Bright Ideas Conference to highlight SFA faculty research, scholarship and artistry

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The 2012 Bright Ideas Conference highlighting faculty research, scholarship and artistry at Stephen F. Austin State University will be held Wednesday, April 11, in the Baker Pattillo Student Center.

More than 80 research posters and scholarly exhibits will be on display from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom. Spotlight exhibits will be featured in the Twilight Ballroom. A reception honoring the spotlight exhibitors will begin at 4 p.m. in the Twilight Ballroom, followed by the awards ceremony.

The biennial Bright Ideas Conference is sponsored by the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Teaching Excellence Center and the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs.

"It is essential that the faculty of a teaching institution such as SFA remain active in research and creative work," said Dr. Richard Berry, SFA provost and vice president for academic affairs.

"Many of our faculty members have an extraordinary record of achievement in these areas, and I believe it is important to provide an opportunity to showcase these achievements so that, at the very least, we can become aware of the very impressive scholarly work of our colleagues and the ways in which this work informs and strengthens our teaching."

One spotlight exhibit was chosen to represent each of the six SFA colleges, as well as the Ralph W. Steen Library. The winners include:

• Marie Kelly, Nelson Rusche College of Business, "Financial Statement Racing;"
• Dr. Nagalapura Viswanath, James I. Perkins College of Education, "Part-word Repetitions are not Created Equal - Clinical & Theoretical Significance";
• Lauren B. Selden, College of Fine Arts, "The Gault Project: Incorporating New & Old Artifacts;"
• Dr. Warren C. Conway, Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, "Floristic Composition of a Bottomland Hardwood Forest in East Texas;"
• Dr. Dianne Dentice, College of Liberal and Applied Arts, "White Revolutionaries: Keepin' it White, Right and Tight," a research project concerning extremist groups and racialist ideology in contemporary American society;
• Marthea Turnage, Ann Ellis and Kayce Halstead, Ralph W. Steen Library, "Texas State Department of Education Bulletins 1918-1946 Digitization Project;" and
• Dr. Robert K. Henderson, College of Sciences and Mathematics, "Bounded Monte Carlo Simulation of Critical Information Related to Retirement Planning."

For additional information about the Bright Ideas Conference, contact the SFA Office of Research and Sponsored Programs at (936) 468-6606 or saldanagrace@sfasu.edu.