Andrea E. Evans, Ph.D., Chicago, IL, Founding Board Member, 2014-16

Andrea E. Evans is the Director, Carruthers Center, Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, Illinois. She is the former Dean of the College of Education at Governors State University (IL) and a founding board director of the Rural Schools Collaborative. Andrea received a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences and Ph. D. in Educational Policy Studies from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She received a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Program Development from DePaul University. She spent 11 years as a high school science teacher and administrator in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. In 2004, Dr. Evans became an Assistant Professor of Educational Administration at Northern Illinois University. In 2007, she was appointed Program Coordinator of Educational Administration at NIU and oversaw master’s and doctoral degree programs. She later went on to serve as Department Chair of Educational Administration and Higher Education at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She has spent the last two years as an Associate Professor of Educational Policy Studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where she served as the Ph. D. Program Coordinator in the Department of Educational Policy Studies.

Dr. Evans’ research has focused on educational leadership, school context, diversity and equity in schools, and more recently, chronic school absenteeism. She has published in several major journals including Educational Administration Quarterly, Education and Urban Society, and Journal of School Leadership and served as associate editor of the Handbook of Research on Educational Leadership for Equity and Diversity (2013). She served as the 2010 Program Chair for the Division A (Administration, Organization, and Leadership) of the American Educational Research Association and as a member of Division A Executive Council. In addition, she has served on several statewide committees including the Illinois School Leader Redesign Team and Truancy in Chicago Public School Taskforce. Dr. Evans is the former president of the UIC Black Alumni Advisory Council and former vice-president of the UIC College of Education Alumni Board.

Dr. Evans has been an educational consultant in the Chicago area and across the state of Illinois. In addition, she has provided professional development to teachers and school leaders, and mentored middle school, high school, and college students. Also, she has mentored graduate students and early career faculty members from around the country. Finally, Dr. Evans has collaborated with Illinois school districts to provide guidance and support for their school improvement efforts.