Today@Sam Article
SHSU Update For Week Of Sept. 18
Sept. 18, 2016
SHSU Media Contact: Teddi Cliett
- Influential Mexican Author To Speak At The Woodlands Campus
- Alumnus To Discuss Cybersecurity During ‘Real Talk’
- MFA Students, Faculty To Read Original Works
- Program To Highlight Workforce Recruitment
- Center To Tackle Life After Graduation In ‘The Big Move’
- Leadership Program To Target Conflict Resolution
- Online Scholarships Program Opens For Applications
- Submit Experts, Story Ideas Here
Influential Mexican Author To Speak At TWC
In a continuation of Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations at Sam Houston State University, renowned Mexican author David Miklos will speak at SHSU-The Woodlands Center on Tuesday (Sept. 20) at 8 p.m. in Room 110.
Miklos will speak about writing, using his own experience as detail.
“David Miklos is recognized by the Mexican literary community as arguably the best writer of his generation in Mexico,” said SHSU Spanish professor Debra Andrist.
The San Antonio-born author, who now resides in Mexico, has published numerous novels, including “La Piel Muerta” and two short story collections, “La Vida Triestina" and "El Abrazo De Cthulhu."
“Debris,” printed by Literal Publishing in 2016 is his first novel translated into English.
In addition, Miklos is an associate professor of history and literature at the Center for Research and Teaching in Economics in Mexico City.
“This presentation allows students to broaden their cultural horizons, whether bilingual or not, because he speaks English,” Andrist said.
His presentation is open to the public and will include a question-and-answer session afterward.
For more information contact Andrist at Andrist@shsu.edu.
Alumnus To Discuss Cybersecurity During ‘Real Talk’
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| Michael Coates is the cybersecurity project manager for the South Texas Project Nuclear Operating Company. —Submitted photo |
In Iran, a computer virus introduced through a simple USB device shut down a uranium enrichment facility, crippling the country’s controversial nuclear industry. In Crimea, a hacker took down a power grid, turning off electricity to hundreds of thousands of people in the ongoing power struggle between Ukraine and Russia. In the U.S., water plants, wastewater processing facilities, and energy companies have been subject to cyberattacks.
“Cybersecurity is very important to the nuclear industry, and it should be to all critical infrastructure,” said Sam Houston State University alumnus Michael Coates, the cybersecurity project manager for the South Texas Project Nuclear Operating Company.
He will discuss his work on Thursday (Sept. 22) during “Real Talk w/CJ,” beginning at 2 p.m. in the Hazel B. Kerper Courtroom, in the Criminal Justice Center.
Coates worked as a security operations intern at STP while completing his master’s degree in security studies at SHSU, and following graduation, he was hired by STP to implement physical security enhancements and modifications.
He now oversees the cybersecurity project for the STP Electric Generating Station, a 2,700-megawatt nuclear-powered facility providing clean energy to two million Texas homes.
The station is one of 62 commercial nuclear plants across the country regulated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which recently released a new set of complex federal regulations designed to protect digital computer, communications systems, and networks from cybersecurity attacks.
Coates also manages the multimillion-dollar project to implement the new regulations at his facility. The NRC is expected to begin inspecting commercial nuclear facilities to the new regulations by December 2017.
MFA Students, Faculty To Read Original Works
Faculty and students from the Sam Houston State University Department of English’s Master of Fine Arts program in creative writing, editing and publishing will share some of their works on Wednesday (Sept. 21).
The program will include graduate students Bridget Schabron and Cody Harrison, who will read from their original fiction works, and graduate student Keely Disman and professor Nick Lantz, who will read their original poetry, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at The Vortexan.
The reading will kick off what will become a monthly series for the MFA students and faculty. The series is designed to foster a community of writers and readers at SHSU, according to Olivia Clare, assistant professor of creative writing at SHSU.
The Vortexan, formerly known as The Homestead, is located at 1215 19th St., across from the Sam Houston Memorial Museum Grounds.
For more information, contact Clare at 936.294.3156 or olivia.clare@shsu.edu.
Program To Highlight Workforce Recruitment For Students
Employment can be hard to find for recent graduates, but it can be harder when that graduate has a disability.
Sam Houston State University’s Student Services division, in partnership with Career Services and Services for Students with Disabilities, will give students who have a disability the opportunity to learn more about federal employment in a Workforce Recruitment Program on Thursday (Sept. 22) at 3 p.m. in Academic Building IV Suite 210.
According to director of Career Services Pam Laughlin, attendees will learn about the Workforce Recruitment Program, which connects college students with disabilities to federal and private sector employers nationwide.
Laughlin and Services for Students with Disabilities campus coordinator Vanessa Richard will explain how the program allows motived students to prove their abilities in the workforce through summer or full-time jobs.
In addition, attendees will receive more information about Career Services and the variety of employment-preparedness programs the department offers, including resume critiquing, mock interviews and more.
Students who are interested in attending and need accommodations should contact Richard at 936.294.3512.
Center To Tackle Life After Graduation In ‘Big Move’
When planning for life after graduation, most college students focus solely on landing a job and tend to not think about much else.
Sam Houston State University’s Student Money Management Center, in partnership with Student Legal & Mediation Services, is hoping to change that in their presentation The Big Move on Wednesday (Sept. 21) from 6-7 p.m. in the Lowman Student Center Theater.
According to director of student money management center Patsy Collins, graduates tend to forget, or neglect to think about, several issues, including income tax rates, gross salary versus benefits and student loan forgiveness programs.
“I think that many times, students forget their income tax rates will go up due to the large increase in their salary when they graduate,” she said. “Also, students who graduate tend to review only the change in their income stream, when they need to proactively review the minimization of their expenses as well.”
These topics and more will be tackled at the presentation. Free pizza will be served on a first-come, first-served basis, and students who attend at least three workshops in the fall will be entered to win a $400 scholarship.
The Student Money Management Center provides personal financial coaching, budget development and helps students analyze their financial aid package to determine the most advantageous method for paying off student loans.
For more information contact the Student Money Management Center at 936.294.2600.
Leadership Program To Target Conflict Resolution
The Department of Leadership Initiatives will teach students valuable life skills that will stay with them long past graduation–and the presentation only lasts a lunch period. The “Leadership Over Lunch” event on conflict resolution will be Wednesday (Sept. 21) from 11 a.m. to noon in Lowman Student Center Room 315.
Max Walling, associate director of Leadership Initiatives, said the department decided to tackle conflict resolution because while many students and professions can choose to opt out of tense or uncomfortable situations, leaders often find themselves having to resolve those situations.
“Whether as part of managing a team or making decisions that impact their department or company, leaders have to be able to interact with a wide spectrum of personalities and make decisions that others might disagree with,” Walling said. “Learning to navigate these often challenging situations is a skill that can be learned, and we believe that the earlier that learning process can begin, the more effective an individual can be at addressing conflict situations.”
Gene Roberts, attorney, mediator and director of the Department of Student Legal & Mediation Services, will be the keynote presenter and will share his expertise on conflict resolution from personal experience.
However, these presentations aren’t targeted just toward student leaders.
“Anyone with a desire to learn will come away with something that can help them,” Walling said.
The “Leadership Over Lunch” series aims to educate students on important leadership topics by connecting them with knowledgeable campus professionals. Upcoming events include Stress Management, Philosophy of Life, Emotional Intelligence, and Leadership as an Introvert.
All presentations are free and include lunch.
For more information contact the Leadership Initiatives office at 936.294.3000 or leadership@shsu.edu.
Online Scholarships Program Opens For Applications
Students are able to apply for 2017 scholarships through the online Scholarships4Kats application. The priority deadline is Nov. 1.
“College costs a lot more than it used to, and every little bit of money that a student could potentially earn lessens what they have to pay out of pocket,” scholarship coordinator Pennie Stanley said. “We encourage students to complete the application because if they don’t apply, they will never know if they can earn a scholarship.”
Students only need to complete one application, which will then match them to potential scholarships.
The complete online application can be accessed at Shsu.edu/dept/financial-aid/scholarships/index.html.
For more information contact the Financial Aid office at 936.294.1774.
Submit Experts, Story Ideas Here
Are you an expert in a topic might be of interest to reporters? Or even a unique topic? Would you like to have your research interests highlighted or discuss your expertise with reporters seeking interviewees?
The university Communications Office is collecting information and story ideas for its ongoing projects, including the online SHSU Experts Guide, the SHSU home page and Today@Sam.
The SHSU Experts Guide was established as a resource for the media, who turn to university experts lists for potential interviewees for news stories. Faculty who are interested in being a part of the university's database of experts can submit their biographical and personal information, as well as their areas of expertise, through the Experts Guide Submission Form available online at shsu.edu/dept/marketing/experts/submit-info.html.
Other story ideas, both news and features on faculty or student research and accomplishments can be sent to today@sam.edu or jenniferg@shsu.edu. For news stories, please include the date, location and time of the event, as well as a brief description and a contact person.
All information, including news story ideas and update items for Today@Sam, should be sent a minimum of a week in advance of the event in order to make necessary contacts and write a story. Feature story ideas for the SHSU home page ("sliders") should be sent a minimum of two months in advance.
To see a full list of the Today@Sam submission guidelines, or to access submission forms for news and feature stories or hometown releases, visit shsu.edu/~pin_www/guidelines.html.
For more information, call 936.294.1836.
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