Focus
November 2009
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This month's desktop calendar wallpapers
In this issue
- National Center for Pharmaceutical Crops director awarded researcher of the year
- School of Art to host a ‘Craft Uprising’
- Gardens Lecture Series to feature Texas A&M ornamental horticulturist
- Presentations
- Publications
- Conferences
- Announcements
National Center for Pharmaceutical Crops director awarded researcher of the year
Shiyou Li, Forestry, was awarded the Research, Development and Innovation Award by the Texas Forestry Association for his research on anti-cancer and antiviral agents by utilizing native plant resources and producing active pharmaceutical ingredients in short supply.
Since 1993, Li and his team have collected and screened more than 1,100 species of native plants in Texas representing 138 families for the identification of anti-cancer and antiviral agents. More than 600 pure chemical compounds, including 108 new compounds, have been isolated from 26 species.
As part of a USDA grant for Discovery and Development, one new compound the team discovered from a very common plant in East Texas showed very promising anti-tumor activity against human non-small cell lung tumors and pancreatic cancer without any toxicity to normal cells. The compound is now undergoing further preclinical investigations.
The team also discovered sweetgum and longleaf pines as new sources of shikimic acid a few years ago. A shortage of shikimic acid is the main reason for the global shortage of Tamiflu®. Current natural resources in East Texas alone would produce a sufficient quantity of shikimic acid to meet the global Tamiflu® demand.
School of Art to host a ‘Craft Uprising’
The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art will host a two-part “Craft Uprising” Nov. 6 and 7 at The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House, 329 E. Main St. in downtown Nacogdoches.
Events include a free film screening of “Handmade Nation: The Rise of DIY, Art, Craft and Design” at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 6, and a craft sale from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7.
Faythe Levine’s 65-minute documentary captures the tight-knit community of artists, crafters and designers that exists through Web sites, blogs and online stores, and connects to the greater public through independent boutiques, galleries and craft fairs.
A crafter herself, Levine traveled to 15 cities and interviewed 80 individuals in order to document the rise of do-it-yourself crafters and the new wave of art, craft and design.
“To complement the film, we have invited artisans and crafters from East Texas, Houston and Dallas to set up in front of the Art Center as an expansion of the Downtown Nacogdoches Sidewalk Sale,” said Christian Cutler, director of art galleries.
The events are sponsored in part by the SFA Friends of the Visual Arts and Nacogdoches Junior Forum. For more information, please call (936)468-1131.
Gardens Lecture Series to feature Texas A&M ornamental horticulturist
The SFA Gardens will host its monthly Les Reeves Garden Lecture Series at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, in Room 110 of the Agriculture Building. Dr. Brent Pemberton, ornamental plant researcher with the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Overton, Texas, will present "Trials and Travels 2009: Great Plants – Great Gardens.”
Dr. Pemberton, a member of the SFA Gardens board of advisers, received a bachelor’s degree in ornamental horticulture from Texas Tech University and a Ph.D. in floriculture from the University of Minnesota. He has been a project leader for ornamental research at the center since 1982. His research specialties include bedding plant production and greenhouse and garden performance evaluations, field and nursery production of garden roses, plant growth regulators, and landscape water use.
A free plant raffle will be held following the lecture. There is no charge for the lecture, and no reservations are required.
The Les Reeves Garden Lecture Series is held the third Thursday of each month at the SFA Mast Arboretum. For more information, contact Greg Grant at (936)468-1863 or grantdamon@sfasu.edu.
Linda Bobo, Kinesiology and Health Science, presented “Using Video Feedback to Measure Self-Efficacy” at the American Academy Business and Research Institute in Orlando, Fla. The presentation assessed the learning of athletic training students performing a psychomotor competency skill. She also presented “Using Video Feedback to Evaluate Clinical Education,” which discussed combined efforts to train future supervisors.
Gary Quitman Frields, Art, presented survey results at the Texas Association of Schools of Art board of directors meeting in Austin. As committee chair, Frields presented information regarding the level at which photo processes are currently taught and the future of photography education within higher education institutions.
Perry Moon, Modern Languages, presented “Dialogue, Narration and Face in Diary of a Country Priest” at the 2009 Literature Film Association Annual Conference in Carlise, Pa. This presentation used Bakhtin’s concept of the dialogical to examine the differences between Georges Bernanos’ 1936 novel “Diary of a Country Priest” and its 1951 adaptation into cinema by Robert Bresson.
Melane McCuller, Instructional Technology, presented “Getting Student Assistants Up to Speed in Blackboard” at the Texas Blackboard Users Group 2009 Conference in Nacogdoches. The presentation offered practical ideas for preparing student assistants as quickly as possible to be effective troubleshooters and handle support calls accurately and with courtesy.
Andra Floyd, Instructional Technology, presented “Student Online Success Through Instructional Preparedness” at the Texas Blackboard Users Group 2009 Conference in Nacogdoches. The presentation stated that positive learning outcomes increase when the student begins the course with guidance, assurance and clarity of direction, which also promotes a positive outcome for the instructor.
Gail Weatherly, Instructional Technology, presented “Old to New: Replacing Linear with Modular Instruction” at the Texas Blackboard Users Group 2009 Conference in Nacogdoches. The full presentation can be viewed at www.slideshare.net/tbug/modular-instruction-presentation-gail-weatherly.
Judith L. Lauter, Human Services, will present “How is Your Brain Like a Zebra? Solving the Puzzle of Academic Diversity” at the Round Rock ISD Parents Group in Round Rock on Nov. 12. She will also present “The Zebra Brain: A New Neurotypology for Human Brain and Behavior” on Nov. 13 and 14 at the Sigma Xi Research Conference in The Woodlands.
Rose M. Powell and Karen S. Migl, Nursing, will present “Nursing Leadership and ROTC: A Collaborative Teaching Strategy” at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing 2009 Baccalaureate Education Conference in Chicago. This presentation is about finding a creative method for senior nursing students to apply their leadership principles and skills.
The College of Science and Mathematics will host a faculty seminar featuring Bea Clack, Biotechnology and Science Research Center, at noon on Friday, Nov. 6, in the Miller Science Building, Room 234. She will discuss the center’s research with the Sunn Pest beetle, which is responsible for destroying wheat crops in Syria, Turkey and other developing countries. The beetle is being investigated for use as a means for terminating the destruction by this insect of the wheat grown in developing countries. For more information, call (936)468-6468.
Michelle Rozic, Art, presented a felting and printmaking demonstration as a visiting artist for the School of Art at Lamar University in Beaumont.
Mario Ajero, Music, presented “Creating Media-Rich Instructional Videos for Music Classes” at the 2009 College Music Society and Association for Technology in Music Instruction conference in Portland, Ore. His presentation includes examples of online videos, which were produced for his piano classes at SFA. Presentation attendees gained hands-on knowledge on how to use screen capturing software in conjunction with MIDI applications to create instructional videos for their music classes.
Patrick M. Jenlink and Karen Embry Jenlink, Secondary Education and Educational Leadership, co-authored the chapter "Transforming the Space of Schools into Learning Communities: Teacher Leadership as Pedagogy of Democratic Place" published in “The Handbook of Leadership and Professional Learning Communities.” The chapter examines the responsibilities of teacher-leaders in fostering democratic learning communities of practice within school settings.
Ray Darville, Social and Cultural Analysis, and Michael Legg, Forestry, co-authored a piece titled, “Changes in Volunteer Knowledge and Attitudes as a Result of Texas Master” in the May issue of “Human Dimensions of Wildlife.”
Patrick M. Jenlink, Secondary Education and Educational Leadership, has published a book titled “Equity Issues for Today’s Educational Leaders: Meeting the Challenge of Creating Equitable Schools for All.” The book returns the reader to an agenda for addressing equity in schools, emphasizing the need to reexamine past reform efforts and the work ahead for educational leaders in reshaping schools and schooling. He has also co-authored another book titled “The Struggle for Identity in Today’s Schools: Cultural Recognition in a Time of Increasing Diversity.” The book discusses topics such as affirming diversity, politics of recognition and the cultural work of schools.
Deborah Ellisor, Nursing, attended the Custody and Caring conference held in Saskatchewan, Canada, this month.
Cindi McCarley, Nursing, attended the 24th annual New Directions for Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation meeting in Pittsburgh.
Rose Powell, Nursing, attended the Sigma Theta Tau International 40th Biennial Convention in Indianapolis.
Several individuals from Information Technology Services attended SunGardHE Education Technology Conference, which supplied the opportunity to exchange ideas, techniques, procedures and information regarding Banner software. Shawn Hardy and Earl Forney traveled to Orlando, Fla., for the conference. Sandy Turner, Melinda Colby, Rich Barnhart, Terry Brown, Tristan Adams and Tracey Foster traveled to St. Louis for the conference. Danny Duplechian and Pat Thurman attended the conference in Portland, Ore.
The next University Women’s Club scholarship fundraising event will be held from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 14, at Shelley’s Bakery Café. This event will be a bountiful brunch accented with cranberry mimosas and a fashion show provided by The Butterfly and The Fashion Shop.
Rusche College of Business Advisory Council, consisting of 24 alumni who serve in a variety of organizations in executive-level positions, met last month to discuss initiatives and opportunities for the college. Council members toured the campus and the College of Business facilities and listened to students speak about their educational experiences. The meeting concluded with subgroup reports concerning advice for the advancement of the college’s goals.
The Orientation and Mobility Blind Training Program of Human Services has been re-awarded a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The grant allows Human Services to provide the one-of-a-kind program through 2014 and assist a minimum of 60 students to graduate as orientation and mobility specialists.
Join the members of the Axcess Project again for a three-week series of sneak-a-peek brown bag lunches for an informal hour of updates and Q&A about Banner. The meetings will be held on Thursdays at noon during the month of November at Lumberjack Village Community Building. No reservation required! Just bring your lunch and join us!
Phi Alpha Theta and the History Club are co-sponsoring a Cold War Film Festival. Please join us, along with your students and friends, for a free viewing and discussion of the following films: “On the Beach” on Nov. 9 and “Dr. Strangelove” on Nov. 16. All films will be shown at 7 p.m. in Liberal Arts North, Room 102.
Linda Bobo, Kinesiology and Health Science, will provide athletic training and medical coverage to the USA Tae Kwon Do World Team Training Camp at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Stephen Lias, Music, served as the Texas Delegate to the International Society of Contemporary Music’s “World New Music Days” festival which is held in three cities of Sweden. He also serves on the editorial board of ISCM’s “World New Music Magazine.”
Maki Hajikano, Art, is one of eight sculptors whose artwork has been accepted for the National Juried Contemporary Sculpture Exhibition at the Ford Gallery of Eastern Michigan University.
Katie Blevins, Student Publications, recently participated in Tyler’s Rose City Triathlon and in the Katy Triathlon at Firethorn. Both triathlons include swimming, biking and running.
With assistance from nursing students, Deborah Ellisor, Nursing, coordinated a service learning project at the Rusk State Hospital by providing birthday parties, complete with cake and gifts, to over 300 inpatients diagnosed with acute mental illnesses.
Fred Allen, Music, adjudicated 25 marching bands at the Little Elm Marching Festival.
Aztec Cultural Ataché links culture, nature, art and education through Day of the Dead celebrations and other community activities starting at 4 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 2, at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet St. The celebration is hosted by SFA, the U.S. Forest Service and Texas Forest Service’s Urban and Rural Connections program, and is free to the community.
The Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture faculty have resumed research on more than 20 grant-funded projects. Theresa Coble, Forestry, is working on the Department of the Interior’s National Park Service Preserve America project in coordination with the City of Nacogdoches. The project features a cross-disciplinary team focusing on Oak Grove and Zion Hill Cemeteries creating a searchable database of images, GIS maps, oral histories, research, video and cemetery-based lesson plans.
David Creech, Forestry and Director of SFA Gardens, is working to eradicate the Privet plant from the Pineywoods Natives Plant Center with previous funding from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The project’s main focus is to control the spread of the Chinese privet, an invasive exotic plant introduced long ago in the southern United States. The aggressive and troublesome plant literally chokes out all other desirable plants.
Pat Stephens Williams, Forestry, continues research on the USDA Forest Service Urban Connections Program with A Forest for Every Classroom, Latino Legacy and Rural Connections. The project reaches across urban and rural areas in Texas including all major Texas cities. The program offers interactive ways to teach educators, students, families and communities about their forests and grasslands in Texas and the benefits of conservation and sustainable management. The grant supports determining the best practices for place-based sustainability connections, outreach in multiple-perspective communities and civic engagement for young adults.
P.R. Blackwell, Forestry, is working on several state and federal grants including a utilities and district mapping for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Joey Bray, Forestry, is studying the effects of Rofanaid and Tylosine on Immune Development in Birds funded by Novus International.
Christopher Comer, Forestry, received a Texas Parks and Wildlife grant to research black bears and a U.S. Department of Defense grant to research the habitat, movements and survival of white-tailed deer at Barksdale Air Force Base.
Warren Conway, Forestry, is working with U.S. Department of Interior and Texas Parks and Wildlife grants to research eastern wild turkeys, snowy plover and mottled duck.
Daniel Scognamillo, Forestry, is researching black bears in Michigan with the help of a Turtle Lake Wildlife Foundation grant.
Hans Williams, Forestry, is working on the Survival and Growth of Tree Seedlings on the Dallas Floodway Extension Project, funded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Lake Naconiche: Wetlands Monitoring sponsored by Nacogdoches County.
Save the date! SFA’s Bright Ideas Conference, spotlighting faculty research, scholarship and artistry, has been scheduled for Thursday, April 8, 2010. A call for submissions and more information will be available soon. If you have questions, contact the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs at (936) 468-6606 or e-mail smcdaniel@sfasu.edu.