Selden received a $20,000 grant from the United States Forest Service to expand his predictive modeling efforts to the Sabine National Forest in advance of impact by the southern pine beetle.

In addition to modeling, Selden is testing the model using a stratified random sample of locations throughout the forest. This will help trace the impact of more than 30 years of archaeological surveys based on compliance efforts. Building on his work at the Davy Crockett National Forest, Selden's efforts will provide a useful tool for archaeologists and land managers while furthering his research, which includes local, regional and national outreach components.

The Office of Multicultural Affairs is accepting proposals for its 2021 Diversity Conference, planned for Feb. 12.

The conference will take place virtually and in person in the Baker Pattillo Student Center with limited seating.

Faculty, staff, students and community members are encouraged to create and submit a proposal through SFA Scholarworks by Nov. 6.

For more information, contact Jalon Berry, OMA assistant director, at (936) 468-1073 or jalon.berry@sfasu.edu.

SFA's Employee Wellness program will offer three virtual wellness seminars in October and November, including "Fueling Your Workout," "Drive-Thru Nutrition," and "Is This Food For Real?"

For event information, visit the Employee Wellness Upcoming Events page.

“Like” the Employee Wellness Facebook page or complete an Employee Wellness participant profile form to stay informed.

For more information, contact Jessica Waguespack, Employee Wellness assistant director, at (936) 468-6056 or waguespaja@sfasu.edu.

SFA's Organization for Women's Leadership and Equity will host this month's meetings from 1 to 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12, and from 2 to 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, via Zoom. Email owle@sfasu.edu for the meeting link.

For more information about OWLE, click here.

Send questions to Heather Olson Beal, faculty co-chair, at olsonbehk@sfasu.edu, or Ashley Johnson, staff co-chair, at johnsonar13@sfasu.edu.

The Center for Career and Professional Development will host the last 2020 Fall Career and Internship Expo from 1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 21 virtually through Handshake.

Faculty and staff are encouraged to inform students about the event, especially those who may be looking for full-time positions and wanting to network with professionals. Click here for a list of participating employers.

Faculty members who want to track student attendance may email their rosters to derouenb@sfasu.edu for notification after the event.

Students need to preregister for the expo via Handshake and then sign up for group and one-on-one sessions with employers. They are encouraged to sign up early as spots may fill up quickly depending on the employer. Professional dress is required. Résumé assistance and the center's free Career Closet are available to help students prepare for the event. Learn more about these resources on the center's website.

For more information, contact Brandi Derouen, CCPD assistant director, at derouenb@sfasu.edu or (936) 468-3305.

SFA’s Office of Multicultural Affairs will celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community during its annual National Coming Out Day event Monday, Oct. 12.

“This event is designed to educate the community and promote the inclusion of all people in Nacogdoches County,” said La-Meria Seriale, OMA student ambassador.

OMA’s celebration this year involves activity stations that attendees can visit to receive information on the LGBTQIA+ community. The event also includes educational segments covering health issues, sexual orientation and the history of the LGBTQIA+ community.

The free, public event will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12, in the Baker Pattillo Student Center Theater. Due to COVID-19 guidelines, those who wish to attend must preregister at sfasu.edu/oma as well as wear masks and practice social distancing during the event.

SFA’s Counseling Clinic is hosting the following free therapy groups for all SFA students and Texas residents via Zoom.

• Stress Management and Relaxation Group, 3 p.m., Mondays

• Virtual Support Group for Caregivers, 5 p.m., Mondays

• Career Exploration Group, 4 p.m., Tuesdays

• Virtual LGBTQ+ Support Group for High School Students, 5 p.m., Wednesdays

All group sessions last an hour and will run through the end of the semester.

In addition to the free groups, the clinic continues to accept new clients and waive fees during the pandemic.

For more information or to sign up for the groups, contact the clinic at (936) 468-1041 or sfacounselingclinic@sfasu.edu.

SFA nursing students will be partnering with East Texas Community Health Services to provide free flu vaccinations today and tomorrow during Boo to the Flu, a drive-through event at the DeWitt School of Nursing Complex.

Fourth-semester nursing students in the community health course will administer the shots from 3 to 7 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow. The event is open to the public, and health insurance is not required. Children 4 years of age and older are eligible for a vaccine.

As the weather turns colder and people spend more time inside, the threat of a “trifecta” – a perfect storm of COVID-19, the flu and the measles – looms larger, said Michelle Klein, clinical instructor in the School of Nursing. “It is recommended now more than ever to get a flu shot."

Masks are required for attendees.

Q: If I travel out of the country for any reason, will I need to quarantine when I return?

A: Yes. Quarantining for 14 days is important for students and employees when returning from travel outside of the country.

Students who live on campus should inform their hall director of their need to quarantine so meals can be arranged.

Remember, quarantining is used to keep someone who might have been exposed to COVID-19 away from others, and it helps prevent the spread of disease that can occur before a person knows they are sick or infected with the virus. People in quarantine should stay home, separate themselves from others and monitor their health.

It also is important to remember that global recommendations regarding COVID-19 are fluid. Although travel may seem relatively free-flowing to an area at one particular moment in time, sudden changes may prevent your anticipated departure or return.

The SFA Symphony Orchestra’s virtual performance on Oct. 20 will feature music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Darius Milhaud.

Beginning at 7:30 p.m. and accessible through live streaming free of charge at music.sfasu.edu, the concert’s main feature is Tchaikovsky’s “Serenade for Strings,” according to Dr. Gregory Grabowski, the orchestra’s conductor.

“The Tchaikovsky (piece) is one of the biggest standards of string repertoire,” Grabowski said.

“The Milhaud was composed in the 1920s and was very much influenced by early jazz,” Grabowski said. “Apparently, when he heard his first American jazz band perform in London, Milhaud was so captivated he went to New York City to visit Harlem, go to jazz clubs and mingle with jazz musicians."

The concert will be live-streamed only with a rebroadcast at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 27 on the SFA Symphony Orchestra YouTube page. For more information, contact the School of Music at (936) 468-4602.

SFA’s School of Art will present exhibitions that showcase the works of its faculty members in shows planned for Oct. 22 through Dec. 31 in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House.

“Oil and Water” features photographs taken along the Texas Gulf Coast by Amanda Breitbach, assistant professor of art at SFA.

“These photographs represent the dual nature of the Texas Gulf Coast as an important ecosystem that provides a vital habitat for wildlife and a site of oil and gas development that is equally vital to the global petrochemical industry,” Breitbach said.

For more information, call the School of Art at (936) 468-4804. Admission is free.

“If u are feeling sad pls look at this cute duck.”

That was the caption paired with the video of a duckling falling asleep with a flower on its head, and we can't get enough of it.

To watch the video, click here.