William Evans receives Alger Family Faculty Endowment Award

Congratulations to Psychology professor William Evans, recipient of the 2018 Alger Family Faculty Endowment award! The Alger award is given to one faculty member each year to recognize their achievement in engaged learning, civic engagement, and community engagement.

In response to receiving the award, Evans humbly stated “I was pleasantly surprised, because I know that there are a lot of great people from within the JMU community doing great service here and around the world.”

To those that know Evans, it is no surprise that he is receiving such recognition. Evans embodies what it means to be an engaged learner and teacher. He incorporates service components into a majority of his classes, estimating that his students complete between 2,500 and 3,000 service hours for the community annually. Additionally, he has created, maintained, served in, or advised for many programs and events within the JMU and Harrisonburg community. Two of his longest running creations, “Day with the Dukes” and “Campus Camp” have been taking place annually for over 12 years now.

“Day with the Dukes” is a collaborative project that formed with the work of Evans and a former student, Jesse Tarr. Through a partnership with the Special Olympics, JMU students and the JMU athletic department invite Olympians to “be a college student for a day.” During this day, volunteers are paired with Olympians, guiding and encouraging participation in various athletic programs alongside JMU athletes. According to Evans, it’s a great day not only for the Olympians, but for JMU students as well.

“Campus Camp” is also a collaborative effort, created by Evans and another former student, Angie Fusco. During this event, a full day is dedicated to elementary school children that have lost a loved one. Children are referred through local counselors and partnered with a JMU “buddy” for the day. With the help of many JMU volunteers, these children engage in play therapy, dance therapy, music therapy, and art therapy. The result is a day that is very special for all involved.

Evans also points out that part of JMU’s institutional mission is to prepare students to lead productive and meaningful lives. Regarding this, Evans states “One of the clear ways that I have found meaning and purpose in my life has been through serving in different capacities at JMU and beyond.” Evans encourages students to investigate the connection between service and meaning for themselves, concluding “There’s a lot of pain and suffering in the world, and there’s a lot that can be done to help change that. You will not only help someone else, you will help yourself in the process.”

Among the many great people within JMU that foster community involvement, Evans stands out as remarkable. His commitment to teaching service in his courses is paralleled only by his commitment to demonstrating engagement through his involvement in student organizations and programs. 

Evans was recognized with a reception held in April 2019.