Stephen F. Austin State University

A historic day for SFA. 🪓 The @utsystem Board of Regents officially approved: ✔️ SFA’s Strategic Plan ✔️ SFA’s Campus Master Plan ✔️ A new 336-bed residence hall These milestones position us to enhance the full Lumberjack experience, modernize our campus and support continued enrollment growth. The next decade will transform this campus — and we’re just getting started! Read more: gosfa.com/4roif2z #AxeEm

Houston, we have Lumberjacks! 🪓⚾️💜 The SFA family showed up for Ballpark Days with the Astros! Thank you to the alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends who made it another unforgettable night. #AxeEm #LumberjackPride

Lumberjack Orientation #5 ✅ Still need to register before the fall semester? Only three sessions remain, so reserve your spot today and join the SFA family to be part of one of the largest freshman classes in university history at gosfa.com/orientation26 🪓 #AxeEm #LumberjackOrientation #SFABound

One busy day. A lifetime as a Lumberjack. 🪓 Our future Jacks are bringing plenty of energy to campus today for orientation! #AxeEm #LumberjackOrientation #SFABound

Today, we proudly unveiled the Dr. Bill and Barbara Gandy Makerspace in the Cole STEM Building, honoring two longtime supporters whose generosity continues to transform the university. 💜 From athletics and fine arts to scholarships, SFA Gardens and STEM, the Gandys have invested in countless opportunities that help Lumberjacks succeed. Thank you, Dr. Bill and Barbara Gandy, for believing in our students and helping inspire the next generation of innovators! 🪓🎉 #AxeEm | #JacksGiveBack

We can’t wait to welcome more future Lumberjacks to campus tomorrow for our fifth orientation session of the summer! 🪓💜 Headed to Nacogdoches? Find everything you need to know about parking, schedules and more before you arrive: gosfa.com/43M7vAW Still need to register? There’s still time to join the SFA family! Sign up for an upcoming session at gosfa.com/orientation26. #AxeEm #LumberjackOrientation #SFABound

Axe ‘em on the world’s biggest sports stage! 🪓🌎⚽️ SFA alumnus Jefferson Roark ’19 had the chance to meet Nacogdoches native and U.S. soccer legend Clint Dempsey at the FIFA World Cup. #AxeEm #FIFAWorldCup

For nearly four decades, Dr. Byron VanDover inspired generations of Lumberjacks through his dedication to teaching, mentorship and student success. VanDover taught biology and botany at SFA from 1965 to 2002. Known for his open-door policy and genuine investment in his students, he became one of SFA’s most beloved professors. Now, former students and friends are honoring his legacy through the newly endowed Dr. Byron VanDover Scholarship, which will support future SFA biology students with a focus on botany. We are grateful to John Powell, Dr. Twilla Wade and the many former students, faculty members and friends whose generosity made this meaningful tribute possible. Those who would like to help grow the scholarship and continue Dr. VanDover’s legacy can make a tax-deductible gift here: gosfa.com/3RCQ2sc #AxeEm

Ready to take to the skies? ✈️ SFA is now one of only four higher education institutions in Texas authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration to certify graduates for the Restricted Airline Transport Pilot (RATP) certificate. As the only university in the UT System with an aviation program, SFA combines a four-year degree with hands-on flight training through our partnership with alumni-owned HCH Aviation. Whether you want to take the controls or lead within the aviation industry, your journey begins at SFA! Learn more at sfasu.edu/aviation #AxeEm #FlyingJacks #LumberjacksMakeGreatPilots

Check out more photos on our Facebook! 📸

Always great to have @DavidCookTexas with us for SFA night! 🪓💜⚾️

Lumberjack nation painted Arlington purple tonight! 🪓⚾️ It was great seeing so many alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends at @sfa_alumni’s annual Ballpark Days with the Texas Rangers. 💜 #AxeEm #SFABallparkDays #LumberjackPride

What a day at SFA! 🪓💜 Our biggest Lumberjack Orientation of the summer brought campus to life as hundreds of future Lumberjacks and their families took the next step toward joining the SFA family. #AxeEm

Tomorrow is going to be our biggest Lumberjack Orientation session of the summer! 🪓💜 Hundreds of future Lumberjacks and their families will be on campus taking the next step toward life at SFA. We can’t wait to welcome you, answer your questions and help you get ready for an incredible first semester! 📍 If you’re joining us tomorrow, be sure to review important arrival details and what to expect before you head to campus: gosfa.com/orientation Haven’t registered for orientation yet? There’s still time! Additional sessions are available this summer, including a virtual option. Reserve your spot today at gosfa.com/orientation26! #AxeEm #LumberjackOrientation #SFABound

It’s not everyday a returning All-American pauses their summer training to help save the life of a complete stranger… but Bugs Mortimer just did 👀 Bugs volunteered last fall through the #BeTheMatch campaign, ended up matching a patient in need, and is now going through the donation process to help them beat their cancer/illness! More details from @SFA_Football will be released in the coming days…#SaveALife So prayers up for Bugs, the patient, and all the medical personnel involved 🙏 #AxeEm🪓 #EastTexasTough💪

A decade worth remembering. 🪓📼📹🎸 #AxeEm

From coaching aspirations to inspiring the next generation of STEM leaders, Desurae Matthews ’13 & ’15 is making an impact across Texas! As director of the Texas Mobile STEM Labs Program for Learning Undefeated, Matthews leads a team of 22 staff members and 10 mobile STEM labs that deliver immersive, hands-on learning experiences directly to K-8 students in communities where opportunities may be limited. Through real-world STEM education, her team helps young learners envision future careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. A native of Wharton, Matthews earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in kinesiology at SFA to pursue a coaching career. An encounter in her hometown with Learning Undefeated in the wake of Hurricane Harvey in 2017 led to her stint as an education outreach coordinator for the nonprofit and her director role nearly a decade later. #AxeEm

Today, SFA is proud to celebrate alongside the Nacogdoches community as our nation marks 250 years of independence. 🇺🇸 From the America 250 exhibit at the Charles Bright Visitors Center to the Freedom Celebration at the Old University Building and Freedom Fest in Festival Park with food, live music and family fun, there are plenty of ways to celebrate Independence Day right here in Nacogdoches. 🎆 On this historic Fourth of July, we wish our Lumberjack family a happy and safe Independence Day! Check out the full list of events: visitnacogdoches.org/events #AxeEm | #America250

From East Texas to Capitol Hill. 🪓 Five SFA students recently represented the university during the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education’s Washington Week, where they met with congressional staff, discussed educator preparation and advocated for the future of public education. Led by Dr. Heather Olson Beal, professor in SFA’s Department of Education Studies, and lecturer Erica Dillard, Washington Week gives students a high-impact educational experience that connects classroom learning with public policy, advocacy and professional engagement. Through the experience, students gain a firsthand look at how education decisions are made and are empowered to become informed leaders within the profession. Read more about their experience: gosfa.com/3RdzlDy #AxeEm

Experiential learning can make all the difference. 💼 Through this new initiative, @SFASU students will have the opportunity to build portfolios, collaborate across disciplines, and gain real-world experience before graduation. Helping students graduate with the skills, confidence, and experience to succeed in their careers. ✅