This article is by Derek Carson, of the Bennington Banner, in which a longer versionย was first published Nov. 5, 2014.
BENNINGTON — Southern Vermont College’s Board of Trustees has named David Rees Evans as the ninth president in the college’s history.
Evans had been serving as the vice president of academic affairs and dean of faculty at Buena Vista University, a four year college of about 3,000 students in Storm Lake, Iowa.
Evans will succeed current president Karen Gross, who announced earlier in the year that she was resigning from the position in order to accept a position with the Obama Administration in Washington, D.C. Gross had originally been scheduled to leave in mid-October, but agreed to extend her date of leaving to mid-December. Gross has said she will be working closely with Evans over the next month to assure a smooth transition.
Evans has been vice president at Buena Vista University since 2008, and was selected from a field of over 100 candidates. Ira Wagner, who graduated from SVC in 1983 and lead the search committee, praised Evans, who will officially begin on Jan. 1, saying, “Dr. Evans embodied the unique and well-rounded skill set for the position, as well as the personal qualities, experience and passion for education aligned with SVC’s mission.”
“The college is at an exciting juncture of stability and growth,” added SVC board chair Deborah Wiley. “With the community’s valued feedback, we’ve found an inspirational leader in David Evans to continue the trajectory.”
A native of Los Angeles, Evans received his bachelor’s degree in English from Pomona College in Claremont, California, and his master’s and doctorate from the University of Virginia, both of those also in English. Prior to joining Buena Vista University, he was dean of the Petree College of Arts and Sciences at Oklahoma City University and prior to that was chair of the Department of English, Speech, and Journalism at Georgia College and State University. He began his academic career by teaching English at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa.
Heย has spoken nationally and internationally and written extensively on professional issues including faculty hiring, careers, training for administrators, and the future of small private colleges in “The Chronicle of Higher Education” and other publications. He is also a regular presenter and facilitator for programs sponsored by the Council of Independent Colleges.
“I am excited and honored to be part of this community,” said Evans, “I am deeply impressed by the commitment and enthusiasm of the students, faculty and staff. I very much value the college’s mission of empowering students, both personally and professionally, and I look forward to working with everyone at SVC to advance the college and build on the great progress of the past years.”
