Sul Ross State University
A Member of the Texas State University System

News Release for Oct. 6, 2009

SUL ROSS BIOLOGY FACULTY PUBLISH PAPERS

Sul Ross State University Biology faculty members Steven Platt, Christopher Ritzi, and Martin Terry all published scientific papers recently over a variety of topics in journals ranging from regional to international focus.The papers discussed topics such as mammals, crocodiles, ectoparasites, and succulents.

Platt, along with Z. Fast Horse, T. R. Rainwater, and S.M. Miller, published "Distribution Records and Comments on Mammals in Western South Dakota" in the Western North American Naturalist. This paper reported on the presence or absence of mammals found in counties and regions in South Dakota, in an attempt to better document the mammalian biodiversity of that region.

Platt also published another paper with T. R. Rainwater,"Possible Decline of an American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) Population on Turneffe Atoll, Belize" in the most recent issue of the Herpetological Bulletin. This paper documented data indicating that this population of crocs might not be as healthy and stable as previously believed.

Ritzi coauthored a paper with E. W. Valdez and J. O. Whitaker, Jr., "Ectoparasites of the Occult Bat, Myotis occultus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae), in New Mexico and Southern Colorado,"also published in the most recent issue of the Western North American Naturalist. The paperdocuments the first official records of several parasitic mites from this unique and cryptic bat species.

In addition to this bat ectoparasite paper, two of Ritzi's photographs of ectoparasites were published in the book "Bats of Missouri," released this month by the Indiana State University Center for North American Bat Research and Conservation. The photos of a flea and a bat wing mite help to illustrate to general readers what sorts of ectoparasites are found on bats, and should help the lay reader to recognize these animals when they are off the host.

Terry also coauthored a paper recently, describing a new species of succulent, Echeveria tamaulipana, which was discovered in the mountains of Tamaulipas near the state capital of Ciudad Victoria. The paper, "New Species of Echeveria (Crassulacease) from Tamaulipas, Mexico" was published in Spanish in the Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad, Volume 80 with his Mexican co-authors from the Universidad Autonoma de Tamaulipas, J. G. Martinez-Ávalos, and A. Mora-Olivo.

The paper includes both drawn plates and color photos of this new species, which is related to the more commonly cultivated ornamental known as "hen and chicks." Terry noted that a local relative of this plant exists in the Trans-Pecos Texas, Echeveria strictiflora, which also has a similar morphology.

For more information about these topics or other biological information, please contact the Biology office at (432) 837-8112.

SUL ROSS HOSTS FAMILY SUPER SATURDAY OCT. 10

Registration continues for Family Super Saturday, to be held Oct. 10 at Sul Ross State University.

Families of all current and prospective students are invited to tour facilities, meet faculty and staff, enjoy a meal and see the Sul Ross volleyball and football teams in action.

Check-in will be held from 9-10 a.m. in the Morgan University Center foyer. A welcome session will start at 10 a.m. on the UC second floor foyer, with remarks from interim President Dr. David Cockrum; Gregory M. Schwab, associate vice president for Enrollment Management; and Kay Whitley, Lobo athletic director.

Campus tours will be held from 10:30 a.m.-noon, with a barbecue Meal on the Mall from 11 a.m.- 1:30 p.m.

At 11 a.m., the Lady Lobo volleyball team hosts Lutheran University at the Gallego Center, and at 1 p.m., Sul Ross hosts Texas Lutheran in an American Southwest Conference football game at Jackson Field. Half-time activities are also planned.

Family Super Saturday activities conclude with a 7 p.m. performance by comedian Michael Dean Ester, "Pizza and a Dream Career," in the University Center's Espino Conference Center.

For more information or to register, contact the Department of Enrollment Management, (432) 837-8039 or register online at www.sulross.edu/family.

MARY B. LOEFFLER MEMORIAL ENDOWMENT UPDATED AT SUL ROSS

An endowment offering scholarships for students in the Special Education Certification program has been updated at Sul Ross State University.

The Mary B. Loeffler Memorial Scholarship Endowment and Fund for Special Education Certification was updated Sept. 25 by family representative Rodney J. Loeffler. The agreement supercedes the Mary B. Loeffler Scholarship Endowment for Special Education Certification executed in December 2005.

To be eligible for the scholarship awards, applicants must be full-time students admitted into the Special Education Certification program. Recipients will be selected by the chair of the Sul Ross Education Department, and the scholarship may be renewed for a second year at the recommendation of the chair if the student has maintained a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.

"The continued support of the Loeffler family provides additional scholarship opportunities for Sul Ross students," said Leo Dominguez, associate vice president for Advancement and University Relations. "We are grateful for their generosity."

Sul Ross' endowment presently exceeds $13 million with over 210 separate endowments.

For more information on endowments, contact Dominguez, (432) 837-8033 or leodo@sulross.edu.

NEW SUL ROSS PRESIDENT MAESTAS OFFERS PERSONAL INSIGHTS

By Steve Lang, News and Publications

Who is Ricardo Maestas?

During a recent interview, Sul Ross State University's 11 th President, who begins his new duties Nov. 9, shared some insights.

Maestas is presently the Vice President for Student and University Relations and Dean of Students as well as associate professor with tenure at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro.

Hesucceeds Dr. R. Vic Morgan, who retired Aug. 31 after serving 19 years.

He has 35 years of higher education experience as a faculty member and an administrator.

He grew up in Chamisal, in northern New Mexico, and moved with his family to Albuquerque as an elementary student.

He received a B.A. (1974) in Psychology and Spanish and Master of Arts in Teaching (1977) from the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque; and a Ph.D. (2000) from the Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education at the University of Michigan.

He began his extensive higher education career in 1974 at the University of New Mexico, teaching Spanish courses for native-speaking undergraduates. He served as assistant to the director of the Office of Admissions and Records, University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign; director of Hispanic Affairs at the Ohio State University; administrative intern, Office of the President, University of New Mexico; director of Minority Engineering Programs and project director of Minority Engineering, Mathematics and Science Program, University of New Mexico; professional intern and research assistant at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; and associate dean, University College, executive affairs officer, Office of the President; lecturer, College of Education; and associate vice president for Student Services, all at the University of New Mexico.

He has an extensive track record in fund-raising, including grant, contract and private resource development, and has a number of publications and research presentations to his credit.

He and his wife, Annette, who has a doctorate (EdD) in Education Administration and Bilingual Education, have been married 20 years. They have two children, Gian (pronounced John), 17, a high school senior, and Marisa, 12, a seventh grader. He also has a son Paz, 30, from a previous marriage. Paz and his wife, Kacey, live in Houston and are the parents of a one-year-old son, Michael Paz.

He embraces the student-centered campus and considers student recruitment a family affair.

"When I think of a student-centered campus, I think of a place that welcomes students and their families with programs that help them to be successful, both academically and non-academically," he said in a recent interview.

"It is important to recruit the family as well as the student," he said, noting that families are often the student's most significant support system, both for enrolling and remaining in college.

He looks forward to expanding connections with both students and their families.

"I hope to implement ways to communicate with parents more directly, such as creating a parents' email," Maestas said. "I also plan to instigate weekly lunch meetings with faculty, staff, students, parents, alumni and the greater community in an effort to get to know them and they to know me."

He believes in an open door policy.

"One of the things that is great about a small school is the easy access to administration," he said. "I intend to maintain that accessibility at Sul Ross."

Other quick facts:

People would be surprised to know that I...was once a beekeeper and was formerly a vegetarian.

On my day off, I...spend a lot of time with my children, helping my daughter with her homework and watching sports, particularly football and basketball with my son.

The book(s) I am reading right now are..."The Next Great Depression" by Harry Dent, Jr.; David Baldacci's "The First Family" and "Gone to Texas."

The three people I would most like to meet are...Jesus, Einstein and Nostradamus.

Words I live by are...my mother's advice, "Don't leave for tomorrow what you can do today," and advice I received early in my career, "Always carry a handkerchief, always keep your shoes shined and dress for your next job."

Photos: Top, Dr. Ricardo Maestas. Bottom: New Sul Ross President Maestas, wife Annette, son Gian and daughter Marisa photographed during Thanksgiving 2008. Maestas will begin duties Nov. 9. (Photo Courtesy Ricardo Maestas)

"TARTUFFE" OPENS SUL ROSS THEATRE SEASON OCT. 15

Moliere's classic comedy "Tartuffe" opens the 2009-2010 Sul Ross State University theatre season, Oct. 15-17 and 22-24 in the Studio Theatre, Francois Fine Arts Center.

Directed by Gregory Schwab, "Tartuffe" will be the final production in the Studio Theatre prior to a renovation project. The Studio Theatre will re-open for performances next spring. Curtain times are 8:15 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Oct. 15-16 and 22-23 and 2 p.m. Sundays, Oct. 17 and 24. Tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for children and senior citizens and free to Sul Ross students, faculty and staff with current ID.

Through verbal fireworks and physical comedy, "Tartuffe" demonstrates one of the most miserly and selfish "scandalvangalists:" of all time. Set in 1640s France and moving forward through time to 2008 Washington, D.C., the production leads the audience through the history of hypocrisy via comedy.

Subsequent productions include: "The 1940s Radio Hour," written by Walton Jones and directed by Dr. Michelle Selk, Nov. 13-15 at the Granada Theater, downtown Alpine; "The Private Lives of Private Spies," written by Sul Ross graduate student Joseph Hardison and directed by Dona Roman, Feb. 19-21 and 26-28, 2010, Granada Theater; Dark Night Readings of original plays, March 2-4, Granada Theater; and "Aye! No!" written and directed by Liz Castillo, April 16-18 and 23-25, at the Studio Theatre.

For more information, contact Dona Roman (4321) 837-8219; 888-722-SRSU (7778) or droman@sulross.edu.