Stephen F. Austin State University

NACOGDOCHES, Texas -- The college with the largest enrollment at Stephen F. Austin State University now will be known as the James I. Perkins College of Education following unanimous approval by the Board of Regents during its Oct. 30 meeting.

James I. Perkins, president and chairman of the board of Citizens 1st Bank and a long-time supporter of SFA, made another significant donation to the Stephen F. Austin State University Foundation in naming the college.

“My family and I greatly appreciate Dr. Pattillo and the Board of Regents extending this high honor of association with the College of Education,” said Perkins.

“Throughout the years, Mr. Perkins has stressed that, regardless of the field we work in, education is important to our success,” said SFA President Dr. Baker Pattillo.

“I have known Mr. Perkins to be a person of honesty, integrity and moral character during my nearly 30 years of working with him, and I do not know a better person to have this honor,” Pattillo said.

Perkins said that he has worked with every SFA president since 1958.  “I have known and admired Dr. Pattillo during his employment at SFA, and I believe that he has a good opportunity, with this fine SFA Board of Regents, to be the university’s best president.”

Raised in Rusk, Perkins remembers that his life was enriched by having teachers and administrators educated at SFA. He added that both of his children benefited greatly from knowledgeable, compassionate teachers who attended SFA.

Quality education is a critical component for effective economic development and a better standard of life in our region and state, according to Perkins. “It is important that each  of us supports and promotes the educational enterprise, and my family and I are privileged to be in a position to help SFA.”

“The College of Education is honored to be named after James I. Perkins,” said Dr. John Jacobson, dean of the college. “The established reputation of the College of Education at SFA will be enhanced by the great integrity and strength of character associated with the name of Mr. Perkins.”

The Perkins College of Education, which enrolls more than 3,300 students, is the largest of SFA’s six academic colleges. It offers 27 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs, and 45 educator certificate programs. The college is fully accredited through the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and includes the School of Human Sciences and the departments of Elementary Education; Human Services; Kinesiology and Health Science; and Secondary Education and Educational Leadership.

Perkins served on the SFA Board of Regents from 1969 to 1981, and he held the position of chair of the board in 1977-78. He also is one of the founders and a former chairman of the SFA Foundation and is an ex-student.

Among the more than 40 scholarships awarded annually by the Perkins family and Citizens 1st Bank, 21 are designated for SFA. The scholarships include the Citizens 1st Bank/Rusk High School/ Tyler Junior College Scholarships, Citizens 1st Bank State Employees’ Children Scholarship Fund, the Noble Scholarship for Nacogdoches High School seniors, and the University of Texas at Austin James Perkins Family Endowed Presidential Scholarship at Law. An SFA annual scholarship also is awarded in honor of Perkins’ deceased mother-in-law Lillian E. Hoover.

Many members of Perkins’ immediate family have been teachers and school administrators including his wife and mother, sister, sister-in-law, aunt and first cousin.  He is married to Margaret H. Perkins, bank director and former teacher and school board member.  Their children, both attorneys, are Laura Perkins Fonville and James I Perkins, Jr.  James I. Perkins Jr. is a graduate of SFA and a member of the SFA Foundation board.

OTHER MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

• Construction progress and other agenda items
• Faculty and staff appointments