Notable Alumni

Olson, a Fort Worth native, received a bachelor's degree in kinesiology from SFA in 1986. He initially took the helm of the SFA men's track and field program in 2000 after assistant coaching stints at Clemson University and the University of Virginia. Olson led SFA's track and field program to 40 team conference championships over the course of his illustrious coaching career.

Fall 2022 Sawdust Magazine feature story

Since joining the staff in 2005, Maple has guided SFA Spirit Teams to 13 national championships, 11 for dance and two for cheer. Although SFA's national competitive reputation has exponentially grown, Maple said the Spirit Teams' top priority remains supporting the Lumberjack and Ladyjack athletic teams and engaging with fans at games. Maple has built a program culture that prioritizes success both and on and off the performance mat and sidelines.

Fall 2022 Sawdust Magazine feature story

Major Erin Braswell can trace the beginning of her journey to a career in the U.S. Army back to a single, pivotal day. Now serving as an aviation officer at Wheeler Army Airfield in Honolulu, Hawaii, she was then pursuing her Bachelor of Science in health science and playing softball at SFA. When the events of 9/11 unfolded, Braswell knew she wanted to find a way to serve others. She has now garnered more than 13 years of flight experience during her career.

Spring 2019 Sawdust Magazine feature story

Dr. Josh Staley received special recognition for his vision of bringing esports to the forefront of campus life by serving as the head coach for the varsity esports team and for developing an esports management minor. The minor is designed to prepare students for a career in the industry of esports at amateur, collegiate and professional organizations.

After serving Texas school districts for three years, Donalyn Allen started her first contract assignment as a travel speech-language pathology therapist in 2018. Since then, she has worked in four states as well as the U.S. Virgin Islands in settings ranging from schools to skilled nursing facilities. Travel therapy has given her the opportunity to experience different places and work settings and people from other cultures.

From the Naval Air Systems Command to the Department of Defense, Mark Wagner has an impressive résumé that begins with his time at SFA. Wagner received a degree in communication disorders and psychology from the university and worked as a financial advisor before deciding to pursue a career at the Department of Defense. He now serves as deputy to the commander of the Corpus Christi Army Depot, the largest rotary wing repair facility in the world.

Fall 2018 Sawdust Magazine feature story

After she graduated from SFA with a bachelor’s degree in rehabilitation services, Melanie Taylor was planning to move to Colorado and earn a master’s degree in her field. Instead, she decided to pursue a job locally at the same center where she completed a life-changing internship as part of her SFA degree program.

“My internship experience at Burke prompted me to seek employment in a field that I may never have considered if not for the course requirement,” Taylor said.

Burke Center serves 12 counties — Angelina, Houston, Jasper, Nacogdoches, Newton, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Trinity and Tyler — and is one of 39 centers the Texas Health and Human Services Commission contracts with to deliver mental health services to communities across the state.

Winter 2020 Sawdust Magazine feature story