NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Stephen F. Austin State University music alumnus Brian Miller has been named executive director of the Grammy Award-winning Houston Chamber Choir.

Miller, who previously served as chorus manager with the Houston Symphony, joins the Houston Chamber Choir with more than a decade of experience in the professional and educational choral realm. He earned a Master of Music in Choral Conducting in 2013 from SFA, where he studied with Dr. Tim King, and his undergraduate degree in music education is from Southwestern University.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — During its 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.

The board recognized the SFA student team that earned Best Delegation honors at the Midwest Model European Union competition. The team’s faculty sponsor is Dr. Steven Galatas, associate professor of government.

The board also recognized academic advisors; SFA’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team; and the Division of Finance and Administration.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — During its quarterly meeting this week, the Stephen F. Austin State University Board of Regents approved the naming of a new academic center and facility in the university’s Rusche College of Business after Greg Arnold ’87, CEO of TAC - The Arnold Companies, whose significant donation is being used to establish the center.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Dr. Mike Moses, a career educator and Stephen F. Austin State University alumnus, will offer the commencement address during the university’s Aug. 6 graduation ceremony.

Holding bachelor’s and master’s degrees from SFA and a doctorate in education from Texas A&M University-Commerce, Moses has been an educator for over 40 years.

He served as the general superintendent of the Dallas Independent School District from 2001 through 2004 and as the Texas Tech University System's deputy chancellor for systems operations between 1999 and 2001. 

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Stephen F. Austin State University’s Dr. Amanda M. Rudolph, professor of education studies in the James I. Perkins College of Education, was selected to participate in the inaugural Inquiry Initiative sponsored by the Association of Teacher Educators. The initiative is a unique, collaborative exploration of teacher education practices with a focus on opportunity gaps in education. 

Rudolph was one of just 80 university-based teacher education scholars from around the U.S. who was chosen to participate.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Stephen F. Austin State University’s SFA Gardens will host its annual Fabulous Fall Festival Plant Sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 1 and 2 at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center, located at 2900 Raguet St. in historic Nacogdoches. 

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House will host the summer shows of the Nacogdoches Photography Club and Watercolor East Texas July 19 through Aug. 19.

Amanda Breitbach, assistant professor of art/photography at Stephen F. Austin State University, serves as juror of the annual Nacogdoches Photography Club exhibition, themed “New Beginnings.” Names of the prize winners and honorable mentions will be announced at the show’s opening reception at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 19, at the downtown gallery.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Stephen F. Austin State University’s SFA Gardens will host a floral design workshop to share methods for creating artistic flower arrangements from 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 13 in the Brundrett Conservation Education Building at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center.

Jordan Cunningham, SFA Gardens greenhouse technician, will explore the principles of floral design, including shapes, colors, materials and construction. 

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Stephen F. Austin State University is among 17 Texas universities and community colleges to receive a grant to help fund summer science, technology, engineering and mathematics camps for students ages 14 to 21.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas –– Stephen F. Austin State University’s Dr. George Avery, staff archeologist and cultural heritage coordinator, along with volunteer archeological stewards from the Texas Historical Commission, began to unearth the history of an often-neglected gem in Nacogdoches County – the Sand Hill community.

Tucked between Melrose and Chireno along Highway 21 sits Sand Hill, a community established as a freedom colony — those in which African Americans settled after they were freed. To date, there are about 500 freedom colonies recorded in Texas.