SHSU
Update For Week Of Aug. 14
Klespis Named Acting
Math-Stat Chair
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Mark Klespis |
Mathematics professor Mark Klespis has been named acting
chair of the department of mathematics and statistics.
Klespis will serve as acting chair for at least a year while
Jaimie Hebert, the former chair, serves as interim dean of
the College of Arts and Sciences.
“
Dr. Klespis’ strong background in math education fits
well with our proposed doctorate in math education and should
further strengthen our case with the coordinating board as
he provides leadership for the implementation of this new program,” said
provost and vice president for Academic Affairs David Payne.
A professor at SHSU since 1995, Klespis earned his bachelor’s
and master’s degrees in education and mathematics,
respectively, from the University of Texas at El Paso before
receiving his
doctorate in mathematics education from the University of
Texas at Austin.
One of Klespis’ biggest goals for the program is to “keep
moving forward” with things such as the doctorate program
in mathematics education, a degree the department and university
have been working on for the past few years. The Higher Education
Coordinating Board will visit the department sometime this
fall, and “I want to make sure we’re ready to go
with that and give a good impression,” he said.
“
My field is mathematics education, so, of course, it’s
important to me not only from a personal standpoint but it’s
something that Jaimie (Hebert) and Vice President Payne have
made clear to me that it’s very important to the department
and the university,” he said. “So one immediate
goal is to get that approved.”
This will accompany a “beefing up” of the Master
of Science in math program, he said, along with his goal
of continuing to serve the large numbers of students signing
up
for the introduction-level math classes required for many
degree plans.
“
We’re still trying to cope with meeting the needs of
our departments in offering our math 164 and math 184 for the
general ed people (students from other disciplines) and the
education people, so we’ve got that other end of the
spectrum to worry about,” he said. “The math-stat
department has a very good reputation on campus of trying
to meet the needs of students in other departments.”
In addition to his work at SHSU, Klespis has also taught
at Saint Xavier University, Western New Mexico University,
the
University of Alabama at Birmingham, served as an assistant
instructor at the University of Texas at Austin and taught
high school math at Anthony High School in Anthony, Texas.
“
It is an honor (to be named acting chair),” Klespis said. “I’ve
been at here Sam for 10 years, and Sam Houston has been very,
very good to me; the department has been very good to me.
“
They have always supported me in whatever I’ve done,
so it means something to me that they want me to serve as acting
chair,” he said. “It’s just my way of paying
them back for everything they’ve done for me.”
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Beto
Retirement Reception To Be Held Aug. 31
The College of Criminal
Justice and the Correctional Management Institute of Texas
will host a retirement reception for Dan
Richard Beto on Aug. 31.
The reception will be held from 3-5 p.m. in the Criminal
Justice Center lobby.
Beto, who received both his bachelor’s and master’s
degrees from SHSU, began his career with SHSU in 1994 as
executive director of CMIT, the position
from which he will retire.
In 2000, he was named director of the Center for Project Spotlight, a program
initiated and funded by the Governor's Office that creates partnerships between
law enforcement, juvenile probation, and adult probation officers to provide
intense supervision and enhanced services to juvenile and young adult offenders
on probation living in high crime areas.
In addition, he has served as an adjunct faculty member for the college since
2000.
Beto’s last day at SHSU will also be Aug. 31, though he already has plans
for his retirement.
“
I plan to try to get my life back in order (probably a lost cause), train my
ill-behaved dog (which is another lost cause), write, consult, and travel some
with my wife,” he said.
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Purchasing Dept. To Have Reception For Smith
In celebration
of her more than 25 years of university service, the purchasing
department will host a retirement reception
for Allene Smith on Aug. 31.
The reception will be held from 2-4 p.m. in Austin Hall.
For more information, call 936.294.1894.
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Pilot DFW Reception
Sent-Off With Success
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| (above) Incoming freshmen talk with admissions counselor
Jacob Bullion at the DFW send-off party on Aug. 9. (below)
The party allowed students to meet others from their
area and form friendships that "will carry over into
the fall semester," according to Dallas-based recruiter
Jason Hale. |
 |
The Office of Undergraduate
Admissions welcomed approximately 35 Dallas-Fort Worth area
students as Bearkats with a reception
at the Hard Rock Café in
Dallas on Aug. 9.
The pilot “send-off party,” designed to welcome incoming freshmen
from the Metroplex, as well as give them an opportunity to connect with other
new students from their hometown, was a “really great success,” according
to Dallas-based recruiter Jason Hale.
“
We wanted to show students that Sam Houston is a caring university and that we
really wanted to welcome them to the university,” Hale said.
The informal event, themed “Celebrate Your Admission To SHSU,” consisted
of appetizers and drinks, door prizes and vice president for Enrollment Management
Heather Thielemann discussing what the students should expect when they get
to SHSU.
In addition, almost 20 parents were given information on whom they could talk
to for various purposes.
“
We really wanted to make sure they felt comfortable and calm about their children
going away to college,” Hale said.
In addition, several students were able to meet their roommates for the first
time, Hale said.
“
There were new friendships made right off the bat,” he said. “I
know these friendships will carry over into the fall semester.”
With the success of this event, the office is planning another send-off party
next year for the DFW area, as well as parties in Houston, San Antonio and
possibly Austin, he said.
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Fundraisers Set To Benefit Daughter Of Alumni
Huntsville
friends of Walter and Cynthia Bennett have scheduled a number
of fund-raising events for Ashley Bennett, their
daughter and granddaughter of
long-time SHSU
faculty member Walter Bennett, Sr.
Ashley was born May 13, 2004, along with twin sister Morgan. Two days later
Ashley was diagnosed with necrotizing enterocolitis, an extremely serious disease
of
the small intestine.
Her parents were advised to "remove support" but would not give up.
Ashley has had to return to Texas Children's Hospital in Houston for appointments
every few weeks and has been hospitalized three times since her December 2004
discharge.
"
Obviously, Ashley has a long way to go, and the future is still uncertain," the
www.ashleysmedical.com Web site said. "While the family is fortunate to
have had at least part of her medical bills covered by insurance, it doesn't
cover the entire needs of Ashley."
Donations may be made to the Ashley Bennett Fund and mailed or delivered to
First National Bank of Huntsville; ATTN: Gwen Ritter; 1300 11th St.; Huntsville,
TX
77340.
Upcoming events include a Huntsville Rotary McKenzie's Barbeque Sandwich Lunch
from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sept. 16. Rotarians will be serving sandwiches at
the First United Methodist Church, with options of pickup, delivery or dine
in.
A benefit golf tournament is also scheduled for noon that day at the Raven
Nest Golf Course. Contact George Miles at 936.294.8012 for entry details.
Raffle tickets for a handmade quilt are also being sold at First National Bank,
with the drawing scheduled for Oct. 1 during Fair on the Square.
Ashley's parents, Walter and Cynthia, both earned degrees from SHSU in 1993
and 1996. Walter Sr., professor of sociology, earned degrees in 1961 and 1962,
and
has 37 years of classroom teaching service.
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Education Faculty, Students
Make Puebla Connections
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| Administrators from the Sistema Para El Desarrollo
Integral De La Familia in Puebla Mexico recently visited
SHSU's counseling program to discuss what SHSU can do
to help Puebla's increase in suicides. Pictured are Lic.
Miguel Martinez Garcia, Judy DeTrude, Marlene Moriarity,
Lic. Alejandro Armenta Mier, Richard Watts, Carol
Parker, Yvonne Garza and YuFen Lin. |
Sam Houston State doctoral students
from the counselor education and educational leadership programs
attended and presented at an international conference
during their internship experience this summer in Puebla, Mexico.
The conference, sponsored by Sistema Para El Desarrollo Integral De La
Familia, which represents the governmental organization in Mexico that
meets the needs
of the family, focused on family violence and suicidal prevention.
Those who presented from the counselor education program included doctoral
students Roxie Riefkolh and Marlene Moriarity, as well as faculty member
Judy DeTrude.
The educational leadership students who spoke included Marilyn Denison
and William Chapman, as well as faculty member Alice Fisher.
The DIF administration requested ongoing collaboration with SHSU’s
counseling program, and DIF administrators, including DIF director general
Lic. Alejandro
Armenta Mier and subdirector Lic. Miguel Martinez Garcia, recently came
to SHSU for a meeting with the counseling faculty and several doctoral
students.
Since their main concern in the state of Puebla is the increase in suicides,
most of the meeting was focused on what SHSU can do to help with this problem,
according to Judy DeTrude, associate professor and director for the center
for research and counselor education.
“
It is hoped that SHSU personnel can travel to Puebla and help to train the DIF
employees on the two topics of suicide prevention and family violence,” she
said. “Lic. Alejandro Armenta Mier invited those in attendance to
Puebla to meet with the Governor of the State to continue the joint work
on such important
issues for the people in Puebla.”
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Hightower Named Houston Chorus Director
Allen Hightower,
associate professor of music and director of choral studies,
has been appointed as the new part-time music director for the Houston
Masterworks Chorus.
As director, Hightower, who began with the chorus this past July,
will conduct and plan the music and concerts for the season, which
is generally
comprised
of around four concerts.
“
Primarily this chorus is dedicated to performing choral masterworks. That term, ‘choral
masterworks,’ implies large pieces for choir and orchestra,” he said. “Though
most of the music we sing is classical, we will also perform popular
and Broadway types of music on occasion.”
Hightower said he feels the position will give SHSU’s choral
program more exposure.
“
People in the Houston arts community will come to know my work with the Houston
Masterworks Chorus, and through that, SHSU's choral and voice programs will gain
more visibility,” he said.
“
For a musician to be involved in both the professional music world and the academic
music world is a good thing. In many schools, such as at Rice University, faculty
members will often teach at the university as well as play in groups like the
Houston Symphony, Grand Opera Orchestra or the Ballet Orchestra,” Hightower
said. “Some of our instrumental faculty, such as Randy Adams,
teach private lessons here, and play in professional groups in Houston.
This
helps bring
a professional level of expectation to our interaction with students.”
This year, the city’s largest choral group celebrates its 20th anniversary
with programming that ranges from Beethoven’s Mass in C to
love songs by Cole Porter.
For more information on the semi-professional chorus, visit its Web
site at www.houstonmasterworks.org.
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Business Major
Wins Alumni Chapter Scholarship
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| Junior Casey Tucker (third from right) was selected
as the first scholarship recipient from the Houston-area
alumni chapter
of
Beta Gamma Sigma. |
SHSU junior Casey Tucker was recently recognized
by the Houston-area alumni chapter of Beta Gamma Sigma International
Business Honor
Fraternity as
its first ever
scholarship winner.
Tucker, a Huntsville native, is a general business major who
has maintained a 4.0 grade point average.
The scholarship competition was open to students at all universities
in the Houston area. Those who submitted an application were
also required to write
an essay
discussing the importance of honor, wisdom and earnestness, the
organization’s
three principles, as they relate to successful business careers
in the 21st century.
The mission of Beta Gamma Sigma, an accredited organization,
is to encourage and honor academic achievement in the study of
business,
as well as to
foster personal and professional excellence among its members.
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Send Update Items Here
Please send information for the SHSU Update to the Office
of Public Relations at SHSU. For electronic access to SHSU
news see the public relations Web page Today@Sam.
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- END -
SHSU Media Contacts: Frank
Krystyniak, Julia May,
Jennifer Gauntt
Aug. 14, 2005
Please send comments, corrections, news tips to Today@Sam.edu
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