Faculty and staff appointments and promotions were among the items approved by members of the Stephen F. Austin State University Regents during the board's January meeting.

In the Nelson Rusche College of Business, Todd Brown was approved as the new associate dean for faculty and administration, and Shirley Ann Wilson was approved as associate dean for student services. Professor Mikhail Kouliavtsev was approved as interim chair of the Department of Economics and Finance.

Regents approved the appointment of Donna Dean to clinical instructor of human services within the James I. Perkins College of Education. Other approvals included Lynsey Cortines, from academic adviser to clinical instructor of human sciences; Falynn Monk, from substitute teacher to teacher at the Early Childhood Lab; Margaret Patterson, from senior interpreter and coordinator of deaf and hard of hearing services to lecturer of human services; Elizabeth Vaughn, from professor and chair of elementary education to professor and interim chair of secondary education and educational leadership; and George Willey, from adjunct faculty member to assistant professor of secondary education and educational leadership.

In the College of Liberal and Applied Arts, Haskell Cooper, an associate professor of social work, was approved as director of Multidisciplinary Studies; and Joyce Johnston, professor of languages, culture and communication, was approved for additional duties in Multidisciplinary Studies.

In the Department of Athletics, Michael Walton was approved as assistant head football coach, as were assistant football coaches William Best, David Crowton, Jeremy Hammock, Thomas Howe, Terry Mills, Jeremy Moses, Demosesneeds Odems, Christopher Van Horn and Matt Williamson.

Derek Allen was approved by regents as development officer II in the Office of Development, and Jeffrey Thompson was approved as a senior safety officer, Environmental Health, Safety and Risk Management. Other appointments included Brandon Stringfield, security specialist, Information Technology Services; Deborah Kay Johnson, director and HUB coordinator, Procurement and Property Services; and Asia Smith, assistant director, and Erica Smith, hall director, in the Department of Residence Life. Christine Broussard was approved as senior marketing communications specialist, University Marketing Communications.

Additional changes of status include:

Monica Gonzalez-Sanchez, from counselor to regional coordinator, Office of Admissions;

Travis Lankford, from coordinator to assistant director, Campus Recreation;

Elaine Lambright, from coordinator to English Language Institute coordinator, Office of International Programs;

Cassidy Owens, from buyer to contracting specialist, Procurement Services; and

Rachel Clark, from senior marketing communications specialist to student publications coordinator, Office of Student Publications.

The Board of Regents approved the retirements of faculty members with more than 130 years of combined service to the university. Retirements include: Deborah Fleming, Steen Library coordinator; Volker Gobel, professor of geology; James Griffith, senior safety officer; Beverly Kurys, senior human resources representative; Annette Leger, Academic Assistance and Resource Center program director; and Dale Spradling, assistant professor of accounting.