Stephen F. Austin State University

When Dean James Standley accepted a position at the helm of the College of Applied Arts and Sciences at Stephen F. Austin State University, he never dreamed he would one day earn the distinction of being the longest serving dean in the state.

It's been 28 years since Standley left his position as chairman of the criminal justice department at Texas State University to come to SFA. "I was hired to establish the SFA College of Applied Arts and Sciences," he said. "The Higher Education Coordinating Board had approved the college, but it had not been established."

To create the college, the Department of Communication was moved from the College of Fine Arts to the new College of Applied Arts and Sciences, and a new criminal justice program was begun by transferring law enforcement classes from the sociology program. Military science classes were transferred from the College of Math and Sciences, and a social work program was also initiated, with the approval of the coordinating board.

"We have always had an effective team of people," Standley said of those early years, and all the years since that time. "We have good faculty members who have kept the focus on outcomes. With people doing the right thing, everything has always had a way of falling into place."

Looking back over his years as dean, Standley said an unexpected twist in the road proved to be one of the most exciting times in his career. "In 1994 I was asked to served as the interim dean of fine arts," he said. "I stayed in that position for the next year and a half. It's funny how you start out doing one thing and end up doing something you never thought you would do. But that one thing can end up being something you really enjoy."

While serving as interim dean of fine arts, Standley said he attended every senior recital. "Many music students have had 10 or 12 years of private lessons before they ever get to college, then four years of music at the university level," he said. "Their families have been involved from the beginning, and they all come out for the recitals. It was nice to meet those families, and it was nice to support the students."

Standley said his time as interim dean of fine arts also was fulfilling because he was part of the renovation of the music building. "Dr. Ron Anderson and I worked together on that," he said. "I walked between (the music and liberal arts) buildings every day."

Although that was just 10 years ago, Standley noted the music program has continued to grow to the point that another expansion or renovation is needed. Change and growth is one part of university life Standley will continue to embrace as he returns to his roots in the classroom.

"After I had served as dean for about 25 years, I told the provost that was long enough," he said. "I was ready to return to the faculty." Standley said he announced his decision two years ago to the faculty in the College of Applied Arts and Sciences. But then, administrators came to him with a special request.

"They wanted to merge the College of Liberal Arts and the College of Applied Arts and Sciences," he said. "They asked if I would commit for two more years to help with the transition, and I agreed to do so."

That assignment has now been completed, thanks to the dedication of faculty members and committee members who worked on the project, Standley said. He identified the merger as "one more example of the university meeting the needs of students and faculty."

"We look for linkages between classes and colleges, because more faculty are collaborating on research projects for professional development," he said, in explaining why the merger was beneficial. "More students are seeking double majors or minors. They want to leave here as highly qualified and diversified as they can be."

By merging the two colleges, Standley said the university is now "casting a wider net." "It provides more options for students," he said.

Now that the Higher Education Coordinating Board has approved the merger, Standley said he is ready to follow through on the request he made two years ago.

"I'm ready to return to the classroom," he said. "I'm teaching a criminology class this semester to get back in gear. Beginning in September, I will be teaching both criminal justice and sociology."

Standley said it was natural for him to return to the classroom, because working with students is "what got him in this business in the first place."

Of course, he said the classroom has changed since he started out in the 1960s.

"Back then, most presentations were lectures," he said. "Students took notes and took tests."

With advances in technology, classrooms now offer more opportunities for students to learn things visually and through on-line offerings, he said.

"Students are doing more in the field, and there are many more tools to get them excited about learning," he said.

As dean, Standley said it has been his goal to find the best resources he could for faculty. He said he believes he was able to do that with the help of supportive provosts.

"SFA has treated me like a prince," he said. "I've worked for great presidents and great provosts."

Standley said his wife likes to tease him about being "the oldest dean in the state."

"I may have been dean the longest, but I'm not the oldest," he said with a smile.