Stephen F. Austin State University named Dr. Kent L. Willis the inaugural senior vice president for enrollment and student engagement. A 2008 graduate of SFA, Willis brings a wealth of experience in student affairs and enrollment management, most recently serving as vice president of student affairs and enrollment management at California State University, Fresno.

More than two dozen Stephen F. Austin State University students majoring in a variety of subjects spent the semester exploring local businesses to learn about the challenges owners faced on their paths to success. One stop was SuSu’s Popcorn & Candy Café in downtown Nacogdoches, where they learned how Alan and Susan Sowards enlisted family members to help launch the business in March 2023.

Brylee Adams, marketing senior from Houston in Stephen F. Austin State University’s Rusche College of Business, placed 14th out of nearly 500 students competing in Fastenal’s online National Sales Invitational in November. Adams advanced through two rounds of competition by making compelling “elevator pitches” for fictional companies as part of pre-announced case studies to reach the national final round. As part of this round, she met with the chief financial officer of a fictional company over Microsoft Teams for 30 minutes. During this proposal and negotiation stage of the sales process, Adams was judged on her ability to gain attention and build rapport, match her solutions with the buyer’s challenges and concerns, and apply her professional sales skills. She earned a total of $300 in scholarships from the Rusche College of Business. Fastenal provides supply chain solutions for a variety of industrial products in 25 countries.