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Downing named SFA Regents Professor: SFA faculty, staff changes announced


NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Dr. Harry Downing, professor and chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy, has been named the 2013-14 Stephen F. Austin State University Regents Professor.

Reserved for exemplary role models to the university community, the title of Regents Professor is the highest honor SFA bestows upon members of the faculty. The title is held for one full academic year.

Downing joined the SFA faculty in 1975 and has served as physics and astronomy chair since 1988. He has taught courses in general physics, introduction to engineering/physics, technical physics, engineering statistics, engineering dynamics and mathematical applications in physics.

His many honors include Teaching Excellence Awards from both the Department of Physics and Astronomy and the College of Sciences and Mathematics; Best Pedagogical Paper from the Texas Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers; the Robert N. Little Award for Outstanding Contributions to Physics Higher Education in Texas from TSAAP; and the Outstanding Society of Physics Students Chapter Adviser Award.

Downing earned his bachelor's degree in physics from Arkansas State University in 1968 and his master's and doctoral degrees in physics from Florida State University in 1970 and 1973.

The Board of Regents also approved numerous additional faculty and staff appointments, changes of status, promotions and retirements at a meeting Tuesday. Faculty appointments included: Mark Schaub, associate professor of economics and finance; Christina Sinclair, assistant professor of kinesiology and health science; Nedra Washington, visiting assistant professor of human sciences; and Lynn Greenleaf, assistant professor of mathematics and statistics.

In addition, several faculty appointments were approved for the College of Fine Arts, including Jamie Dahman and Nathan Fleshner, assistant professors of music; Zachary Hanks, assistant professor of theatre; Melissa McMillian-Cunningham, lecturer of theatre; and Shaun Roberts, assistant professor of art.

Faculty appointments in the College of Liberal and Applied Arts included: Karl Baughman and Aryendra Chakravartty, assistant professors of history; Sharon Eaves, assistant professor of psychology; Paula Hopeck and Carrie Kennedy Lightsey, assistant professors of languages, cultures and communication; Thomas Madison, assistant professor of mass communication; and Michael Sheehan, assistant professor of English.

Staff appointments included: Daniel Bassett, assistant soccer coach; William Crittenden, head soccer coach; Lance Guidry, assistant football coach; Luke Maloney, assistant volleyball coach; Brad Underwood, head men's basketball coach; Katharine Bridges, fitness/wellness coordinator for campus recreation; Karla Hamilton, assessment director for the James I. Perkins College of Education; Mark Ethridge, broiler research center supervisor; William Pruett, database administrator II; and Erica Norris, discovery and research center manager for the College of Mathematics and Sciences.

Approved changes of status included: Andrew Collins, from coordinator of athletic video production to coordinator of athletic operations; Karrie Roberson, from assistant system administrator to web design specialist in the library; Jaimie Parris, from administrative assistant to contracting specialist in the procurement and property services department; Lacey Claver, from coordinator for student activities to interim assistant director; and Amanda Horne, from assistant director for student activities to interim director.

Other changes of status included: Kwame Antwi-Boasiako, from associate professor and interim chair of government to associate professor and chair of government; and John Moore, from professor of chemistry to professor of chemistry and interim chair of biology.

Changes of status in the Perkins College of Education included: Luis Aguerrevere, from assistant professor of psychology to assistant professor of human services; Adam Akerson, from assistant professor of elementary education to assistant professor and early childhood M.Ed. coordinator; Joseph Strahl, from library systems supervisor to technology coordinator; and Kimberly Welsh, from associate professor of elementary education to associate professor and elementary M.Ed. coordinator.

The Board of Regents also approved numerous faculty promotions.

To assistant professor: Mary Olle, human sciences.

To associate professor: Linda Bond, mass communication; Leslie Cecil, social and cultural analysis; Dana Cooper, history; Steve Cooper, social work; Neal Cox, art; George Franks, government; Ericka Hoagland and Elizabeth Tasker-Davis, English; David Howard, music; Sheryll Jerez, environmental science; Eric Jones and Jay Thornton, kinesiology and health science; Matthew Lindsey, management, marketing and international business; Joseph Musser, physics and astronomy; Jannah Nerren, elementary education; Ryan Phelps, economics and finance; Jeff Roth, social and cultural analysis; and Juan Carlos Ureña, languages, cultures and communication.

To professor: Kathleen Belanger, social work; Jill Carrington, art; Marc Guidry, English; Scott Harris, music; Philip Stetz, management, marketing and international business; Alexandria Van Kley, biology; and Ann Wilson, business communication and legal studies.

To professor emeritus: Warren Fisher, management, marketing and international business; John Lewis, economics and finance; and Marthea Turnage, library.

In addition, Ann Ellis was promoted to librarian IV.

The following SFA faculty members were granted tenure by the Board of Regents: Leslie Cecil and Jeff Roth, social and cultural analysis; Dana Cooper, history; Steve Cooper, social work; Neal Cox, art; Ericka Hoagland and Elizabeth Tasker-Davis, English; David Howard, music; Sheryll Jerez, environmental science; Eric Jones and Jay Thornton, kinesiology and health science; Matthew Lindsey, management, marketing and international business; Joseph Musser, physics and astronomy; Mary Olle, human sciences; Ryan Phelps, economics and finance; and Juan Carlos Ureña, languages, cultures and communication.

Joyce Johnston of the Department of Language, Cultures and Communication and Elizabeth Rhodes of the Department of Kinesiology and Health Science, were granted faculty development leave for the fall 2013 semester. Perky Beisel of the Department of History was granted faculty development leave for the spring 2014 semester.

The following retirements also were approved by the Board of Regents Tuesday: Viola Alexander, Becky Griffith and Elizabeth Witherspoon, elementary education; Betty Alford, secondary education; Peggy Byers, procurement services; John Dahmus, history; Robert Fiestel, mathematics and statistics; Juanita Finkenberg, employee wellness; Mel Finkenberg and Frank Michael Moode, kinesiology and health science; Warren Fisher, management, marketing and international business; Phyllis Gilbert, Linda Nichols and Margorie Tipton, human sciences; Harold Hall, physical plant; John Lewis, economics and finance; Neal McCord, biology; Gerald Murray, student center administration; and Edward Wittel, dean's office, Perkins College of Education.