SFA finance professor named interim vice president for development

Dr. John Lewis has been named interim vice president for development at Stephen F. Austin State University.

Lewis, a Nacogdoches native, earned a bachelor's degree in finance and a master's degree in management from Texas A&M University. He joined the SFA faculty in 1969 and completed a doctorate at Louisiana Tech University in 1975.

Lewis has been named SFA's finance professor of the year eight times and received a Teaching Excellence grant from the university in 1985. He has authored or co-authored almost 20 publications and for 16 years served as an investment consultant to Citizens 1st Bank. He served as financial adviser to the SFASU Foundation from 1996 until Aug. 31, 2008.

"Dr. Lewis is one of the most respected professors on campus, and I have the utmost confidence in him," said Dr. Baker Pattillo, SFA president. "I am thankful he is willing to serve in this capacity. His leadership will be very beneficial to the Office of Development and the entire university."

Pattillo announced during a recent faculty and staff meeting that he would begin a search to fill the development position. He said he hopes to have the position filled before Lewis' planned retirement in May 2009.