From SC State to South Africa: Evans says, ‘All of my decisions are intentional.’
Dr. Frederick Evans, SC State’s provost and vice president for academic affairs, serves his community through education, church and law enforcement.
As South Carolina State University’s provost and vice president for academic affairs, Evans is charged with maintaining the university’s academic programs and standards. It’s more than a job to him -- it’s a calling.
“I care about the university. All of my decisions are intentional, and I'm very strategic with what I do because of the level of trust that the university has bestowed upon me to take care of the students, the faculty, and staff,” Evans said. “That is my commitment, you know, to the institution and to my professional career."
Evans applies that same sense of duty outside of his SC State responsibilities.
He is an active member of Rehoboth Baptist Church in Columbia, South Carolina, and the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office, where he serves as a reserve captain in the major crime unit.
“It is my way to maintain my law enforcement certification by the state of South Carolina and give back to the county of Orangeburg,” Evans said. “I believe jail is not the only answer. Someone must be at the street level to help, particularly our youth.”
Experience in South Africa
Through their church, Evans and his wife, Michelle, participated in a mission trip to Africa last summer through an organization based out of New York, So Send I You Inc. The Christian-based organization focuses on Africa, Asia, Europe, and churches within the states.
The Evanses' pastor committed to traveling to Crossroads/Cape Town, South Africa, for the groundbreaking of a church, with 12 church members. Also on the trip were SC State alumni Michael and Brenda Beauford, Class of 1979.
“We had the opportunity to go into a highly impoverished area,” Evans said, describing the two-week trip as “very humbling.”
“I was looking to enter maybe like an older church or something they were going to replace,” SC State’s provost said. “I saw an old white tent with holes, which was a church with a podium and old folding chairs.”
Evans said his biggest takeaway from the trip came from the tour guide informing him of Africa’s living conditions and way of living. The tour guide explained every section of the different cities he visited including East London, South Africa and Johannesburg, South Africa.
“You think about in America 30 years after the civil war ended, where we were at that time -- that’s where we are right now,” the tour guide told Evans.
Evans also learned about the education system and its challenges.
“They can only accept so many children,” Evans said. “My takeaway from an educational vantage point of view is the access to education -- that struggle is real.”
Aside from the groundbreaking for the church, the Evanses and church members also attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a child development center that was completed in Africa. The child development center was for children from ages 2-6 years old.
“I learned that within their cultures, the have and have-nots,” the provost said. “The haves -- the way the income is there, those families can send their children to school. The have-nots, which is a very, very high number, those kids don’t have the opportunity to go to school.”
An expert in educational leadership
Evans formerly served SC State as the dean of the College of Graduate & Professional Studies and as an assistant professor in the Department of Educational Leadership, teaching doctoral and educational specialist-level courses and directing student research.
His key areas of expertise are in leadership, ethics, management, and school law. Evans has provided expert witness consulting for several legal cases on matters such as school board policy, school discipline, higher education, K-12 ADA compliance, personnel administration, and public safety standards/school ethics.
He received his Bachelor of Arts in social science/political science, and Master of Education in secondary education/history, instruction, policy, higher education administration, and law.
Evans has worked in the field of education for more than 35 years, published multiple peer-reviewed articles, completed several grant projects, and is currently completing a textbook in the discipline of educational leadership.
“I never thought that I would be in my current position,” Evans said. “I thought I was doing a lot when I was a dean, but becoming a provost, I see where I can make a greater impact advocating for our students.”
Evans compared his current role to being a “drum major” for SC State students.
“Without students, I have no job,” Evans said.