Stephen F. Austin State University

Dr. Richard Berry, longtime faculty member and dean at Stephen F. Austin State University, was named provost and vice president for academic affairs during the Board of Regents’ January meeting Tuesday.

“It is a great honor to be named provost,” Berry said after the announcement. “I look forward to working with the faculty and staff in academic affairs and all across the campus.”

Berry was named interim provost and vice president for academic affairs in July. After serving as the dean of the College of Fine Arts since 1999, he was named associate provost and vice president for academic affairs in 2006.

Berry is currently coordinating the SFA 2013 Strategic Planning Committee and the preparation for reaccreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

“Although we have significant challenges ahead of us, we have great potential because of the great people who work at this university,” he said.

Berry earned an associate of applied arts degree from Kilgore College in 1973. He received a bachelor of music degree from SFA in 1975 and completed a master of arts degree a year later. In 1985, he was awarded a doctor of musical arts in voice performance from the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

SFA President Dr. Baker Pattillo said a committee conducted a nationwide search and considered more than 40 applicants before unanimously recommending Berry for the provost’s position.

“I couldn’t have been happier when the committee recommended Dr. Berry,” he said.

That sentiment was echoed later by SFA Faculty Senate Chair Dr. Marc Guidry, who said, “Sometimes the best person for the job is simply right here at home. Dr. Berry is a wonderful leader for the faculty.”

Regents also promoted Dr. Deborah A. Pace, professor of mathematics and statistics, to chair of the department of mathematics and statistics. Dr. Pace has served as interim chair since the November death of Dr. Jasper E. Adams, Jr., who had held the position since 1990. Pace had served as assistant chair under Adams’ leadership.

Pace first joined the SFA faculty in 1997. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mathematics and a doctoral degree in mathematical sciences, all from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Other faculty appointments approved by the Regents include Jeffrey Adkins, professor of agriculture in the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture; and Cally M. Claussen, clinical instructor of nursing in the College of Sciences and Mathematics.

In the College of Liberal and Applied Arts, new faculty appointments include Ryan Andrew Rhodes, lecturer of English and philosophy; Radhika N. Makecha, assistant professor of psychology; Dawson Schultz, visiting assistant professor of English and philosophy; and Andrew M. Terranova and Lisa D. Topp, both assistant professors of psychology.

Regents also approved the promotion of Paul T. Davis to director of Information Technology Services. Davis is a 1993 graduate of SFA, and he first joined the ITS department as a programmer/analyst that same year. He has since served as both manager of technical support and assistant director and served two terms as interim director, the latest beginning in March of 2007.

The following staff appointments also were approved within the ITS department: William Wayne DuBose, programmer analyst I; and Stephen R. McGee, systems Programmer I. ITS changes of status were approved as follows: Richard M. Barnhart, from student information system manager to assistant director of application; Earl M. Forney, from database specialist to database I administrator; John W. Parker, from systems II programmer to assistant director of systems; and Stephen J. Watson, from systems programmer I to systems programmer II.

Regents also approved the following staff appointments:

Athletics: James C. Harper, head football coach; Arlington Nunn, assistant head football coach; and Shannon Dawson, Aaron DeLaTorre, David Gibbs, Kristopher Kocurek, Eric Lokey, Brain McNutt, Brandon North, Todd Schonhar, and Harold Christopher Truax, all assistant football coaches.

Education: Jo L. Corley, certification officer/Post Baccalaureate Initial Certification coordinator; Audrea L. Vanscoder, Early Childhood Lab teacher; and Karen Woods, certification specialist/adviser.

Library: Andrew Jonathan Davis, AARC program director; and Rhonda Williams, coordinator of digital projects educator.

Physical Plant: Mark A. Williams, building services coordinator.

Student Affairs: Adam Peck, dean of student affairs.

University Affairs: Brady Michael Condit, technology specialist.

The following changes of status also were approved:

Lynsey C. Cortines, from administrative assistant in teacher certification to admissions counselor; Treba A. Marsh, from professor and chair of accounting to professor and chair of accounting with Temple-Inland Employees Distinguished Professorship; Belinda Vanglahn, from coordinator of transfer articulation to academic adviser; Kathleen H. Williamson, from accountant III to construction/program manager; and Marc A. Nolan, from graduate assistant to interim beef farm supervisor.

Additional changes of status were approved as follows: Dirk W. Kadyk, from accounting clerk III to manager of housing administration; George E. Avery, from Aadjunct faculty to cultural heritage research coordinator; Cortney R. Charbo, from graduate teaching assistant to biology lab coordinator; and Janice S. Hensarling, from part-time clinical instructor of nursing to full-time clinical instructor of nursing.

The retirement of Terry J. Box, professor of English and philosophy, was accepted by the Regents. Other retirements included James M. Butler, supervisor of energy for physical plant; David C. Howard, assistant professor of English and philosophy; Margaret R. Ley, lecturer of social work; and Patsy K. Reeves, manager of FRS/HRS for information technology services.

Regents also approved a leave of absence for Dr. Lauren Scharff, professor of psychology. Scharff has been invited to join the United States Air Force Academy as a distinguished visiting professor in the Department of Behavioral Sciences and leadership from July 2008 through May 2009.