NACOGDOCHES, Texas  Despite the challenges of 2020, many community members have stepped up through various acts of service to help their family, friends and neighbors. In order to help better meet the needs of individuals near and far, Stephen F. Austin State University’s Office of Multicultural Affairs is encouraging students to participate in its MLK Day of Service in Nacogdoches or virtually in their local communities.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — The school psychology program at Stephen F. Austin State University has received a nearly $15,000 grant from the Texas Woman’s University Woodcock Institute to research why children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder lose focus specifically during searching activities like a game requiring them to spot missing objects.

“Thank you for allowing us to support your important line of research,” said Dr. David C. Miller, executive director of the research institute, in SFA’s notification letter.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Two graduating seniors in the health science program at Stephen F. Austin State University spent their fall internships helping university officials conduct contact tracing for COVID-19 cases reported on campus.

Wendy Chavez of Houston and Frankcheskia Pyrtle of Conroe gained real-world experience through their internships, which were established by the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs to help SFA Health Services manage COVID-19 cases on campus.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Stephen F. Austin State University’s chief diversity officer has been appointed to serve as an interim vice president for the institution.
 
Dr. Michara DeLaney-Fields will serve as interim vice president for student affairs beginning Dec. 19. DeLaney-Fields joined the SFA staff in 2019 as assistant dean of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and was promoted to chief diversity officer in August of this year.
 

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — For top graduates from the Stephen F. Austin State University Rusche College of Business, the landing spot of Lufkin is increasingly becoming an option. And while the nightlife and the food scene might not compare to what a young professional would find in Houston or Dallas, the opportunity surely does.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Stephen F. Austin State University Police Department officers may not live at the North Pole or have long beards, but they are still able to help area children have a happy holiday season by participating in Shop with a Cop, an SFA and Nacogdoches County effort.

Shop with a Cop, scheduled for Dec. 10 at Walmart, is geared toward creating positive relationships with area law enforcement officers by providing a fun-filled shopping event for deserving children this holiday season.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — For the first time in almost one year, students at Stephen F. Austin State University will be honored for their academic achievements during commencement ceremonies in Johnson Coliseum. To make this possible in a safe manner, the university will host its first-ever slate of five commencement ceremonies – two on Dec. 11 and three on Dec. 12.

To accommodate both physical distancing mandated by COVID-19 concerns and the construction project currently underway at the coliseum, each graduate has been allotted six tickets to provide to their guests.

Editor's Note: After this article was written, Sloane Evans lost her job with the XFL's Houston Roughnecks because the league folded due to COVID-19. Evans has since accepted the position of Director of Corporate Partnerships with the Houston SaberCats of Major League Rugby.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Research conducted by Stephen F. Austin State University environmental science graduate student Kimberly Gamez is adding to a growing body of work with the goal of alleviating the ever-increasing demand on one of Texas’ most precious natural resources — water.

According to the Texas Water Development Board, Texas’ population is expected to increase by more than 70 percent during the next 50 years. Accompanying this growth is increased demand on the state’s already strained water resources.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — What do Stephen F. Austin State University Lumberjacks, campus landmarks, squirrels and six children have in common? The answer is “A Day at SFA,” a new SFA Press publication geared toward children that encourages them to start considering the university as their future alma mater.

Written by University Marketing Communication staff members and alumnae Dr. Shirley Luna and Donna Parish and illustrated by 2019 alumnus Tristan Brewster, the book is filled with information about what makes SFA a special place — from its traditions to its iconic buildings.