November 29, 2005 – Shirley Luna

Faculty members honored

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS – Three current or retired Stephen F. Austin State University faculty members were recently named Distinguished Alumni by Texas A&M University–Commerce. Those honored were Dr. Alan Sowards, for excellence in teaching research and service as a science educator; Dr. Donnya Stephens, for excellence in leadership, teaching and service in secondary education; and Dr. Patsy Hallman, for educational leadership, teaching, research and service.

Sowards is an associate professor at SFA in the department of elementary education. He received his bachelor’s degree in biology from SFA and a master’s degree in environmental science from the University of Texas at Dallas. His doctorate is from A&M-Commerce.

Sowards began his teaching career at SFA in 1995 and has received several SFA teaching excellence awards, including the University Teaching Excellence Award, as well as the Sadie Ray Graff Award for Outstanding Contributions to Texas Environmental Education and an Alumni Ambassador Award from A&M-Commerce. He has helped secure grants for a variety of educational programs that benefit future educators as well as thousands of grade-school students throughout the area.

Stephens is a retired SFA professor in the department of secondary education. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Prairie View A&M University in business education and her Master of Education degree at SFA. Her doctorate is from East Texas State University, now known as A&M-Commerce.

Stephens joined the SFA faculty in 1975 and remained with the university as a professor in the Department of Secondary Education until her retirement in 2002. Stephens has co-authored several articles published in education journals and is the recipient of numerous awards including an RJR Nabisco Fellowship Award from the Joint Council on Economic Education, Woman of the Year in 1991 from the American Association of University Women and an SFA Alumni Association Distinguished Professor Award.

Hallman retired from SFA in August 2003 as professor and interim dean of the College of Education. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in home economics from the former East Texas State University-Commerce. She obtained her master’s in secondary education from SFA and her doctorate at Texas Women’s University.

Hallman began her teaching career at SFA in 1970 and later served as director of SFA’s Center for Professional Development and Technology. She received SFA's Distinguished Professor Award and Woman of the Year from University Professional Women. Hallman has authored and co-authored a number of articles and books including “A Century of Public Education,” “Life Management Skills,” and a book paying tribute to the memory of her mother, “Letters From Miss Edna.”