01/13/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/14/2025 18:21
Atlanta - January 13, 2025
The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (USG) today named Dr. Johnny L. Evans Jr. president of the College of Coastal Georgia, effective immediately.
Evans currently serves as Coastal Georgia's interim president, a role he took on last June after President Michelle R. Johnston was named president of Georgia Southwestern State University. He previously served as the college's provost and vice president for Academic Affairs.
"With now six years at Coastal Georgia and over 12 years within USG, Dr. Evans is uniquely prepared to lead the college as it continues to transform students' lives through engaged learning," USG Chancellor Sonny Perdue said. "Coastal Georgia provides vital education and training for the next generation of the coastal Georgia workforce, including for critical careers like teaching and nursing. Dr. Evans knows the campus well and will be able to build on that work while expanding community partnerships and investing in the region."
Prior to his work at Coastal Georgia, Evans held leadership positions as the dean of math and science and subsequently as the dean of arts and sciences at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.
"I am grateful to the board and to Chancellor Perdue for their confidence in me, and I'm excited to continue to collaborate with our deeply committed faculty and staff," Evans said. "This fall, we broke our record for dual enrollment and increased overall enrollment by 8.6% over last year. I'm honored to have this opportunity to lead Coastal Georgia with a broader perspective on the needs of our students and the career opportunities in our community."
About Dr. Johnny L. Evans
Evans holds a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Georgia College & State University and a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from the University of Florida. He is a distinguished scholar whose academic journey includes postdoctoral research roles at Oak Ridge National Labs and Savannah River Labs.
Known for his dedication to fostering strong academic programs that deliver transformative educational experiences, Evans prioritizes student success, drawing from his own formative years as a student at Georgia College. He attributes much of his academic success to the deep care and mentoring provided by his faculty mentors.
Evans spent the first 13 years of his academic career at Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee, where he was a professor of chemistry and physics and the chemistry program coordinator. In 2013, he began his USG career at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. In January 2019, he moved into a role as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at Coastal Georgia, before becoming interim president last year.
Outside of his professional endeavors, Evans finds joy in the outdoors and expresses his creativity as an avid artist and metal sculptor. His artwork - crafted from steel, brass and copper - reflects his passion for capturing the beauty of nature through sculpture.
About the College of Coastal Georgia
A state college that emphasizes an access mission, Coastal Georgia offers bachelor's and associate degrees through the schools of Arts and Sciences, Business and Public Management and Nursing and Health Sciences. Coastal Georgia provides an affordable and interactive education in the natural beauty of Georgia's Golden Isles, an area noted for its amazing diversity of maritime habitats, wildlife and sea creatures; world-class golf courses and resorts; and the national headquarters for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. Location-enhanced programs include coastal ecology, environmental science, criminology and hospitality and tourism management. Its nursing degree programs - BSN, ASN and RN to BSN - have been ranked among the nation's best, and Teacher Education graduates enjoy a 100% placement rate. Coastal Georgia enrolls nearly 3,500 students and boasts a 1:19 faculty-to-student ratio.
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