Everything Nac

The Stephen F. Austin State University Board of Regents concluded its quarterly meeting Tuesday in which it approved construction and maintenance projects delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, heard results of a campus climate survey, and approved the university’s 2022-23 operating budget that will include a budget supplement for faculty and staff compensation.

At the beginning of the business portion of the meeting, Regents Chair Karen Gantt briefly addressed the discussion surrounding the potential of SFA joining a university system: “I want to address a matter that has been a topic of campus discussion. There have been questions regarding system affiliation. We have heard these questions, and we have discussed them as well. We will be analyzing this issue, and we will communicate more with you and the campus community as we evaluate what is in the best interest of our university.”

The board then moved on with its business.

On Feb. 6, 2019, the board issued bonds to finance several construction and improvement projects across the campus. Some of the projects included in this funding were postponed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The board approved a resolution at this meeting to use these bond funds to proceed with the construction of a new dining facility at the site of Hall 16, which is scheduled to be demolished this fall. The dining facility will serve students and other patrons who currently dine in the East College Dining Hall, which will be demolished after the new dining facility is complete.

Additional projects approved were deferred maintenance on several academic and auxiliary facilities, deferred maintenance in residence halls, the removal of several older and unused residence halls, and a campus electric grid analysis.

The board also heard the results of a campus climate survey from Dr. Michara Delaney-Fields, SFA’s chief diversity officer. Most SFA community members feel that they are learning, welcome, connected to their peers, respected and valued at SFA. Results from the survey also reflected challenges from historically underrepresented and marginalized groups whose responses were less favorable.

In addition, the board approved the fiscal year 2022-23 operating budget and a one-time use of $3.7 million for additional faculty and staff compensation. With the supplement of $3.7 million, the fiscal year 2022-23 annual institutional operating budget totals $273,720,925.

Regents also acknowledged receipt of the audit services report and approved:

• curriculum changes
• grant awards totaling $509,457 for fiscal year to date

• policy revisions
• and the minutes of previous meetings.

Regents heard reports from Interim President Steve Westbrook; Dr. Chris McKenna, chair of the Faculty Senate; Megan Weatherly, chair of the Staff Council; and Madison Gartman, president of the Student Government Association.

For more information, visit sfasu.edu/regents.

Stephen F. Austin State University music alumnus Brian Miller has been named executive director of the Grammy Award-winning Houston Chamber Choir.

Miller, who previously served as chorus manager with the Houston Symphony, joins the Houston Chamber Choir with more than a decade of experience in the professional and educational choral realm. He earned a Master of Music in Choral Conducting in 2013 from SFA, where he studied with Dr. Tim King, and his undergraduate degree in music education is from Southwestern University.

With a background and career rooted in music education, Miller is looking forward to transitioning from “championing choir on a classroom and local level to becoming an advocate on a larger national scale.”

“The Houston Chamber Choir is a Grammy Award-winning organization of international renown, and I am excited to lead the efforts off-stage to help enable the continued success of the ensemble on-stage,” he said.

Miller credits his time at SFA and associations with peer Lumberjack choral professionals as helping him formulate the career opportunities and experiences that led him to this new appointment.

“SFA’s reach in Houston and in Texas at large is quite vast,” he said. “I was able to begin my work at 6A high schools out of my graduate studies because of my connections from SFA. During my first years, there was always a large circle of choir directors, many from SFA both before and during my time there, who were willing to help and let me bounce ideas off of them. The choral world in Texas is collaborative by nature, but my SFA connections gave me immediate common ground with prominent directors in the Houston area where I was working.”

Before transitioning to fine arts management, Miller had a successful career in public education where he directed 6A Texas high school choral programs. His programs consistently earned sweepstakes awards at UIL contests and were invited to multiple invitationals in the Houston area. Miller served as a TMEA All-State section leader, held region-level organizational positions, and sang professionally with both Cantare Houston and the Houston Men’s Choir.

Miller said he maintains personal and professional relationships with SFA colleagues. “I have so many favorite memories with many people from SFA, but most of them involve SFA alumni Dr. Jake Taylor and Casey Parrish when we served as graduate assistants for the choral department,” he said. “I’ll summarize them all by saying our mentor Dr. Tim King (retired director of choral activities at SFA) loved to utilize the ‘all duties as assigned’ portion of our contracts.”

Miller considers his proudest accomplishments thus far to be those that “centered around enabling my students to succeed.”

“I always kept my work to be about them, and I tried to remove myself from the picture,” he said. “It was “our” program, but “their” concerts and successes. I always wanted what I achieved to be centered on the kids and the music and not me or any sort of self-promotion.” He lists as highlights program convention appearances with Dorothy Wilson at Cinco Ranch High School; performing at the Sam Houston State University invitationals with SFA alum Cynthia Douglas and Southwestern University alum Jed Ragsdale; and serving as a Texas All-State section leader.

Looking forward to his venture with the Houston Chamber Choir, he’s excited about being part of a team that will accomplish great things for the choir and choral music, and for the City of Houston.

“I hope that in the future I can leverage my education background to help add to the already wonderful outreach programs the Houston Chamber Choir provides for students and teachers alike,” he said. “We want to be a resource for teachers no matter where they are in their careers and act as a beacon for students who want more out of their music experiences. Above all, I am seeking happiness and enjoy heading home after a day’s work to see my dog, Puccini, and my wife, Melanie.”

For information about SFA School of Music’s choral conducting program, contact Dr. Michael Murphy, director of choral activities, at (936) 468-4602 or visit music.sfasu.edu.

During its quarterly meeting, the Stephen F. Austin State University Board of Regents recognized student, faculty and staff achievements, as well as approved faculty and staff appointments.

The board recognized the SFA student team that earned Best Delegation honors at the Midwest Model European Union competition. The team’s faculty sponsor is Dr. Steven Galatas, associate professor of government.

The board also recognized academic advisors; SFA’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team; and the Division of Finance and Administration.

In addition, the regents approved faculty and staff promotions and appointments, as well as granted tenure to a faculty member effective fall 2022.

In the College of Sciences and Mathematics, regents promoted Keli Sheree Barrios, Kesha Becnel, Katy Trotty and Allison Younger to assistant professors in the DeWitt School of Nursing.

Regents also awarded tenure to Dr. Bidisha Sengupta, assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.

Lacey Bradshaw was appointed as contracting specialist II in the Office of Procurement and Business Services, and Holly Randall was appointed as a counselor in Counseling Services. Jeremy Pickett was appointed as the emergency management coordinator in the University Police Department.

In the Department of Athletics, Richie Bruister was hired as head coach of softball, Dallas Cameron as men’s basketball assistant coach, Hadrian Choukran as co-head coach of track and field, and Marcus Trice and Mitchell White as football assistant coaches.

Ron Hanson was named as co-head coach of track and field and cross-country, Debbie Humphreys as head coach of volleyball, Amber Lemke as head coach of bowling, Tony Minatta as head coach of soccer, and Erin Scott as head coach of tennis. Jordan Rains moved from student compliance specialist in the Office of the Registrar to program director of compliance and academic eligibility for athletics.

In Information Technology Services, Ross Bowman was promoted from systems programmer I to systems programmer II, and Choya Coleman moved from program card coordinator in the Office of Procurement and Business Services to project and accessibility coordinator of banner project management in ITS.

Alisha Collins moved from lecturer of accounting to budget director in the Division of Academic Affairs, Christopher Cotton from East Texas Research Center archive associate to university archives and research coordinator in the Steen Library, and Jordan Cunningham from greenhouse technician to environmental education program director in the Department of Agriculture.

Additionally, Teneka Fowler moved from representative in Human Resources to coordinator in the Office of Institutional Effectiveness, Megan Kelley from academic advisor II in the James I. Perkins College of Education to senior admissions counselor in the Office of Admissions, Ja’von Long from assistant director in the Office of Multicultural Affairs to interim coordinator of student engagement for Fraternity and Sorority Life, and Shannon Morrison from student success coordinator in academic advising to career coordinator in the Center for Career and Professional Development.

Steffany Newsome moved from risk and compliance auditor in the Department of Audit Services to assistant director in the Office of Financial Reporting, Leslie Ornelas from assistant teacher to lead teacher in the Early Childhood Laboratory, LaShanda Parkhurst from counselor II to assistant director in the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, and Kendall Rocha from risk and compliance auditor to risk and compliance auditor II in the Department of Audit Services.

Andrew Roybal-Cano was named manager of the Axe Handle one-stop shop, moving from his previous position as student compliance specialist in the Office of the Registrar.

Jacob Seamans was promoted from accountant III to director in the Office of Financial Reporting, Stephanie Strahl from academic advisor III in the Perkins College of Education’s academic services to academic advisor III in the Perkins College of Education Office of Student Services and Advising, and Dr. Gary Wurtz from director of the School of Music to dean of the Micky Elliott College of Fine Arts.

Lastly, regents approved the retirements of Dr. Thomas Branton, assistant professor of accounting; Dr. Lynn Greenleaf, associate professor of mathematics and statistics; and Dr. Josephine Taylor, professor of biology.