United States Congressman Bennie G. Thompson of Mississippi recently recognized and honored Dr. Elizabeth D. Evans as an educator, leader and public servant for her dedication to serving others and giving back to the African American community.
Congressman Thompson bestowed this acknowledgement on Dr. Evans on April 25 in his Congressional Record. The Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress, published by the United States Government Printing Office and issued when Congress is in session.
Dr. Evans is the associate vice president for academic affairs at Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU). She joined the Valley in the fall of 2003. In addition, Evans serves as an assistant professor in the social sciences department and the public administration program. She teaches freshman through senior level courses, manages the internship program, advises all students in the public administration program and serves as coordinator for the public administration program.
"I am both honored and blessed to be listed in the annals of the United States Congress,” said Evans. Serving others and giving back to the African American community have guided my entire professional life I share this achievement with my family, friends, professional colleagues and communities as so many of them have contributed to shaping the person that I have become."
Dr. Evans earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from Mississippi Valley State University, where she was commissioned as a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) program.
She earned a Master of Arts degree in public management from the University of Houston-Clear Lake, Texas, and a Ph.D. in public policy and administration from Mississippi State University.
In addition, she completed the Air Force's three-tier Professional Military Education program (Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College and Air War College) and Academic Instructor School while serving in the U.S. Air Force.
“Her primary interests are in continuous personal improvement and student achievement,” said Thompson in his Congressional Record. “She believes that teaching is more than the giving of information; it is working to ensure learning takes place and students must be engaged with exciting instruction, materials, examples and demonstrations of real world situations to excite their desire to learn and use what they learn for a lifetime.”