Axe ’Em, Jacks!
NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Megan Weatherly, director of Stephen F. Austin State University’s Center for Teaching and Learning since 2020, has been named executive director for the university’s new Lumberjack Learning Commons, or LLC, effective Sept. 1.
“I’m honored to be selected for this role, and I’m excited to work with a talented team of professional staff members to support our students, expand experiential learning opportunities, and build a program that will provide lifelong learning for individuals throughout our region,” Weatherly said.
Located in the Steen Library, the LLC comprises the following SFA entities: Academic Assistance and Resource Center; Area for Xploration and Experimentation Makerspace, or AXE; Center for Teaching and Learning; Office of International Programs; Student Success Center; and a new continuing education unit that has yet to be named. AXE and the continuing education unit will eventually serve community members, as well as students, faculty and staff.
“With the movement of journals and books into the digital world, academic libraries are less and less spaces to store hard copy books for ‘just in case’ research.” said Dr. Marc Guidry, SFA associate provost. “Rather, the space itself is the service, and so academic libraries are becoming learning commons where students can access a network of support services; study in groups or individually; collaborate on research or creative projects; and even make things in fabrication labs with 3D printers, laser cutters, circuit boards and other equipment. The LLC will be just such a space, and Megan will be the perfect Renaissance woman to run it.”
The AARC, CTL and SSC are already serving students, faculty and staff in the library. The OIP will be moving to the library in the coming months; the AXE will open after some renovations; and the continuing education unit is expected to launch next year.
“My professional experience has always centered on expanding access to education and on creating better learning experiences for students.” Weatherly said. “I’ll be broadening these efforts in my work with the LLC and will be able to contribute to programs that affect students while they’re at SFA and as they progress in their careers.
“I’m particularly eager to partner strategically to extend the talents of our faculty and staff to bolster our regional economy,” she added.
Also an adjunct faculty member in SFA’s Department of History since 2010, Weatherly holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from SFA and a Master of Arts in history and public history from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. From 2015 to 2018, she worked for SFA’s vice presidents to coordinate the institution’s strategic plan. Prior to becoming CTL director, she served as CTL’s interim director for a year, its learning experience design coordinator for two years, and its sole learning experience designer for four years.
Before returning to SFA, Weatherly served as a senior instructional designer at Texas State University. She also has worked as a contract instructional designer for the Department of Defense, Department of Defense Education Activity, Texas A&M University, UNLV and other institutions. In addition, Weatherly was an academic advisor at Texas State, a research and archival graduate fellow at UNLV, and a writer and editor in the marketing and publishing industries in domestic and international markets.