FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 18, 2005 - Susan Hammons

SFA names new library director

Dr. Tiffany Evans, currently employed by the Metropolitan Campus of Cuyahoga Community College, Cleveland, Ohio, has been hired as Stephen F. Austin State University library director and will assume her new duties April 18.

Evans has been at Cuyahoga Community College since July 2000, serving as district director of library and learning resources and the Metropolitan Campus director of the library, learning resource center and technology learning center.

“I am so delighted that Dr. Evans will be coming to SFA,” said Dr. Mary Cullinan, SFA provost and vice president for academic affairs.

“Under the director of Mr. Al Cage and his dedicated staff, the SFA library has become a model for a 21st century academic commons, a place that provides faculty and students with a dynamic environment supporting teaching and learning.

“Dr. Evans shares this vision for a library and has extensive experience in shaping such a vision. She will be a wonderful asset to the campus.”

Evans received her Ph.D. in library and information science from the University of Pittsburg. She has a Master of Library Science from Kent State University, a master’s degree in non-profit management and arts administration from the University of Akron and a Master of Arts in history and art history from Cleveland State University. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from John Carroll University.

She has extensive experience in administering libraries and in integrating technology systems into library, classroom, administrative and community learning center environments. She has secured more than $4 million in grants in recent years and has been a highly successful fund raiser for library priorities. Harvard University named the Technology and Information Literacy Initiative, created by Evans, among the five best community learning center programs in the nation for two consecutive years.

Evans was among four finalists for the position. Also interviewed on campus were Benjamin Wakashige, library director at Pacific University, Forest Grove, Oregon; and Shirley Dickerson, associate library director for information services at SFA. The fourth finalist, Stephen Shorb, associate director of university libraries at the University of Florida, Gainsville, Fla., withdrew his name from consideration and did not participate in the on-campus interviews that took place Jan. 23-Feb. 3.

Evans will replace Al Cage, who has been library director at SFA since 1971 and is retiring. Evans’ appointment is subject to approval by the SFA Board of Regents.