Axe ’Em, Jacks!
NACOGDOCHES, Texas –– The Council on Undergraduate Research has chosen Stephen F. Austin State University to be one of the more than 30 U.S. higher education institutions that will participate in the council’s 2025-26 Scholars Transforming Through Research Program. The competitive, application-based program is a professional development opportunity for teams consisting of a campus representative and one to four undergraduate students.
“Our students were selected among others from top universities across the nation because of their talent, nurtured at SFA,” said Dr. Sarah Straub, associate professor of education studies and SFA’s campus representative for the program. “We are proud to be able to represent Lumberjacks on this national stage for research, and our students are thrilled to gain this experience.”
SFA student representatives include Holli Heim, graduate agriculture student from Henderson, faculty sponsor Dr. Erin Brown; Kiel Garrett, professional counseling graduate student from San Antonio, faculty sponsor Dr. Richard Jones; Amie Beam, senior aviation sciences student from Tyler, faculty sponsor Dr. Allen Wilson; and Katelyn Defrancis, senior forestry student from Deer Park, faculty sponsor Dr. Carmen Montaña-Schalk.
The multi-month program helps students develop their communication and advocacy skills so they can effectively convey the high-impact practices of academic research and their own research experiences, Straub said.
SFA is among 34 institutions from 15 states in the program, which consists of 38 campus representatives and 106 student researchers.
Founded in 1978, the Council on Undergraduate Research focuses on providing high-quality and collaborative undergraduate research as well as scholarly and creative activity. The organization works to enhance undergraduate research by emphasizing learning through doing. It also provides connections to several campuses and government agencies while promoting networking and professional growth to its community.