If you’ve ever met Dr. K. James Evans, chances are that he remembers your name –– no matter how many years have gone by.
Next summer, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford administrator will retire, and chances are pretty good folks will not forget him, either.
Evans’ planned departure Aug. 1, 2018 –– announced on Tuesday –– will make him the longest-serving administrator in the college’s 54-year history, and the longest-serving chief student affairs officer in the history of the University of Pittsburgh system.
“My memories of Jim are fond and will last my lifetime. I was at UPB when Jim first arrived, and the improvement was immediate,” said John Imhof via The Era’s Facebook page.
Evans arrived at Pitt-Bradford as dean of student affairs in 1976 and was appointed as vice president in 1994.
“From the age of 22, my life’s career goal was to become a student dean in a small college, and six years later, when former President (Richard) McDowell invited me to join his administration as dean of students, I didn’t need to think twice before accepting it,” Evans wrote in a letter to students earlier this month.
Via The Era’s Facebook page, Marilyn Minnier called Evans, “One of the most wonderful men that I ever had the privilege of knowing.”
She recalled that many years ago Evans served as dean of students and academic dean.
“Along with his Student Affairs staff, Dr. Evans took Academic Affairs personnel along for an awesome Holiday luncheon at the Pennhills Club. I will never forget his kindness. He always was one of the good guys!!” Minnier wrote.
During his time at Pitt-Bradford, Evans has taken part in the growth and development of the college, including its transformation into a four-year college in 1979 and its move into NCAA Division III athletics in the 1990s.
Evans played a big role in beginning many of the offices on campus today. He established the Office of Career Services in 1977 and the Office of Student Activities in 1979. He crafted the preliminary planning proposal to establish the Office of Campus Police in 1979.
In 1979, he established a relationship with the Seneca Battalion at St. Bonaventure University to bring U.S. Army ROTC to Pitt-Bradford. Now, Pitt-Bradford commissions two to four second lieutenants every year.
Evans established the Office of Counseling Services in 1988 and the Office of Community Engagement, which coordinates service learning and volunteering, in 2011.
“There are many things I will miss about Pitt-Bradford when I retire, but what I will miss most is my daily contact with students,” Evans told The Era. “Welcoming them to the college as freshmen, getting to know them as they develop academically and personally, and seeing them graduate and become successful in their lives and careers — that has been extremely gratifying for me and that is what I will miss the most.”
Pitt-Bradford President Livingston Alexander, who will retire himself June 30, 2018, shared some words about Evans’ planned departure.
“It has been my distinct pleasure to serve our campus with Jim during the last 14 years, and I am pleased that he and I will have the opportunity to serve together for one more year before sailing off into the sunset,” Alexander said in a letter to the campus community.
Evans has been involved outside of the campus as well. He has served on Bradford City Council and served the United Way of the Bradford Area and Penn State Public Broadcasting.
He said he is still trying to figure out what his retirement will look like.
“Bradford is my home now, and we will be remaining here,” Evans said. “First and foremost, I will do anything I can for Pitt-Bradford if called upon to do so by Dr. Alexander’s successor. In addition, I am already involved with the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary as a board member (assistant chair of the Student Life and Enrollment Management Committee), and with Grove City College (his undergraduate alma mater) as a member of the Alumni Council. I have informed both of these organizations that I should be able to give more time and effort to their work as well.”
Evans is married to Dr. Lisa Fiorentino, associate professor of nursing and director of the Center for Rural Health Practice at Pitt-Bradford.
