The St. Catherine University Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that Marcheta P. Evans, PhD, will serve as the 12th president of the University. Evans, currently chancellor of Bloomfield College of Montclair State University in New Jersey, will begin on July 15, 2024.
“Dr. Evans’s astute understanding of higher education trends, particularly as they relate to smaller, private institutions, and her track record of developing and activating growth and transformation strategies, impressed the entire committee,” said Ken Charles and Anne Gotte, presidential search committee co-chairs at St. Catherine University. “She clearly demonstrated her ethical decision-making process, rooted in values and principles consistent with our University’s mission, vision and values, which made her selection a logical choice.”
Evans will be the first African-American and the 12th woman to serve as president of St. Catherine University. Becky Roloff, the University’s 11th president, announced her plans to retire on August 15, 2024 after an eight-year tenure. A search committee composed of Trustees and University representatives immediately launched a national search for the next leader.
“We were impressed with Dr. Evans’s demonstrated commitment to and experience with advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging for students, faculty, and staff,” said Jean Wincek, CSJ ‘62, EdD, chair of the St. Catherine University Board of Trustees. “Her embrace of the Catholic intellectual tradition, emphasizing scholarly inquiry and social justice teaching, was a noted strength and led to the Trustees’ unanimous vote on her selection.”
Prior to its historic merger with Montclair State University, Evans served as Bloomfield’s 17th President, and held the distinction of being both the first African-American and first female to lead the College. She has served in transformational leadership roles in higher education for nearly 30 years at both public and private institutions, including Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU), Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dean at OLLU and Associate Dean and Department Chair at University of Texas at San Antonio.
“The mission of this University, to educate women to lead and influence, and its emphasis on the importance of welcoming a rich diversity of students across the three colleges and four schools resonates deeply with my core values,” says Evans. “St. Catherine University’s commitment to empowering women and promoting social justice aligns with my own dedication to fostering inclusive and purpose-driven academic environments. These principles as well as St. Kate’s core values of academic excellence, community, integrity, social justice and reflection seamlessly align with my identity as a servant leader in higher education.”
Evans is also a past President and Fellow of the American Counseling Association, past President of the Association for Creativity in Counseling, and is the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions. A small sampling of these recognitions includes the Outstanding Multicultural Leadership Award, Yellow Rose of Texas Lifetime Educator Award, and Counselors for Social Justice Ohana Award.
Evans has authored numerous articles and book chapters, focusing on issues of diversity, multiculturalism, women’s issues, and leadership. In her international work, Evans has traveled extensively, including a length of time in the African country of Malawi where she worked with educators and counselors on literacy initiatives sponsored by USAID.
Evans graduated from the University of Alabama with a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Counselor Education and Supervision, specializing in Student Affairs, Administration in Higher Education, and Human Resource Management. Additionally, she has a Master of Arts degree in Education in Elementary Education from the University of Alabama-Birmingham, a Master of Arts degree in Rehabilitation Counseling, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Alabama.
Plans for the inauguration celebration of Evans are in progress, and will be announced at a later date.
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