2008 Women Who Make A Difference- Dr. Stephanie Evans
An insatiable curiosity is essentially what drove Dr. Stephanie Evans to become involved in her field. As author of acclaimed book “Black Women in the Ivory Tower, 1850-1954: An Intellectual History” and a University of Florida Assistant Professor in African American Studies and Women’s Studies, Dr. Evans initially started her journey in search for self.
“I wanted to know more about life and who I was,” Evans said.
Evans felt that the representation of black women was narrow and this thought continued her research on African-American women in academia. Evans attests that she has always been a bookworm and, as a first-generation college student, has been influenced by the mentors in her life. She pays back to the university and the community the passion for growth and education that was bestowed upon her as a student.
“What makes a woman a woman?” “What makes a black person black?” are the questions Evans poses to her students in her class. She forces her students to think about the answers apart from what is obvious. It is her knack of getting people to look beyond what is socially constructed and to think critically that makes her so esteemed. “Reflection and connection of action,” is one of the mantra’s Evans teaches her students and lives by.
“My education had purpose when I started to do work in the community,” Evans said. “We have a responsibility to help others.”
Evans works with the Youth Summit in Gainesville and commits to teaching youth how to make informed choices about life and their education. Most of the students at the summit have already been sent to a juvenile detention center before age 15, but Evans gives them hope for their futures. Evans is also involved in service learning classes that prepare students for education. She has also worked with the Reichert House, PACE and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Evans wants young people to have “intellectual integrity and curiosity” and to improve the odds for young people to make informed choices. Evans believes one can learn not only from people but places and things, and in taking what you know and using that to improve the quality of life and to think decisively.
When it comes to her students, Evans said, “I do not care what they think buthow they think.”