Visitors to SFA’s swine center won’t find Dr. John Mehaffey behind the desk of a typical professorial office space. More likely than not, they will have to pass through multiple doors following the intermingled sounds of student voices and contented pig grunts to locate him.

Although Mehaffey, associate professor of agriculture in SFA’s Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, didn’t initially plan to pursue a career in academia, it seems, as the adage goes, he has taken to it like a pig to mud.

“My favorite part of teaching is the students,” Mehaffey said. “You get to see a lot of different perspectives on life, and each student has something to offer to our program, to me as an individual and to my family.”

Mehaffey joined SFA in 2012 following a career in research and development in the meat industry. He believes this experience in the private sector provides him with valuable insight to share with students.

Students in Mehaffey’s classes obtain direct and extensive experience in swine, goat and sheep production — from reproduction and health to sales.

Mehaffey explained that because there is not a large market for commercial swine in Texas, the center focuses its efforts on providing quality livestock for 4-H and FFA students to show across the state.

Mehaffey’s dedication to students, as well as the hands-on nature of his classes, earned him a 2019 Teaching Excellence Award.

The Office of Multicultural Affairs will host its final Brave Space Series of the spring semester at 5:30 p.m. tonight in the Baker Pattillo Student Center Multimedia Room. The series’ discussion will focus on interracial relationships.

“For this month’s Brave Space, we will explore mental health, societal and family influences, and breaking barriers within an interracial relationship,” said Allynn Shaffer, OMA student ambassador.

Each month, OMA's Brave Space Series provides a forum for open and honest discussion regarding topics that are often difficult. In an effort to promote positive dialogue, participants are encouraged to share their opinions and perspectives about interracial relationships.

The discussion is free and open to the SFA and Nacogdoches communities. For more information, click here.

SFA Office of Research and Graduate Studies has announced the recipients of its annual Research and Creative Activity grants. The RCA grant program was created to support SFA faculty members’ initial research efforts and to help prepare their research for submission to national grant programs.

Each year, ORGS and the SFA Department of Academic Affairs conduct a campuswide call for proposals, with the end of October typically serving as the deadline for submissions. The University Research Council then conducts a blind peer review of all applications. Grant awardees are notified early in the spring semester, and projects are funded through the remainder of the fiscal year.

The council selected seven applicants to award RCA grants, including Dr. Jeremy Becnel, Department of Mathematics and Statistics; Wesley Berg, School of Art; Dr. Kathryn Kidd, forestry and spatial science; Drs. Jane Long and Brian Oswald, Department of Mathematics and Statistics; Dr. Brook Poston, Department of History; and Dr. Matibur Zamadar, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.

SFA’s Office of Multicultural Affairs will host its inaugural celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in May.

In partnership with SFA’s Asian Culture Club, the OMA welcomes the SFA and Nacogdoches communities to join in activities and traditions that embrace Asian and Pacific Islander cultures.

“The month of May has been recognized as National Asian Pacific American Heritage Month by the U.S. Congress. It originally started as a small celebration for a select few days in 1977 and later became a full month celebration in 1992,” said Jalon Berry, OMA assistant director. “The OMA aims to embrace more cultures and traditions so that every Lumberjack feels included at SFA. We look forward to seeing everyone come out to celebrate the OMA inauguration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.”

The celebration will take place at noon May 1 in the Baker Pattillo Student Center Plaza. The event is free and open to the public.

The Stone Fort Museum will host its third pop-up concert featuring members of the SFA Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble from 1 to 2 p.m. May 10.

The concert will feature traditional Texas tunes performed by the ensemble, which is led by Dr. J.D. Salas, associate professor of music.

“When people think of a group of tubas playing together, thoughts of massed pachyderms may immediately spring to mind,” Salas said. “However, the euphonium, which is similar to a tuba but about half the size, has a higher and lighter sound and performs most of the melodies. Together, the two instruments create an ensemble that possesses remarkably sonorous timbre and a wide dynamic range.”

The concert is free and open to the public. Guests will be able to snack on old-fashioned picnic fare. For more information about the museum, its exhibits or the Inside-Out series, contact Carolyn Spears, director of the Stone Fort Museum, at cspears@sfasu.edu.

Tony Hawk, professional skateboarder and successful business owner, will serve as guest speaker for SFA’s Rusche College of Business Nelson Rusche Distinguished Lecture Series scheduled for 7:30 p.m. April 29 in the Baker Pattillo Student Center Grand Ballroom.

Hawk has transformed his love of skateboarding into a successful billion-dollar business and continues to pave the way for upcoming athletes. He also is passionate about giving back to the community through his Tony Hawk Foundation.

Through a Q&A format, Hawk will discuss his passion, entrepreneurship and the importance of giving back.

The Nelson Rusche Distinguished Lecture Series is free and open to the public. A private reception will be held prior to the lecture at 6 p.m. To purchase reception tickets, contact SFA’s Office of Development at (936) 468-5406, or email April Smith, associate director of development, at alsmith@sfasu.edu. Reception tickets cost $150.

Due to the Good Friday holiday, SFA Today will not publish Friday, April 19.

Women's golf:

The team placed fifth on day two of the Southland Conference Championship.

A new version of the award-winning film “Bohemian Rhapsody” is coming to The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House.

A new sing-along edition of the movie will be shown in a free, one-night screening at 7 p.m. April 26 in SFA’s historic downtown art center.

In this version of the movie, lyrics appear on the screen to help moviegoers add their own voices to Queen’s performances of favorite songs like “We Will Rock You” and “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

For more information, call (936) 468-1131.

SFA’s Swingin’ Axes and Swingin’ Aces jazz bands will present their final concert of the year at 7:30 p.m. April 25 in Cole Concert Hall.

The Swingin’ Axes, directed by Dr. Deb Scott, will showcase performances by some of its longtime players who will graduate at the end of the semester.

The Axes will perform two original compositions by Maria Schneider – “Bird Count” and “Arbiters of Evolution.” Also on the program is the Sammy Nestico arrangement of “Day In, Day Out” by Rube Bloom and Johnny Mercer.

The Swingin’ Aces, directed by Dr. J.D. Salas, will perform “Two Seconds to Midnight” by Alan Baylock; “Flight of the Foo Birds” by Neal Hefti and recorded by Count Basie Orchestra; and “Kingfish” by Bill Holman and recorded by The Stan Kenton Orchestra.

Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, and $3 for students and youth. For tickets, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407, or visit finearts.sfasu.edu.

SFA’s Trombone Choir will present a concert of varied music from the last five centuries when the student ensemble performs at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 23, in Cole Concert Hall.

The concert will include arrangements of “Panis Angelicus” (O Lord Most Holy) by Cesar Franck and “Contrapunctus 14” by J.S. Bach. Also on the program is an arrangement of excerpts from Hector Berlioz’s opera “The Damnation of Faust.” From “Five Jewish Songs of Joy,” the group will perform “A Wicked Wicked Man” by S.E. Goldfarb.

Dr. Daniel Chapa, low brass professor, will join the group to conduct a select group of players performing “Londonderry Air” arranged by James Christiansen and Mark McDunn.

Concert tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, and $3 for students and youth. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407, or visit finearts.sfasu.edu.

It is critical for the most important pollinator to get its “bee-auty” sleep.

The Diadasia diminuta, or the globe mallow bee, sleeps in orange flowers called Globe Mallows. The bees carry pollen collected during sleep back to the nest to feed their offspring, visiting and pollinating more Globe Mallows along the way.

To read more, click here.