Lacey Folsom, director of Student Engagement; and Dr. Hollie Smith, executive director of Student Life; delivered a session during the Texas Association of College and University Student Personnel Administrators annual conference at The University of Texas at El Paso.

The presentation, titled "Empowering Women: Insights Gained on the Journey," fostered dynamic conversations among attendees, delving into valuable insights drawn from their personal and professional experiences in the realm of student affairs. The presentation further equipped participants with many resources to fuel their inspiration and growth.

Cecil presented “Stephen F. Austin State University’s Food Pantry: Change is All Around Us” at the 13th International Conference on Food Studies in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Data presented included food pantry use statistics from 2018-22, as well as data from a survey Cecil conducts each fall semester. According to Cecil's study, SFA students do not follow the food insecurity trends seen at many other universities. Cecil also presented data about how the food pantry's change of location affected student participation in the program.

Four SFA alumni from the Rusche College of Business sports business program are supporting the Texas Rangers during the team’s World Series run as part of the organization’s business development and ticketing operations staff.

Bryana Novegil ’21 & ’23, Aaron Rangel ’20, Isaiah Schreiber ’20 and Isaiah Yates ’18 watched as their team took home its first World Series title in its 62-year history last night.

Every student organization offers an opportunity for not only fun, but also a meaningful educational experience. With over 250 student organizations on campus, there are many creative opportunities to help students get involved, develop leadership skills, meet new people and enhance their co-curricular education.

Each organization must have a faculty or staff member serve as an advisor to be recognized as an active organization. The role can vary depending on how much the advisor wants to be involved. Advisors provide guidance and assist Student Engagement with communicating university policy and procedures to the student leaders.

If you are interested in becoming an advisor, contact Student Engagement at studentengagement@sfasu.edu to be added to the listserv for student leaders to reach out when they need a faculty/staff advisor.

The Student Success Center is hosting the National First-Generation College Student Day resource fair from 2 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8, in the Baker Pattillo Student Center Grand Ballroom.

Organizations, colleges and departments are encouraged to table at the event. To do so, RSVP by today.

All students are invited to attend the resource fair.

For those involved in the interview and hiring process, Human Resources is hosting a training session in November. The training goes through the hiring process from start to finish.

To register for training in mySFA, go to “Employee” and then “myTraining.” Then, click “Browse for Training” and search for “Hiring Manager Toolkit.”

Training is planned for 10 a.m. today in the Baker Pattillo Student Center, Room 2.106, by Starbucks.

SFA's horticulture program will host its sixth annual Fall Plant Fair from 5 to 7 p.m. tonight at the SFA Plantery, located at 1924 Wilson Drive behind the Agriculture Building.

Plants available for purchase include a variety of winter annuals, such as pansies, violas, wallflowers, sweet alyssum and snapdragons. All are winter hardy and perform well in East Texas climates. Plants will sell for $2.50 per pot.

The Plantery also will be celebrating SFA’s centennial with the grand opening of a new terraced trial garden that over 30 students worked on in the prior school year. In the spirit of celebration, a ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place to begin the festivities, followed by cake, music, fall-themed drinks and s’mores. The garden’s creation was funded by SFA’s Center for Applied Research and Rural Innovation.

The Center for Career and Professional Development is hosting a teacher career fair from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Baker Pattillo Student Center Grand and Twilight ballrooms.

The fairs are open to all students and alumni to learn about internship and full-time employment opportunities and gain valuable networking skills. Faculty and staff are encouraged to inform students about the events. If you wish to offer extra credit for your class to attend, contact CCPD at ccpd@sfasu.edu for assistance with attendance records.

CCPD also offers class and student organization presentations, class assignments and workshops. To learn more about CCPD’s upcoming events or to schedule a presentation or assignment, visit the CCPD website.

The Early Childhood Laboratory will host its annual blood drive from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 6, in the parking lot of the Janice A. Pattillo Early Childhood Research Center.

To learn more and sign up for a time slot, view the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center - Donor Portal.

The student-led Economics Reading Group in the Rusche College of Business is hosting a discussion on entrepreneurship with Kevin Carr, a 1992 SFA finance graduate and owner of Community Beer Co. in Dallas, at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7, in the McGee Business Building, Room 133, on the SFA campus. The event is free and open to the public.

Cayuse has replaced the internal faculty proposal clearance form and all faculty internal grant application forms. This software includes electronic proposal initiation, development, routing and review.

For the spring Research Enhancement Program, faculty members should submit all internal grant proposals via Cayuse before the deadlines below. Summer deadlines will be announced in January.

Research/Creative Activity competition proposals — Monday, Nov. 6

Visit the internal funding page for more information.

Have you encountered students of concern in your classroom or office and are you unsure of how to assist them? Many barriers as well as symptoms of stress and anxiety can exacerbate these concerning behaviors.

Lumberjack Wellness Network staff members are offering an opportunity for faculty and staff to attend a crash course for working with this special population from 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7.

To register, visit myTraining through mySFA and search for "Students of Concern 101."

The SFA Faculty Senate will hold a meeting at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8, in McGee Business Building, Room 133 and Zoom.

Members of the SFA community are welcome to attend the public portion of the session either in person or via Zoom. However, per senate rules, only invited speakers and members of the senate are permitted to speak during the session. Therefore, questions should be forwarded in advance to your faculty senator for potential consideration.

The Student Success Center and Generation Jacks invite you to the National First-Generation College Student Day Celebration from 2 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8, in the Baker Pattillo Student Center Grand Ballroom. The celebration will offer a resource fair as well as cake and punch for SFA’s first-generation student population. Help us spread the word about this event by sharing information with students.

We encourage everyone to celebrate first-generation students during the week of Nov. 6-10 by recognizing the achievements of the first-generation community in your own department or unit.

Ways to support first-generation students:

-Recognize obstacles first-generation students may face and allow flexibility.

-Have flexible office hours and clearly define what office hours are. Consider a virtual office hour option for students who work.

-Explain course delivery options — let students know SFA offers several class modalities, such as online, face-to-face, hybrid and eight- and 16-week classes.

-Share if you were a first-generation student with your class early in the course. Consider sharing your experiences with the class.

-Direct students to tools to improve their quality of life — give tips for managing anxiety, depression, financial challenges, health and overall well-being. Tell students about the Lumberjack Wellness Network A-Z list.

-Talk about skill-building — direct students to resources that will help them develop skills like time management, studying, note-taking, dedication, grit and motivation.

-Share info about employment opportunities — make students aware of on- and off-campus part-time job and internship opportunities.

The SSC is building a network of first-generation faculty, staff and first-generation allies. Complete this form if you would like to be included.

For more information, visit the SSC website.

With the passing of Senate Bill 459 in June 2023, students who are the parent or legal guardian of someone younger than 18 years old could be eligible for priority registration under Texas Education Code 51.983.

Faculty and staff are encouraged to share this information with students. For spring 2024 registration, parenting students may complete the electronic Parenting Student Priority Registration form through mySFA by 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3.

SFA employees can now attend free webinars on topics including self-improvement, emotional support and financial tips. View November’s webinars on the Employee Wellness website.

For more information, contact Livia Pierce at (936) 468-2495 or employeewellness@sfasu.edu.

The Veterans Resource Center will host several events in celebration of Veterans Week.

Nov. 11 - To celebrate Veterans Day, VRC will host a tailgate event from noon to 3 p.m. before the Lumberjacks take on Southern Utah University.

Nov. 13 - Donate or volunteer at VRC's blood drive from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Alumni Drive.

Nov. 14 - Have a taco lunch at the Veteran's Resource Center Open House from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information, contact Stesha Colby-Lynch, VRC director, at vaservices@sfasu.edu.

To view SFA Athletics news and a schedule of upcoming events, visit sfajacks.com.

The School of Art and The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House will present “Twenty,” an exhibition featuring the work of Benjamin Muñoz, running today through Jan. 19, at The Cole Art Center.

“We are excited to host ‘Twenty’ and have Ben Muñoz as a visiting artist,” said Christopher Talbot, director of the School of Art. “He will give demonstrations with our students and assist the opening reception of this wonderful exhibition where he will showcase a collection of prints, including some on loan courtesy of the ‘Live in Hope Art Collection.’”

The Percussion Ensemble will perform works by Austin Franklin, Michael Burritt, Nathan Daughtrey and other percussionists in a concert at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow in Cole Concert Hall.

Under the direction of Dr. Brad Meyer, associate professor of percussion, the ensemble will open the concert with Franklin’s “The Theory of Motion,” described as “an illusory experience and experiment in rhythm that combines elements from jazz, progressive rock, and several post-tonal techniques and genres to create a kaleidoscope of rhythmic development and groove.”

Student ensembles in the Sound Recording Technology program will perform at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow in Turner Auditorium, Griffith Fine Arts Building.

The Popular Music Ensemble, which performs songs from the 1980s until present day, will present “Ain’t It Fun” by Paramore; “Just A Kiss” by Lady A; and “Me And My Broken Heart” by Rixton. The Commercial Music Ensemble, which performs songs that are currently on the charts, will present “Take What You Want” by Post Malone; “Good Girl” by Carrie Underwood; and “Notion” by The Rare Occasions.

Both ensembles are directed by James Taylor, SRT lecturer in the School of Music.

The School of Art and the Friends of the Visual Arts will present a free, one-night screening of “John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs,” directed by filmmaker and SFA alumnus Derek Wayne Johnson, at 7 p.m. tomorrow at The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House.

Featuring interviews and footage of filmmaker Martin Scorsese along with Matthew McConaughey, Sylvester Stallone, Ralph Macchio and scores of other Hollywood hitmakers who starred in Avildsen’s films, the documentary is an examination of the Oscar-winning director who brought to life some of cinema’s most beloved motion pictures.

The Hachidori Duo, featuring the husband-wife team of Dr. Evgeni Raychev, cello, and Dr. Jennifer Dalmas, violin, will present the program “Musical Gems for Violin and Cello Duo” at 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5, in Cole Concert Hall.

Raychev and Dalmas are faculty members in the SFA School of Music and will perform works by J. J. F. Dotzauer, Erwin Schulhoff and Peteris Vasks, among other composers.

The Stone Fort Wind Quintet will perform works by Endre Szervánszky, Marc Mellits and Arne Running when the faculty ensemble presents a recital at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7, in Cole Concert Hall.

The quintet is comprised of Dr. Christina Guenther, flute; Dr. Christopher Ayer, clarinet; Dr. Cody Hunter, bassoon; Dr. Jenna Sehmann, oboe; and Dr. Andrea Denis, horn.

The popular jazz bands will perform a mixture of classic and contemporary jazz standards when the student ensembles take the stage at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 10 in Turner Auditorium in the Griffith Fine Arts Building.

This is a professional postdoctoral position responsible for conducting research, which includes assisting with project design; collecting, analyzing and interpreting data; and reporting findings through publications and presentations. The chosen candidate supports and facilitates collaborative opportunities for faculty members and graduate students to engage in research and scholarly activities.

This is a full-time, 12-month position responsible for serving as the chief executive of an academic department while exemplifying qualities most valued by the academic community: teaching excellence; scholarly and creative activities; and a commitment to university and community service. The chosen candidate is responsible for setting the tone of the unit through daily interactions with colleagues and departmental staff, and making and implementing decisions in the context of collegiality and regular communication.

For more career opportunities, visit SFA's career website.

Gotta paint 'em all!

What’s the first thing that pops into your head when you think of the Renaissance? Is it Pokémon? Probably not, but a series of paintings by artist Jochum Van der Woude might change that by recreating the original 151 Pokémon as Renaissance paintings. The results are very promising so far.

View Van der Woude's art at My Modern Met.