Mar 28, 2024  
2022-23 Graduate Bulletin 
    
2022-23 Graduate Bulletin ARCHIVED

Administration


Governance

By legislative act, a nine-member Board of Regents, appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Texas Senate, governs Stephen F. Austin State University. Each member serves a six-year term with three new appointments every two years. Each year, the governor also appoints an SFA student as a non-voting member of the Board of Regents to serve a one-year term. This board elects all members of the administration, faculty and professional staff, and sets general policies for the university’s programs.

Accreditation

Founded in 1923, Stephen F. Austin State University is an independent, comprehensive public institution located in Nacogdoches, Texas. SFA is dedicated to excellence in teaching, research, scholarship, creative work and service. Throughout the university, faculty and staff provide personal attention, engaging students in a learner-centered environment and offering opportunities to prepare for the challenges of living in the global community. SFA benefits the East Texas community and the state of Texas by providing a high quality, affordable education.

Initial institutional accreditation was received in 1927 as Stephen Austin State Teachers College from the accrediting body now known as the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). From 1951-68, accreditation as Stephen F. Austin State College was in place. Since 1968, accreditation as Stephen F. Austin State University is active. The last SFA SACSCOC reaffirmation occurred in 2021, and the next reaffirmation is scheduled for 2031. The following statement provides information regarding the current SFA institutional accreditation:

Stephen F. Austin State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degrees. Degree-granting institutions also may offer credentials, such as certificates and diplomas, at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of SFA may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097; by calling (404) 679-4500; or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website at www.sacscoc.org.​

 

  Board of Regents
David R. Alders 2025 Nacogdoches
Robert A. Flores 2027 Nacogdoches
Karen G. Gantt 2023 McKinney
Brigettee C. Henderson 2023 Lufkin
M. Thomas Mason 2023 Dallas
Judy Larson Olson 2025 The Woodlands
Dr. Laura Rectenwald 2027 Longview
Nancy C. Windham 2027 Nacogdoches
Jennifer Wade Winston 2025 Lufkin
Spencer Coffey, Student Regent 2022 Highland Village

 

  Officers of the Board
Karen Gantt Chair
M. Thomas Mason Vice Chair
Jennifer Wade Winston Secretary

 

  Officers of Administration
Steve Westbrook, EdD Interim President
Lorenzo M. Smith, PhD Provost/Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Marc S. Guidry, PhD Associate Provost
Gina Oglesbee, MPA Vice President for Finance and Administration
Brandon A. Frye, PhD Vice President for Student Affairs
Jill Still, MBA, CFRE Vice President for University Advancement
Michara DeLaney-Fields, PhD Chief Diversity Officer
Graham Garner, MPA Chief Marketing Communications Officer

 

  Alumni Association
Craig Turnage Executive Director of Alumni Affairs

 

  Ralph W. Steen Library
Jonathan Helmke Director of the Library

 

  Deans of Colleges
Timothy Bisping, PhD Dean of the Nelson Rusche College of Business
Judy A. Abbott, PhD Dean of the James I. Perkins College of Education
Gary Wurtz, DMA Dean of the College of Fine Arts
Hans Williams, PhD Dean of the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture
Mark Sanders, PhD Interim Dean of the College of Liberal and Applied Arts
Kimberly M. Childs, PhD Dean of the College of Sciences and Mathematics

Graduate Council

The principal advisory body for graduate education at Stephen F. Austin State University is the Graduate Council, chaired by the dean of the Office of Research and Graduate Studies.

The Graduate Council shall consist of six elected, three appointed and four ex-officio members of the graduate faculty. Each college shall elect one representative from the regular members of the graduate faculty in that college. Three members shall be appointed by the dean of Research and Graduate Studies, subject to the principle of proportionate representation from each college on the basis of regular members of the graduate faculty in the respective colleges, and subject further to the approval of the provost and vice president for academic affairs.

Both elected and appointed members of the council shall serve three-year terms. The terms shall be staggered in order to ensure that only one-third of the terms expire each year. Should there be over- representation of any one-term year, an adjustment will be made through the designation of two-year term elections. Should such an adjustment be necessary, the membership will be surveyed to identify those members whose term will be adjusted. Upon the expiration of a term, the council member is ineligible for re-election or reappointment for three years.

A vacancy on the council shall be filled by election or appointment, whichever is applicable to the position vacated. Should a vacancy occur at such a time when the unfilled portion of a member’s term is one academic year or less, the chair of the University Graduate Council may appoint a regular member of the graduate faculty from the appropriate college to fill the partial term. Under these circumstances, the person appointed to fill the partial term shall be eligible for re-election or reappointment.

The registrar, the director of libraries, a representative of the faculty senate and a graduate student shall be ex-officio, non-voting members of the council. Other ex-officio, non-voting members may be appointed to the council as determined by the dean of Research and Graduate Studies with the approval of the provost and vice president for academic affairs.

  Graduate Council  
Freddie Avant, PhD Interim Dean of Research and Graduate Studies Chair
Neal Cox, MFA Fine Arts Elected
Adam Akerson, PhD Education Elected
Kevin Stafford, PhD Sciences and Mathematics Elected
Joyce Johnston, PhD Liberal and Applied Arts Appointed
Nikki Shoemaker, PhD Business Elected
Daniel Unger, PhD Forestry and Agriculture Elected
Jaime Flowers, PhD Education Appointed
Wilma Cordova, MSW Liberal and Applied Arts Elected
Roy Joe Harris, PhD Sciences and Mathematics Appointed
Mickey Diez, MBA Registrar Ex Officio
Jonathan Helmke, EdD Library Director Ex Officio
Chris McKenna, PhD Faculty Senate Representative Ex Officio
Rebecca Self Graduate Student Representative Appointed

 

University Mission

Stephen F. Austin State University is a comprehensive institution dedicated to excellence in teaching, research, scholarship, creative work and service. Through the personal attention of our faculty and staff, we engage our students in a learner-centered environment and offer opportunities to prepare for the challenges of living in the global community.