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Dr. Sara Parks, assistant professor and coordinator of technical writing in Stephen F. Austin State University’s Department of English and Creative Writing, has co-authored a chapter in the upcoming book titled “Technical Communication for Environmental Action.”

Edited by Sean D. Williams, associate professor of technical communication and information design at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, this collection of essays engages scholars and practitioners in a conversation about action to address climate change. The book is slated to be published in early January.

“This book sprung from a 2019 conference panel on environmental accountability in technical communication,” Parks said. “It has been fun to watch the process move from casual synergy to a full edition.” 

The chapter titled “Resilient Farmland: The Role of Technical Communicators” presents cases of technical communication that seek to shape agricultural and environmental resiliency in the Midwest, specifically in Iowa. It also reviews technical writing associated with the Des Moines Waterworks case and other water quality cases. Parks co-authored the chapter with Dr. Lee Tesdell, emeritus faculty member at Minnesota State University Mankato.

The two are former MSU colleagues with a shared interest and background in agricultural resiliency and applied technical communication. Their partnership started with many long conversations and brainstorming opportunities in this area of study.

“We hope our chapter gives insight into the practices of technical communicators and the challenges they face when engaging with agriculture resiliency and environmental action in the U.S. Midwest,” Parks said.

Prior to her arrival at SFA in 2019, Parks taught a variety of courses at Kansas State University, Iowa State University and MSU. She specializes in rhetoric of science and completed her dissertation while working as a science communicator for a biorenewable energy National Science Foundation grant in Iowa.

Parks also has published six articles for various journals related to science communication.

For more information or to preorder the book, visit gosfa.com/3igWdAe.

After a comprehensive process evaluating affiliation with a university system, including responses and feedback from student, faculty, staff and alumni stakeholder groups, as well as the general public, the SFA Board of Regents voted during its special meeting today to accept the invitation of The University of Texas System to become a member institution. 

In addition, the board approved a waiver of its rules regarding selection of the next SFA president so the search can begin under the presidential selection rules of the UT System Board of Regents.

SFA regents thanked all participants in the process, as well as the Nacogdoches community, for their work evaluating system affiliation and the proposals of the four systems SFA was invited to join. Their work began Aug. 22 and culminated in reports to the board on Oct. 30.

“We are excited about the enormous opportunities this affiliation will provide for our students, faculty and staff,” said Karen Gantt, SFA Board of Regents chair. “We know that the future of SFA will be enhanced by becoming a member of the leading university system in the country.”

Gantt led the board subcommittee that examined governance, financial and other matters regarding potential affiliation. In addition, she thanked the four systems involved — Texas A&M University System, Texas State University System, Texas Tech University System and The University of Texas System — stating “it has been our honor and privilege to work with these systems and all on their teams and to engage in meaningful and sincere dialogue about opportunities for SFA in their respective university system.”

Kevin P. Eltife, chairman of the UT System Board of Regents, said UT’s regents and leadership deeply admire and respect SFA’s rich tradition and successful history.

“We are honored and enthusiastic about taking the next steps together in this process with confidence that this union will make each of us stronger,” he added. “Our proposal to SFA outlined our sincere commitment to helping the university build upon its programs, traditions and culture that have made the university unique for nearly a century, while adding resources to help amplify those strengths and ultimately serve more Texans.”

With today’s affiliation announcement, the next step is for SFA and UT System officials to collaborate with legislative leaders on the legislation that will enable this governance change during the upcoming session, SFA’s interim President Dr. Steve Westbrook explained.

“In addition, I will be working closely with system officials over the next few weeks as the search for the next SFA president begins, and I will keep the campus updated on that progress,” he added.

SFA will retain its name, brand and culture.

For more information, visit sfasu.edu/regents and sfasu.edu/system.