Axe ’Em, Jacks!
NACOGDOCHES, Texas — During its three-day quarterly meeting, the Stephen F. Austin State University Board of Regents recognized student, faculty and staff achievements, as well as approved faculty and staff appointments.
Special recognitions
The board recognized the final four of this year’s eight President’s Achievement Award recipients: James “Eddie” Colwell, Physical Plant transportation; Chris Cotton, university archives; Kay Johnson, Procurement and Business Services; and Francisco Paco Morales, School of Music.
Dr. Lorenzo Smith, provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs, recognized Dr. Jerry Williams, who was promoted to professor emeritus of anthropology, geography and sociology. Smith also recognized faculty members who were promoted to professor: Dr. Lauren Burrow, education studies; Sally Ann Swearingen, human sciences; Dr. Michael Murphy, music; Dr. Casey Hart, mass communication; Dr. Ericka Hoagland, English and creative writing; and Dr. Brook Poston, history.
The regents then recognized Dr. Dan Bruton, professor of physics, as Regents Scholar. Nominated by SFA faculty members, Bruton received a $2,000 grant to support his research efforts.
Gina Oglesbee, vice president for finance and administration, recognized Jeremy Pickett, coordinator of Emergency Management, and Amanda Kennedy, who was recently promoted to lieutenant of Parking Services, for their service.
Dr. Hollie Smith, executive director of Student Life, recognized Orientation and Transition Programs staff members who earned the 2023 Region IV Innovation in Orientation Programs Award from NODA – Association for Orientation, Transition and Retention in Higher Education for the online Destination SFA: Sibling Orientation program. They will compete at the national level in October.
The regents then congratulated student journalists who received 17 awards from the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association for their performance at the statewide journalism competition and for their contributions to campus media outlets throughout 2022.
Regents also recognized the four students who were named Best of SFA during the recent Lumberjack Achievement Awards: Michalla Byrd of Joaquin, Heath Sharr of Jacksonville, Jay Teamer of Lewisville, and Curtis Tran of Nacogdoches.
Students who participated in SFA’s The Big Event community service projects and Dance Marathon annual fundraiser, which earned $20,000 for Children’s Miracle Network staff at CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health Systems in Tyler, were also recognized.
Smith also thanked Student Engagement staff members for their work, including organizing the recent SpringFest concert.
Dr. Hans Williams, dean of the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, recognized the Sylvans, SFA’s timbersports team, for claiming their fifth consecutive title at the 64th annual Southern Forestry Conclave.
The board also recognized forestry and agriculture students, faculty, staff and partners, including SFA Gardens, for their decades-long work to help the university become a member of Tree Campus Higher Education, an Arbor Day Foundation program. Students served 1,000 volunteer hours on campus so SFA could join the approximately 20 Texas campuses and 400 U.S. campuses that meet the high standards of this program.
Dr. Steve Westbrook, SFA president, recognized faculty and staff serving on the steering committee for SFA’s transition to The University of Texas System, including Oglesbee and Smith. Those serving on the core transition committee also were recognized: Oglesbee; Dr. Marc Guidry, associate provost; Judi Kruwell, associate vice president for finance and administration; Jill Still, vice president for university advancement; Damon Derrick, general counsel; Dr. Charlotte Sullivan, director of governmental relations; Graham Garner, chief marketing communications officer; Mike Coffee, chief information officer; John Branch, facilities, services and operations director; Kay Johnson, executive director of finance and administrative services in Procurement and Business Services; John Fields, chief of the University Police Department; April Smith, coordinator of board affairs and compliance; and Heather Howell, executive assistant to the vice president of Student Affairs.
Ryan Ivey, director of athletics, recognized student-athletes representing the track and field team and Cheer and Dance Teams. Ivey also thanked former Ladyjacks head basketball coach Mark Kellogg for his service and introduced the regents to the 10th Ladyjacks head basketball coach, Leonard Bishop.
The regents concluded the special recognitions portion of the meeting by appointing Hardy Meredith, retired SFA photographer and 1981 SFA graduate, as university photographer emeritus.
Faculty, staff appointments
In addition to those promotions recognized by the provost, the following faculty and staff promotions, appointments, retirements and other personnel changes occurred.
In the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, regents appointed Dr. Erin Brown as interim chair of the Department of Agriculture and Dr. Candis Carraway as associate professor of agriculture. Carraway also received tenure.
In the College of Liberal and Applied Arts, regents promoted Dr. Andrew Lannen to chair of the Department of History, Dr. Bailey Thompson to associate professor of mass communication, and Drs. Aaron Moulton and Samuel Sutherland to associate professor of history.
Receiving tenure were Thompson, Moulton and Sutherland.
In the College of Sciences and Mathematics, regents promoted Drs. Brittany Falahola and Jacob Turner to associate professor of mathematics and statistics, Dr. J. Brannon Gary to associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry, Dr. Pushkar Ogale to associate professor of computer science, and Dr. Melinda Shaw-Faulkner to associate professor of earth sciences and geologic resources.
Regents also appointed Dr. Md Shohel Rana as assistant professor of computer science.
Receiving tenure were Falahola, Turner, Gary, Ogale, and Shaw-Faulkner.
In the James I. Perkins College of Education, regents promoted Sarah Drake and Justin Pelham to clinical instructor II of human sciences; Drs. Jamie Flowers, Pietro Sasso and Brian Uriegas to associate professor of human services and educational leadership; and Dr. Amber Wagnon to associate professor of education studies.
In addition, Allen Wilson was appointed as clinical instructor and director of the aviation program, and Amanda Romig was promoted to program analyst for education assessment and accountability.
Receiving tenure were Uriegas; Dr. Nghia Nguyen, associate professor of education studies; and Dr. Nandhakumar Radhakrishnan, associate professor of human services and educational leadership.
In the Micky Elliott College of Fine Arts, regents promoted Dr. Slade Billew to associate professor of theatre, Amanda Breitbach to associate professor of art, and Dr. Samantha Inman to associate professor of music.
Receiving tenure were Billew, Breitbach and Inman.
In the Nelson Rusche College of Business, regents promoted Dr. Janet Jones to associate professor of accounting, Dr. Raymond Jones to associate professor of management and marketing, and Stephen Shrewsbury to associate professor of business communication and legal studies. Matthew Smilor was appointed as director of the Arnold Center for Entrepreneurship.
Regents also appointed Dr. Juliana Lilly and Dr. Kristen Waddell as lecturer and assistant professor, respectively, of business communication and legal studies.
Receiving tenure were Janet Jones, Raymond Jones, Shrewsbury and Dr. Lucia Sigmar, associate professor of business communication and legal studies.
Melissa Clark, assessment and user experience librarian in Steen Library, also received tenure.
In staff news, regents appointed Dr. Lee Furbeck as vice president of Enrollment Management.
In the Division of Student Affairs, Carrie Charley was promoted to interim vice president, and Jessica Waguespack was promoted to program director of student wellness.
Rebecca Galatas was promoted to assistant registrar in the Office of the Registrar, Justin McAninch was appointed as assistant chief audit executive for the Department of Audit Services, and Paula Tykol was promoted to assistant manager of payroll.
Stesha Colby-Lynch was promoted to director of the Veterans Resource Center, Emily Dodson was promoted to learning experience design specialist I for the Center for Teaching and Learning, and Martha Pierce was promoted to financial aid counselor II.
Jenny Baker was appointed as counselor in Counseling Services, and Lizeth Garcia was appointed as photographer I for the Division of University Marketing Communications.
In Campus Recreation, Ethan Fatheree was promoted to coordinator and Re'Shawn Thomas was appointed as coordinator.
In Information Technology Services, Meredith Baily was promoted to director of ITS architecture, Michael Coffee was promoted to chief information officer, James Egner was promoted to assistant director of ITS client services for telecommunication and networking, Charles Fox was promoted to programmer analyst IV, Tracey Holmes was promoted to identity management analyst III, Richard May was promoted to database administrator III, John Parker was promoted to deputy chief information officer, and Scott Speichert was promoted to assistant director of ITS enterprise architecture.
In the Physical Plant, John Branch was promoted to facilities, services and operations director, and Christina Herrera was promoted to general service business operations manager.
In the Department of Athletics, Kristin Bangtson was promoted to associate director of academic services, and Nickolas Nelson was promoted to assistant football coach. Leonard Bishop was appointed as head women’s basketball coach, Brett Watson was appointed assistant football coach, and Colton Coleman was appointed as assistant track and field coach.
Regents approved the following Perkins College of Education faculty retirements: Dr. Jay Thornton, chair of the Department of Kinesiology and Health Science; Leisha Bridwell, associate professor of human sciences; Dr. Leah Kahn, associate professor of education studies; and Dr. Dawn “Michelle” Williams, professor of education studies.
The board also approved the following staff retirements: Irish Beason, financial aid counselor II, Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships; Anthony Espinoza, chief information officer, ITS; Paul Mark Jordan, lieutenant, UPD; Donna Parish, assistant director of creative services, UMC; William Pruett, database administrator I, ITS; and Cathy Rhodes, identity management analyst III, ITS.
For more information, visit sfasu.edu/regents.