Selden recently published an article, "Does elliptical biface morphology differ as a function of raw material color?" in Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences.

The article discusses how the physical properties associated with lithic raw materials are regularly assumed to be a determining factor that articulates with stone tool morphology. His research found that among those attributes most frequently advanced to account for differences between sites and assemblages are raw material size and mechanical flaking properties.

SFA, The University of Texas System and various UT benefit partners will be on campus next week at the Student Recreation Center. There will be presentations, an opportunity to visit and ask questions in person, and assistance with any enrollment you may wish to complete. The fairs will be held 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 22, and Wednesday, Aug. 23. The schedule is as follows:

• 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. - UT Care Medicare Advantage PPO presentation
• 10:30 to 11 a.m. - UT Care and UT Select Prescription Coverage presentation
• 11 a.m. to noon - UT Select Medical presentation
• Noon to 1 p.m. - UT Benefits overview
• 1:30 to 2 p.m. - UT Benefits Wellness Platform Limeade demonstration

A come-and-go vendor fair will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Thursday, Aug. 24, for employees to ask questions in person and receive assistance with any benefit enrollment they wish to complete.

Join Interim President Gina Oglesbee at the Fall Welcome meeting. Breakfast will be served starting at 7:30 a.m. Aug. 25 in the Griffith Fine Arts Building. The welcome meeting will follow at 8:30 a.m. in Turner Auditorium. Those wanting to attend virtually can visit the president's webpage for access.

The SFA email signature generator has been updated with new wording to reflect the change in governance from the SFA board of regents to The University of Texas System. Those needing to update their email signature or create one can do so using the Outlook signature generator.

Staff Council has elected a new slate of officers for the 2023-24 academic year. Officers include:

• Chair-elect: Brittany Beck, Orientation and Transition Programs
• Secretary: Emily Keller, Rusche College of Business – Office of Student Services
• Treasurer: Choya Coleman, Information Technology Services
• Parliamentarian: Lissy Turner, Office of Title IX
• Chair: Grace Saldana-Romero, Campus Recreation

The newly elected representatives will serve Sept. 1 through Aug. 31, 2026. To provide fair representation, Staff Council seats are divided by occupational/Equal Employment Opportunity classification. Staff can see their EEO category by visiting the “Employee” tab of mySFA and clicking the "EEO Category Look-Up" link.

Representatives of Category 30 are Brittany Beck, Crystal Deckard, Emily Keller and Tim Lewallen. Representatives of Category 50 are Heather Hawkins and Shana Scott. Representative of Category 60 is Daniel Adame. Representatives of Category 70 are William Stelson and Leon Stefl.

View the list of Staff Council members on the Staff Council webpage.

Dr. Carmen Montaña, assistant professor of biology, led an international research expedition funded by National Science Foundation to study freshwater biodiversity in rivers in the Guiana Shield, a tropical region in South America facing environmental challenges.

The international collaborative research team included Drs. Brent Burt and James Van Kley, SFA biology faculty members; three SFA undergraduate students supported by the NSF’s International Research Experiences for Students program: Lily Williams, junior biology major from Hudson; Sophie Scott, senior environmental science and journalism major from Houston; and Megan Beeksma, senior forestry major from Temple; as well as students and faculty members from the University of Guyana and Texas A&M University.

Registration is underway for fall classes in the Music Preparatory Division of the SFA School of Music.

The fall roster for youth includes private lessons in piano, violin, cello, viola, bass, voice, saxophone and flute. Lessons may be available for other instruments upon request. Group classes will be offered in piano for adults and children, Kindermusik (for students ages 0 to 7), SFA Children’s Chorus, Youth Choir and Strings Project.

SFA Gardens will host the monthly Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series at 7 p.m. Sept. 14 in the Brundrett Conservation Education Building at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center.

Keith Hansen, a retired extension horticulture agent for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, will present "I Wish I Never Planted That (There), and Other Thoughts after Gardening 30 Years in Tyler.”

Step through the gates and into the world of Willy Wonka for Camp CTL 2023. The Center for Teaching and Learning is hosting a sweet event filled with teaching and learning workshops, giveaways, free lunch, T-shirts, lots of candy and more.

The camp's virtual sessions begin at 10 a.m. today and tomorrow. Factory gates open for the in-person event at 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 21, on the second floor of Steen Library.

Free lunches will be served for the in-person event Aug. 21. View a detailed schedule and reserve your lunch on CTL's website.

The Center for Career and Professional Development is hosting a part-time job and volunteer fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 6 during Weeks of Welcome. This event helps students connect with potential employers and organizations from the Nacogdoches area who want to hire a part-time employee or volunteer for the school year.

All SFA departments hiring student workers (work-study or non-work-study) are encouraged to register for this event. It is free, but registration through Handshake is required by Aug. 30. For more information on upcoming career fairs, visit CCPD's website.

Lumberjacks and friends of SFA are encouraged to participate in the university’s third-annual Giving Day, which is also happening in conjunction with SFA’s centennial celebration.

SFA welcomed its inaugural class of students Sept. 18, 1923. To celebrate the university’s 100th anniversary, this year’s campaign goal is $192,300.

For more information about SFA’s Giving Day, email Mallory Marshall, coordinator for annual giving, at Mallory.Marshall@sfasu.edu.

Join SFA’s Health and Wellness Hub staff members at Nac Safe Place’s suicide awareness walk, scheduled for 5 p.m. Sept. 23 at Festival Park in downtown Nacogdoches.

Nac Safe Place is a collaboration of community agencies, schools and law enforcement officials dedicated to reducing the stigma associated with suicide in order to increase each person’s ability to seek help and prevent further loss of life.

The Hub is partnering with Nac Safe Place and other organizations to host the inaugural “OK to Not Be OK” walk for suicide awareness and prevention.

SFA's annual School of Art Faculty Exhibition will show Aug. 29 through Sept. 29 in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches. An opening reception is planned for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 31.

Each year, the faculty exhibition features a wide variety of artworks in ceramics, sculpture, photography, painting, prints, metals and mixed media, according to Christopher Talbot, director of the SFA School of Art. This year, the School of Art is featuring five of its longest-serving adjunct faculty members, including Julie King, Stina Herrera, Ron King, Russ Havard and Scott Runnels.

SFA turns 100 years old in September and joins the century club along legends like Bob Barker and the Hollywood sign. Check out more icons turning 100 this year.