SFA launches Entrepreneurship Faculty Fellows Program

NACOGDOCHES, Texas -- Stephen F. Austin State University's Arnold Center for Entrepreneurship selected 16 faculty members to participate in the inaugural Entrepreneurship Faculty Fellows Program, an initiative designed to integrate entrepreneurial education across all academic disciplines.

The new program equips faculty members from diverse fields with specialized training to embed entrepreneurial principles directly into their coursework. The long-term vision confirms entrepreneurship education is available in majors across the university, ensuring all students can benefit from the opportunities offered through ACE.

"This initiative ensures that a culture of entrepreneurship becomes part of the SFA experience for every student," said Dr. Raymond Jones, director of SFA's academic entrepreneurship program. "By embedding innovation across campus, we are preparing all of our graduates, regardless of major, to be leaders and problem-solvers in the modern economy."

At the same time, a specific entrepreneurship major and minor continue to be housed in the Nelson Rusche College of Business, where students from any discipline can enroll and deepen their understanding of entrepreneurship through the college's robust curriculum and academic support.

Throughout the fall semester, fellows will undergo intensive, specialized training led by Jones. Following this preparation, the fellows will teach the entrepreneurship courses beginning in spring 2026.

The 16 inaugural fellows were chosen from each of SFA's six colleges, reflecting SFA's commitment to cross-disciplinary collaboration and innovation. Faculty members are:

James I. Perkins College of Education

• Dr. Darla O'Dwyer, professor, Department of Allied Health Studies
• Jennifer Luque, clinical instructor, School of Human Sciences and Professional Studies
• Todd Barrios, chef instructor, School of Human Sciences and Professional Studies

Micky Elliott College of Fine Arts

• Derek Johnson, assistant professor, School of Art
• Zachary Howell, assistant professor, School of Art

Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture

• Dr. John Michael Mehaffey, associate professor, Department of Agriculture
• Dr. Anusha Shrestha, assistant professor, Department of Forestry

College of Liberal and Applied Arts

• Dr. Bridget Adams, assistant professor, Department of English and Creative Writing
• Dr. Mario Morera Jimenez, assistant professor, Department of Language and Cultural Studies
• Dr. Bailey Thompson, associate professor, Department of Media and Communication

College of Sciences and Mathematics

• Dr. Kevin Langford, associate professor, Department of Biology
• Dr. Brent Burt, professor, Department of Biology
• Dr. Christopher Aul, associate professor, Department of Physics, Engineering and Astronomy
• Dr. Eddie Ironsmith, assistant professor, Department of Computer Science

Nelson Rusche College of Business

• Dr. Robert McDermand, senior lecturer, Department of Management and Marketing
• Dr. Amy Mehaffey, lecturer, Department of Management and Marketing

"ACE's Entrepreneurial Faculty Fellowship Program aims to promote entrepreneurial education across all academic departments, encouraging faculty members to become leaders in innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration and entrepreneurship," said Dr. Todd Brown, associate vice president of academic affairs. "The fellowship serves as a platform for sharing resources, best practices and strategies for embedding entrepreneurial principles into a wide range of fields."

For more information on ACE, visit sfasu.edu/ace.