Brian Beavers

Associate Professor and Coordinator of Computing

Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Stephen F. Austin State University

Dr. Beavers' primary research areas are matroid theory and graph theory, focusing on connectivity and decompositions. He is also interested in math history, math pedagogy and recreational mathematics. He is responsible for updating the department website maintaining the computer and other technical systems of the department.

Dr. Beavers grew up in the small town of Anacoco, Louisiana, and is proud to have lived in both of the "twin cities" of Natchitoches, LA and Nacogdoches, TX. He has a large Transformers collection and enjoys listening to music (movie scores!), reading (almost anything!), and watching good movies.

Degrees Earned:

Ph.D., Louisiana State University, Mathematics (2006)
M.S., Louisiana State University, Mathematics (2002)
B.S., Louisiana Tech University, Mathematics (2000)

Lesa L. Beverly

Professor

Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Stephen F. Austin State University

Degrees Earned:

Ph.D., Virginia Tech, Mathematics (2000)
M.S., Virginia Tech, Mathematics (1996)
B.S., University of Virginia at Wise, Mathematics (1994)

Brian Church, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Stephen F. Austin State University

Dr. Church’s research interests are in mathematics education. He is primarily interested in the training of secondary mathematics teachers and ensuring they have the preparation needed to be successful in the classroom. This interest came from Dr. Church’s prior experience teaching in K-12 education.

Dr. Church is originally from Midland, MI, and attended graduate school in Mt. Pleasant, MI. He enjoys spending time with his family and cooking.

Degrees Earned:

Ph.D. Central Michigan University, Mathematics (2021)
B.S. Saginaw Valley State University, Secondary Mathematics Education (2013)

Brittney Falahola, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Stephen F. Austin State University

Degrees Earned:

Ph.D., University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Mathematics (2017)
M.S., University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Mathematics (2013)
B.S., Baylor University, Mathematics (2011)

Roy Joe Harris, Ph.D.

Professor

Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Stephen F. Austin State University

Degrees Earned:

Ph.D., Texas A&M University (1999)
B.S., Stephen F. Austin State University, Mathematics (1992)

Robert K. Henderson

Professor

Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Stephen F. Austin State University

Degrees Earned:

Ph.D., Southern Methodist University, Mathematical Statistics
M.S., Southern Methodist University, Mathematical Statistics
M.B.A., University of Delaware
B.A., Trinity University, Mathematics and History

Keith Hubbard, Ph.D.

Professor

Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Stephen F. Austin State University

Dr. Hubbard's primary research interest in mathematics education. He has also done research in vertex coalgebras and vertex operator coalgebras.  Additionally, he has a new collaborative project in mathematical economics focusing on tax progressivity.

Dr. Hubbard grew up in Lone Pine, California, and then migrated to Indiana and New Jersey before coming to Nacogdoches, TX.  He enjoys kayaking, hiking, origami, swimming, running, studying Psalms, soccer, and occasionally biking.

Degrees Earned:

Ph.D., University of Notre Dame, Mathematics (2005)
M.S., University of Notre Dame, Mathematics (2002)
B.A., Point Loma Nazarene University (2000)

Colin Lawson, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Stephen F. Austin State University

Dr. Lawson's research interest is in pure mathematics at the intersection of homological algebra and noncommutative rings. His interests include noncommutative algebra, homological algebra, deformation theory, and Hochschild cohomology. These interests often involve ideas from combinatorics, invariant theory, and representation theory.

Dr. Lawson and his wife, Michelle, grew up in Sabinal, TX, a small town west of San Antonio. Together, they have two kiddos, Merrick (born in 2020) and Murphy Louise (born in 2023). In addition to math, he enjoys road trips, hiking, and camping (especially exploring the southwest region of the United States).

Degrees Earned:

Ph.D., University of North Texas, Pure Mathematics (2023)
M.S., Sam Houston State University, Mathematics (2014)
B.A., Schreiner University, Mathematics (2012)
B.B.A., Schreiner University, Accounting (2012)

Jane H. Long, Ph.D.

Professor

Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Stephen F. Austin State University

Dr. Long has conducted research in algebraic topology and hypergraph coloring. She recently shifted her research focus to valuations of sequences and number theory. Dr. Long also serves as the director of SFA's JacksTeach program, which prepares secondary STEM teachers.

Dr. Long first visited East Texas as a kid to attend a summer camp, where she eventually taught campcraft and nature classes, and she is excited to be back in the piney woods. Outside of mathematics, she likes to practice yoga, bake, travel, and spend time with family.

Degrees Earned:

Ph.D., University of Maryland (2008)
M.A., A.B., Bryn Mawr College (2002)

Nicholas Long, Ph.D.

Professor

Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Stephen F. Austin State University

Dr. Long's research interests lie primarily in dynamical systems with a focus on symbolic dynamics. He has done work focusing on the automorphism group of shifts of finite type, but other research interests include physics and economics.

Degrees Earned:

Ph.D., University of Maryland, Mathematics (2008)
B.S., North Carolina State University, Mathematics and Physics (2002)

Gregory K. Miller, Ph.D.

Professor

Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Stephen F. Austin State University

Dr. Miller's teaching interests span all levels of statistics courses from introductory to discipline specific sections as well as graduate courses. He was the 2010 SFASU Foundation's Faculty Award winner for Research and 2012 advisor to the William R. Johnson Most Outstanding Thesis at SFA. His main area of study lies in enumerative combinatorics as well as maintaining his traditional interest in applied probability. Active in statistical consulting, Dr. Miller often works on statistical projects with specific ties to health care. He is also the play-by-play voice on all ESPN/radio broadcasts for SFA Volleyball.

Dr. Miller is a Texas native having lived in Spring, Waco, Fort Worth and Dallas before coming to Nacogdoches. His main hobbies revolve around baseball and he maintains an extensive collection of baseball cards and memorabilia.

Degrees Earned:

Ph.D., Southern Methodist University, Statistics (1996)
M.S., Southern Methodist University, Statistics (1993)
B.S., Baylor University, Mathematical Sciences (1991)

Jonathan L. Mitchell

Assistant Professor

Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Stephen F. Austin State University

Dr. Mitchell's primary research interests include the study of epidemiological models in general and malaria infections within an individual in specific. Models for such micro-parasitic infections are typically nonlinear dynamical systems which rarely exhibit exact solutions. He is also interested in bifurcation theory for delayed nonlinear oscillators.

Dr. Mitchell grew up in Fort Worth, TX., spent six years in the Piney Woods, then four more years in Dallas, TX. In 2007, he married who is now the mother of their 3 kids ('09, '11, and '16). Following a five-year period teaching mathematics at Hardin-Simmons University, he returned to Nacogdoches, TX. In addition to math, he enjoys basketball, soccer, jazz (the only truly American art form), podcasts, and reading to the kiddos.

Degrees Earned:

Ph.D., Southern Methodist University, Computational and Applied Mathematics (2010)
M.S., Stephen F. Austin State University, Mathematics (2006)
B.S., Stephen F. Austin State University, Mathematics (2004)

Clint Richardson, Ph.D.

Associate Professor and Interim Chair

Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Stephen F. Austin State University

Dr. Richardson's primary research interests are in Complex Analysis, specifically in conformal mapping, geometric function theory, and planar harmonic mappings.  He also has a strong interest in math pedagogy/content area reading, and pretty much any applications of mathematics---particularly in the physical sciences (Physics, Chemistry, etc.).  His secondary interests are in topology, geometry, and math history.

Dr. Richardson grew up in Brownwood, Texas, did his undergraduate work in San Angelo, Texas, taught high school math/physics for four years at Brazoswood High School in Clute, Texas, went to graduate school in Lubbock, Texas, and now lives in East Texas---so he has moved back and forth between humid and semi-arid climates.  Outside of class, his interests are very eclectic, but include: reading, learning martial arts (particularly Chinese internal styles like tai chi chu'an), watching football (How 'bout them Cowboys?!?), playing video/computer games, and stupid jokes/puns.

Degrees Earned:

Ph.D., Texas Tech University (2002)
B.S., Angelo State University (1993)

Kent Riggs, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Stephen F. Austin State University

Dr. Riggs's research areas include misclassification statistical models, seemingly unrelated regressions, and predator-prey models.

Dr. Riggs grew up in the Texas coastal town of Bay City, and lived in Huntsville and Waco before settling in Nacogdoches.  He  enjoys spending time with family/friends, racquetball, basketball, camping, fishing, hunting, and Bible study.

Degrees Earned:

Ph.D., Baylor University, Statistics(2006)
M.S., Baylor University, Mathematics (2003)
B.S., Sam Houston State University, Mathematics (2001)

Christal Schoen, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Stephen F. Austin State University

Dr. Schoen’s research interests are in mathematics education. She has conducted research involving active learning and technology in the classroom and is interested in alternative assessment methods, inclusive pedagogies, and teacher preparation.

Dr. Schoen grew up in Michigan and taught at Centenary College of Louisiana for three years. While she majored in mathematics as an undergraduate, she minored in theatre and spent many years in dance class. When not engaged in teaching and/or research, you can find her reading fiction, playing with her cat, journaling, listening to The Beatles, drinking coffee, or pretending like she’s going to start exercising regularly.

Degrees Earned:

Ph.D., Central Michigan University, Mathematics (2021)
M.A., Central Michigan University. Mathematics (2015)
B.S., Saginaw Valley State University, Mathematics (2013)

Sarah T. Stovall, Ph.D.

Professor and Coordinator of Administration

Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Stephen F. Austin State University

Degrees Earned:

Ph.D., Texas A&M University, (2001)
M.A., University Of Texas at Austin, (1995)
B.S., Stephen F. Austin State University, Mathematics (1991)

Jacob Turner

Associate Professor and Coordinator of Graduate Studies

Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Stephen F. Austin State University

Degrees Earned:

Ph.D., Southern Methodist University, Statistical Science (2013)
M.S., Sam Houston State University, Statistics (2009)
B.S., Texas A&M University, Applied Mathematics (2007)