A Life Dedicated to Service to Others
For her lifelong commitment to movement, wellness, education, service to others, and a strong affinity for supporting the College, Elizabeth E. Evans ’62, G’70, PhD, will be honored with the Tarbell Medallion as part of Homecoming Weekend, October 15-18.
By: Damon Markiewicz
Elizabeth E. Evans ’62, G’70, PhD, will be honored with the Tarbell Medallion as part of Homecoming Weekend, October 15-18. Evansis a Springfield College professor emerita of Physical Education whose career reflects a lifelong commitment to movement, wellness, education, service to others, and a strong affinity for supporting the College.
A proud Springfield College alumna, Evans is widely known as a respected educator, researcher, and advocate for physical activity and adapted physical education. Throughout her career, Evans combined her expertise in physical education, exercise science, and physical therapy with a deep commitment to serving others. Her work has included research on physical function and exercise, as well as initiatives supporting individuals with disabilities.
“One of the things I learned from the Humanics way of life is that it is important to have person-to-person and hands-on involvement,” explained Evans. “To me it appears that it is the easiest way to impart the Humanics philosophy.”
Evans’ affinity for the College began during her time as a student leader and has continued to flourish throughout her life as a respected faculty member, dedicated volunteer, and impactful donor.
Always committed to her graduating class, dating back to when she was elected class president, Evans has remained steadfast through decades of service. She has served as her class reunion chair and led her class reunion planning committee for multiple years. Through her work, Evans helps foster lasting connections among her classmates and strengthens their enduring bond with Springfield College.
As a proud faculty member for more than 30 years, Evans earned one of the most prestigious honors when she was named the Distinguished Springfield Professor of Humanics in 1996. It’s a title that recognized her excellence in teaching, service, and dedication to the College’s core philosophy of educating the whole person in spirit, mind, and body.
Remaining committed to supporting the College’s current students, Evans established the Adapted Physical Education Award in 2006. This award is given to a first-year graduate student entering the Adapted Physical Education program at Springfield College.
In addition, Evans has been a strong supporter of East Campus programs and projects, as well as a committed supporter of the Friends in Humanics Scholarship program, which finacially supports current students.
Always dedicated to assisting the College, Evans has been a very active volunteer with the Springfield College Department of Exercise Physiology since 2008. Under the direction of Samuel Headley, PhD, program director for Exercise Physiology, Evans has been the chief recruiter for all of Headley’s research studies. She has developed a very effective system of recruiting a large group of kidney patients.
As a result of Evans’ dedication to the College, Headley has stated “Beth has been a wonderful part of our research team, always doing whatever she can to help.”
In addition to her commitment to service to others at the College, Evans is known for her humanitarian development and fundraising projects in Malawi, where she served as a Peace Corps volunteer from 1963 to 1964.
“In 2000, one of my former Malawi students, Fides Ushe, was hired to teach in the Math Department,” explained Evans. “We started going back to Malawi doing projects in the village where she grew up. We built a preschool, a clinic, and did teacher training in science, math, and English.”
Evans’ service to others is rooted in our Humanics philosophy. She remains a long-standing volunteer with the Massachusetts Senior Games, assisting with the organization’s annual event at the College each summer.
Evans has also led adaptive aquatics for the Easter Seals Society, led track and field programs for the United Cerebral Palsy, and assisted track and field and ice-skating programs for the Special Olympics.
Evans’ philanthropic commitment remains on display as a proud David Allen Reed Society donor. She was a key contributor to the successful completion of the Advancing Humanics Capital Campaign. She is also a significant bequest supporter of East Campus and has provided financial support for Giving Day challenge gifts.
Evans’ enduring contributions to the Springfield College campus community and the world around us exemplify the College’s tradition of leadership in service to others.
Amazing alumni like this are proof of the power of a Springfield College education. Your support helps us continue preparing students to lead in service to others—true to our Humanics philosophy. Give today to support the next generation.
