FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Shirley Luna – April 22, 2004

Regents Approve Faculty Promotions and Tenure

         The Stephen F. Austin State University board of regents approved the awarding of tenure and faculty and staff promotions during a recent meeting.

         The appointment of Dr. Violet Rogers as dean of the Nelson Rusche College of Business was approved by Regents, and three SFA faculty members serving their departments as interim chair were appointed to those positions permanently. They include Dr. Barbara Carr, English; William Bryan, Human Services; and Dr. Betty Alford, Secondary Education.

Regents awarded tenure to the following faculty members: Dr. Craig Morton, Agriculture; Dr. Elizabeth Witherspoon, Elementary Education; Drs. Randy McDonald, Sandra Harris and Faye Hicks-Towns, Secondary Education; Dr. Daniel Unger, Forestry; Drs. Sheryl Wittenbach, Brenda Marques, Human Sciences; Drs. Dixie Mercer, Judith Lauter and Robin R. Rumph, Human Services; Fred Allen, Debra Scott and Dr. Scott Harris, Music; Dr. Carlos Cuadra and Perry Moon, Modern Language; Dr. Patty Ellison, Nursing; Philip Reynolds, Library; Dr. Robert Friedfeld, Physics/Astronomy; Dr. Chris Barker, Geology; Drs. Paul Steinbach and Alex Frantzen, Chemistry; Dr. Roy Harris, Mathematics; Drs. Jerry Tyler and Jerry Williams, Sociology; Dr. Steve Taaffe, History; and Dr. Charles F. Abel, Political Science and Geography.

Faculty and staff appointments approved by the regents include UC Operations: Nathan Armer, programmer/analyst I; Athletics: Jeremy Stolfa, coordinator of athletic operations; Academic Advising: Debra R. Kiesel, director; Band: Dr. David Campo, director of marching band; Office of Research and Sponsored Programs: Dr. Carrie Brown, director; Elementary Education: Jeri D. Meredith, instructor; Nursing: Debrah D. Archer, clinical instructor; Philosophy and Classical Studies: Dr. Owen M. Smith, assistant professor; Dr. Anne Collins Smith, lecturer; Political Science, Geography and Public Administration: Heather L. Wyatt, assistant professor; Dr. Julie Harrelson-Stephens, assistant professor; Dr. Unna Lassiter, assistant professor; English and Philosophy: Dr. Michael J. Martin, assistant professor; Dr. Kirsten E. Escobar, assistant professor; Mathematics: Dr. Lesa L. Beverly, assistant professor.

Promotions were approved by the regents for the following faculty members:

To assistant professor: Debra Scott, Music, and Dr. Cynthia McCarley; Nursing.

To associate professor: Dr. Wanda Mouton, Communication; Dr. Robin R. Rumph, Human Services; Drs. Faye Hicks-Towns and Sandra Harris, Secondary Education; Dr. Daniel Unger, Forestry; Dr. Jerry L. Williams, Sociology; Dr. Steve Taaffe, History; Dr. Michael Walker, Psychology; Dr. Charles F. Abel, Political Science and Geography; Dr. Chris Barker, Geology; Dr. Roy Harris, Mathematics; Drs. Alex Frantzen and Paul Steinbach, Chemistry; and Dr. Robert Friedfield, Physics and Astronomy.

         To professor: Drs. Miles McCall and Larry King, Communication; Dr. Michael Pickard, Computer Science; Dr. Michael Moode, Kinesiology; Dr. Robert P. Kinsell, Art; Brian P. Oswald, Forestry; and Dr. Joseph McWilliams, Mathematics.

To Professor Emeritus: Dr. Vinay Kothari, Marketing; Dr. Gloria Durr, Human Sciences; and Dr. Donald Gregory, Political Science and Geography

Lani Hall and Linda Reynolds were promoted to librarian II.

Other changes of status approved by regents included: Social Work: Dr. Linda Morales, from assistant professor to interim associate dean and director of school of social work; Mathematics: Dr. Kenneth H. Price, from full-time associate professor to part time; Forestry: Jeffrey M. Williams, from graduate research assistant to systems administrator; Research and Sponsored Programs: Heather Slough, from interim director to assistant director; Library: Susan D. Clarke, from library associate II to librarian I; and Athletics: John Branch, from coordinator of athletic operations to assistant athletic director for external affairs.

Faculty development leave was awarded to Dr. Nancy Wisely, Sociology.

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