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It is with great pride that Â鶹ÊÓƵ announces that its President, Dr. Kenneth Evans, has been named ‘Citizen of the Year’ by the 71st Neches River Festival. In a recognition ceremony April 4 at the Lakeside Center in downtown Beaumont, the festival honored Evans with the distinction.

The Neches River Festival ‘Citizen of the Year’ is selected through a nomination process. Candidates are vetted based on their contributions to the community.

Lan Phelan, president of the Neches River Festival, said Evans was selected because of his significant improvements to the university but also for the partnerships he has developed with community leaders, businesses and stakeholders for the benefit of Southeast Texas.

“The Neches River Festival’s core purpose is to promote and celebrate our community and its resources. This award, given since 1967, allows us to recognize someone who has gone above and beyond to better our community,” said Phelan. “Dr. Evans has not only demonstrated his commitment to improving and growing Â鶹ÊÓƵ – one of our community’s most important institutions, he has extended his commitment to the community at large in many ways.”

Evans accepted the award acknowledging that many of his initiatives were done in partnership with Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s former first lady, the late Nancy Evans, such as the beautification of the campus. Since coming to Â鶹ÊÓƵ, Evans has overseen new construction, including the Wayne A. Reaud Building, the Center for Innovation, Commercialization and Entrepreneurship and a $60 million, state-of-the-art Science and Technology Building for interdisciplinary research. In addition to new construction Evans has created maintenance schedules and remodeled or renovated the Setzer Student Center, the Mary and John Gray Library, first floor, all residence halls, numerous classrooms across campus, the President’s Suite at the Montagne Center, the Music Annex Building, Landes Auditorium in the Galloway Building, The Quadrangle and a new parking lot for students.

Evans has led the charge to purchase the Martin Marietta concrete plant adjacent the Â鶹ÊÓƵ campus. The space will be allocated for intramural sports and become part of Evans’ plan to create a more welcoming, college atmosphere entrance off Highway 69 where a new welcome center will be erected.

Evans beautification efforts have extended beyond the campus to the surrounding community. He founded the Greater South Park Neighborhood Coalition, a community partnership to protect and improve the neighborhood located around the Â鶹ÊÓƵ. The region has been revitalized as a result; residents are once again proud of the community.

Evans revitalization efforts have also focused on students. He has increased efforts in recruitment and retention of students, especially international and transfer students, faculty research and grant funding, higher quality customer service towards students and prospective students as well as marketing and public relations.

Student numbers reflect Evans’ initiatives. Enrollment continues to grow and was up to 13,139 students in the spring of 2018. Students from 58 different countries attend Â鶹ÊÓƵ. One of the top universities in Texas for the percentage of degrees conferred to African American students. The number of students who study abroad each year has quadrupled.

While strengthening Â鶹ÊÓƵ and the community around it, Evans has continued his scholarly research. He was awarded the American Marketing Association Sheth Foundation Award for a 2006 article in the Journal of Marketing titled “Factors Influencing the Effectiveness of Relationship Marketing: A Meta-Analysis,” with R. Palmatier, R. Dant and D. Grewal. The research and published content was recognized  for its long-term contribution and impact in the field of marketing.

Evans is focused on Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s success now and into the future. He has brought the university through a strategic plan from 2015 to 2020 and has already started the process with more than 100 constituents for the next strategic plan, 2020-2025.