University News

Sharon Evans Named COFAC Interim Associate Dean

August 5, 2008

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MACOMB, IL - - Sharon Evans, broadcasting department chair at Western Illinois University, has added the duties and title of interim associate dean in the College of Fine Arts and Communication (COFAC), effective Aug. 1, according to COFAC Dean Paul Kreider.

Evans will serve as interim associate dean through June 30, 2009. A national search will begin this fall to fill the position that was held by Ken Hawkinson, who became Western's associate provost for budget, planning and personnel, effective June 1.

"Dr. Evans has exhibited excellent leadership across the campus for several years," Kreider said. "She will serve expertly in an interim capacity. We are fortunate to welcome her into the dean's office."

Broadcasting at Western Illinois is among the University's eight signature academic programs, and Evans has built the once radio-only broadcasting unit into a broadcasting department with the newest technology-rich digital audio and video production techniques. Students study television and radio production, graphics and multimedia and have opportunities in news, sports, entertainment, public affairs and information programming with live shows on wiutv3 and WIUS-FM radio. Evans developed the only sports broadcasting production program in the state, and the department's curriculum challenges students to work with equipment and broadcasting from their first semester in the program.

Evans came to Western in 1984 as an assistant professor and director of broadcasting when the discipline was in the communication arts and sciences department. In Spring 1985, she received approval from the University's governing board (Illinois Board of Governors) and the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) for $402,200 to build a television studio and purchase portable equipment. In Summer 1999 the student-run station moved from analog to digital technology, years ahead of other schools; and in Summer 2000 the station received a complete renovation and upgrade of its control room. The two projects were the first part of a four-year $1.2 million upgrade to the control room and editing bay.

By 2005, the broadcasting division within the department of communication served 200 undergraduate majors and 60 minors with seven fulltime faculty and support staff; the IBHE granted the program departmental status; and Evans was named chair of the broadcasting department.

She has conducted research in areas including redundancy and learning, gender difference in learning styles, women and media and innovative use of media in education; and she has presented her findings at state and national professional conferences, as well as twice in China as an invited presenter.

Evans has also coordinated; directed; produced; hosted; been a video, online or post-production editor; operated a camera or the character generator; and served as executive director numerous times in some 50 creative programs she has undertaken. Among those projects are commercials for various University units and outside clients and agencies; "Pigskin Preview," which Evans created in 1994, a 30-minute weekly fall show featuring WIU's head football coach in a question-and-answer format with game highlights; WGEM-TV and WIU broadcasting newslink, which feeds student-shot and produced daily news, sports and features to the Quincy (IL) NBC affiliate; concerts; science programs; and the grand opening of the Sallee Hall broadcasting production facilities in 1988.

Inducted into Western's chapter of Phi Kappa Phi in 1992, Evans was a recipient of the President's Faculty Excellence Award (1986) and the College of Fine Arts and Communication Outstanding Teacher of the Year award (1997-1998). She has served on numerous departmental, college and University committees, and she is a member of the Macomb City Council Governmental Access Channel Committee.

Evans is a graduate of the University of North Texas, where she earned her Ph.D. (1985) and her Master of Arts degree (1978) in Radio-TV-Film. Her Bachelor of Arts degree (1977) in Radio-TV-Film is from Baylor University.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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