester, Swearingen said she’ll continue connecting her students with SFA alumni for this and other classes after the pandemic to help build her students’ confidence.

Brodlowicz is ready to help again because she wants her fellow Lumberjacks to have every chance to succeed in their careers.

For more information on SFA’s interior design program, email Swearingen at sswearingen@sfasu.edu.

By Jo Gilmore, marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.

The Stanley Center for Speech and Language Disorders at Stephen F. Austin State University will provide speech and/or language teletherapy beginning June 1 for current clients of all ages and anyone receiving services through the school system or other clinics closed due to COVID-19.

It also will offer a limited number of online evaluations for potential clients.

SFA graduate students will provide the clients’ teletherapy with “100% supervision from a licensed speech-language pathologist,” said Deena Petersen, clinic director.

Like other health service providers, the Stanley Center for Speech and Language Disorders has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We hope to open the clinic this summer to provide face-to-face services, but for now all services will be delivered via teletherapy,” Petersen said.

The clinic’s annual summer literacy camp will be offered during SFA’s Summer 1 session through teletherapy. This camp focuses on literacy instruction through small groups and is available to children who will be entering kindergarten this fall or who are in first or second grade and struggling with reading.

“It will be teletherapy that focuses on letters, letter sounds and decoding words,” Petersen said. “A limited number of groups will be available.”

The clinic also is offering speech therapy to those with Parkinson’s disease at no charge via teletherapy.

For more information about these teletherapy services and limited online evaluations, call (936) 468-7109.

By Jo Gilmore, marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.