Former SFA professor of history to offer commencement address

Dr. John W. Dahmus

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Dr. John W. Dahmus, former professor of history at Stephen F. Austin State University, will offer the commencement address during the university's summer graduation ceremonies Saturday, Aug. 10.

Dahmus, who resides in Nacogdoches, was employed with SFA for more than 40 years until his retirement in May. He earned his bachelor's degree from Ohio State University and master's degree from Penn State University, and he completed his doctoral degree at Cornell University.

Dahmus is a member of the International Medieval Sermon Studies Society, American Catholic Historical Association, American Society of Church History, Medieval Academy of America and the Sixteenth Century Studies Council. He also served as a past president of the SFA Branch of the Texas Association of College Teachers, an organization that worked closely with the legislature to help faculty members at Texas universities.

During his 43-year teaching career at the university, Dahmus authored dozens of articles, papers and reviews. His numerous awards include a Lehmann Fellowship, the Walter Craddock prize for best paper in European history from the Southwestern Historical Association, and several SFA faculty research and development grants.

Aside from his teaching, Dahmus says the most important service position he held at the university was chair of the SFA Faculty Senate from 1996 to 1997. "This position allowed me to promote the welfare of our faculty members and our university better than any other associations," he said.

Dahmus said he is honored to give the commencement address for the August 2013 graduating class at SFA. "I hope my words will be beneficial to all students in attendance," he said.

SFA recorded the highest number of graduates in school history during its spring 2013 commencement exercises. Approximately 1,285 students earned degrees in May.

SFA's summer commencement ceremonies will begin at 9:30 a.m. at William R. Johnson Coliseum. About 494 degrees will be awarded, including 351 bachelor's degrees, 135 master's degrees and eight doctoral degrees. More than 40 students will graduate with honors, including 16 cum laude, 19 magna cum laude and nine summa cum laude.