Bloomfield College Has 1st Female, Black President In 150 Years

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — A lauded educator, writer and child of the 1960s civil rights movement has entered the history books as the first woman and African American president of Bloomfield College.

Unanimously selected by the college’s Board of Trustees after a nationwide search, Marcheta Evans will take over the reins as the school’s 17th president on June 1, succeeding Richard Levao. She is the first woman and African American president at the college in its 150-year history, administrators said.

Evans highlighted the role that the civil rights movement played on her childhood upbringing in her acceptance speech (watch the video below).

• See related article: Stories Of Racial Progress In Essex County

“This is truly the fulfillment of a dream that was inspired by my grandparents as they raised me as a child during the civil rights movement of the 1960’s,” Evans said. “My heart is overflowing with this blessing and privilege.”

Evans pledged to move the college forward with a commitment to provide an affordable education to a diverse student body.

“We will become a national leader and role model for inclusive excellence,” she said.

“Dr. Evans' tenure at her previous institutions has been nothing short of transformative,” said William Turner, chairman of the board. “Her leadership qualities represent the academic and mission-based values of Bloomfield College, and we are delighted to welcome her to our community and campus.”

“The Bloomfield College community is extremely pleased to have Dr. Evans assume the leadership of this wonderful institution in its 150th year,” said Levao, the school’s current president. “Her experience, dedication to our college’s mission, as well as her personal warmth, energy, and compassion bodes well for the future of this college that so many of us love so well.”

Evans and her husband, Edgar, are parents of six children, five of whom graduated from minority-serving institutions.

Bloomfield College administrators provided the following information about her achievements and career:

“Dr. Evans has served in transformational leadership roles in higher education for twenty-five years at both public and private institutions, with twenty of those years at Minority Serving Institutions (MSI’s) in the seventh largest city in the U.S., San Antonio, Texas. Bloomfield College holds the designations of a Predominately Black Institution (PBI) and a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI)… Currently the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU), Dr. Evans sequentially served as Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dean at OLLU and Associate Dean and Department Chair at University of Texas at San Antonio. She has served as a faculty member for over 23 years and has the rank of Full Professor. Dr. Evans is 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.”

According to administrators:

“Some of her career highlights include optimization of class sizes, which resulted in over $300,000 in revenue and cost-saving strategies; development of academic centers to enhance student success, which saw freshman retention rates rise from 56.2% to 68.2%; and modified the advising model through collaborative advising, cohort scheduling, student success initiatives, and strengths-based peer mentor/teaching that resulted in a 23% increase in first-year students who earned a 3.0 GPA or higher.”

Bloomfield College stated:

“Dr. Evans has authored numerous articles and book chapters, focusing on issues of diversity, multiculturalism, women’s issues, and leadership. She has presented over one hundred times at the state, regional, national, and international levels addressing topics such as empowerment, multiculturalism, diversity, and leadership. In her international work, Dr. 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.”

According to college administrators, 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.

Don’t forget to visit the Patch Bloomfield Facebook page here. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site here. Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Photo: Bloomfield College