Personal Information
Dr. Evans earned a doctoral degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Aurora University, Master of Science Degree in Recreation Administration from San Francisco State University, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education. She has completed Post Graduate Studies in Continuing Education, Special Education, and Counseling. She holds multiple teaching certificates and endorsements include a Reading Teacher Endorsement Certificate, National Board Certification in Middle Childhood Education, Elementary Teaching Certificate (K-8), and Special Education Certificates (preK – 21) in Learning Disabilities, Physically Impairments, Mental Impairments, and Behavior Disorders. Dr. Evans has completed graduate work in literacy, multiple intelligences, adult education, counseling, instructional methodology, and special education.
Dr. Suzanne F. Evans is currently an associate professor in the Department of Community Health in the School of Health and Human Services (SHHS) at National University (NU). She has over 35 years experience working in education and healthcare as an educator, teacher leader, administrator, organizational consultant, and trainer in both the private and public sector.
As a member of the full-time graduate faculty at National University, she teaches various health and health promotion courses including COH 609-Public Health Evaluation, COH 604 – Theories of Health Behaviors, and COH 691 Public Health Internships. In the past five years at NU, she has had the opportunity to design programs and courses, teach both onsite and online courses, and supervise interns. Dr. Evans currently serves as program lead for the Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration program and as course lead for HED 602 and HEDX1101X.
Dr. Evans came to the university setting with a multitude of experiences as an adult educator, trainer and teacher coach; hospital and recreation administrator; health educator; preschool, elementary and special education teacher; a diagnostician; and reading coach, She has worked with children and adults in school, recreation and hospital settings. As a health educator and vice president of health promotion with a hospital system she managed corporate employee assistance program; led employee workshops and assisted companies in development of employee assistance programs; administered the daily operations of health promotion department and occupational health/urgent care clinic; created the first mammography screening/education program for the community and first mobile mammography program for businesses; created and organized extensive community wellness programs including an annual Women's Wellness Weekend Conference that ran for twenty years; coordinated all marketing of the occupational program including quarterly business seminars, design of an occupational health brochure and monthly newsletters and developed and coordinated wellness programs in companies, school districts, and police departments. As the superintendent of recreation for community park districts she directed the daily operations of a park district recreation department including fitness programs, aquatics, athletics, children's programming and a licensed preschool; organized a top rated Biathlon for 500 participants; coordinated the summer theater company; initiated the first senior programming; managed operations of a fitness center; developed the first family and children's fitness programs; hosted community wide fitness and wellness events; and managed daycare and preschool programs. Active in advocacy, she served as the legislative and community liaison and campaign manager for a state representative. In that role, she served on county and city human services committees; initiated Health 2000 program between local hospitals; coordinated a cooperative health center between the second largest school district in the state and the county health department.
As an educator, Dr. Evans had many opportunities to work in leadership and collaborative team positions. Currently at the university she serves as co-chair of Institutional Review Board (IRB) and co-chair of the SHHS Assessment Committee. She also serves on the University Assessment Committee, Undergraduate Council, and University Faculty Personnel Committee, SHHS Academic Affairs Committee, and SHHS Leadership Committee. In the community, she serves on the San Diego Health Literacy Task Force and as a board member for a scholarship foundation. In addition to the university service opportunities mentioned, she served as a teacher-mentor and trainer for the school site-based improvement programs. She has also worked successfully to write and implement grants and grant programs.
Dr. Evans’ scholarship interests are focused in health literacy, cultural competency in health education, stress and resiliency, and quality teaching and assessment techniques in higher education. She has published articles and presented at national and international conferences.
Recent Publications
Evans, S. & Schubert-Irastorza, C. & Evans, S. (2011). Building faculty resilience: The key to successful change in the academic department. The Department Chair, 21, 4 p. 5-6.
Evans, S. (2010). The role of multicultural literature interactive read-alouds on student perspectives. Journal of Research in Innovative Teaching, 3, 88-100.
Evans, S. (2009). Use of multicultural literature for tolerance & peace education. San Diego, CA: Character Development Center Conference: Character & Peace Education- proceeding.
Evans, S. (2007). Teaching multicultural children's literature as a form of culturally responsive pedagogy. San Diego, CA: International Council on Education for Teachers World Assembly -proceedings.
Evans, S. & Damico, D.(2009). DRA Teacher Training Video. Joint venture of Casillas Elementary School and National University.
Evans, S. & Damico, D. (2008). Gradual Release of Responsibility Teaching Video. Joint venture of Casillas Elementary School and National University.
Recent Presentations
Evans, S. & Ruland, B. (2011, May). When words get in the way: a collaborative plan to address health literacy in San Diego County, Poster Session, Institute Healthcare Advancement Health Literacy Conference, Irvine, CA.
Eisermann, R., Evans, S., & Hazzard, M. (2011, April). Success in the IRB process. National University Faculty Spring Symposium, La Jolla, CA.
Evans, S. & Diaz, A. (2011, March). Using cultural proficient strategies to enhance health education. American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) Conference, San Diego, CA.
Evans, S. (2011, March). The availability of health literature in elementary schools and the implications for teaching practices. American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD), San Diego, CA
CartaFalsa, J. & Evans, S. (2011, February). Bringing literature to life throughout Early Childhood curriculum. Workshop presented at California Headstart Conference. San Francisco, CA.
CartaFalsa, J. & Evans, S. (2010, December). Bringing literature to life throughout Early Childhood curriculum. Workshop presented at National Headstart Conference. Virginia Beach, VA.
Evans, S. (2010, November). Teaching social justice in elementary classrooms utilizing picture books. Workshop presented at Association of Literacy Educators and Researchers (ALER) Conference. Omaha, NB.
Evans, S. (2010, November). The availability of multicultural literature in schools and the implications for culturally responsive teaching practices Paper presented at Association of Literacy Educators and Researchers (ALER) Conference. Omaha, NB.
Evans, S. & Schubert, C. (2010, October). Bouncing back from professional setbacks: Resiliency in higher education. International Society for Exploring Teaching and Learning (ISETL) Conference, Nashville, TN
Evans, S. (2010, April). Developing cultural understanding and teaching social justice issues with multicultural children's literature. Workshop presented at the 55th International Reading Association Conference, Chicago, IL.
Awards and Memberships
Dr. Evans is a member of multiple professional organizations including American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD); American Public Health Association (APHA), Association of Literacy Educators and Researchers (ALER); American Educational Research Association(AERA); International Reading Association (IRA), National Association of Multicultural Education (NAME), Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD); Southern Poverty Law Center – Teaching Tolerance (SPLC). Dr. Evans has been recognized for her teaching by receiving the National University President’s Professoriate Award in 2008. She also received National Board Professional Teaching Status in 2010 and in 2002. She is a Wall of Tolerance Honoree of the SPLC Civil Rights Memorial Center. She received the a peace and character education award in 2009 and the Peaceable School Award in 1996.
Ed.D. in Curriculum & Instruction
Aurora University
Master of Science Degree in Recreation Administration
San Francisco State University
Bachelor of Science Degree in Education
Northern Illinois University