Carruthers Center Administrators and Staff

Andrea E. Evans, Ph. D. is the Director of the Jacob H. Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies at Northeastern Illinois University. In addition, she holds an appointment as a full professor in the Department of Leadership, Literacy, and Development in the Daniel L. Goodwin College of Education. Dr. Evans has spent over 25 years in Illinois education. Before coming to NEIU, Dr. Evans served as the Dean of the College of Education at Governors State University.  Also, she has served as an administrator and/or professor at other Illinois institutions including Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Northern Illinois University, and the University of Illinois at Chicago. Dr. Evans is a published scholar in the area of educational leadership, diversity, and equity, and recently served on Illinois State Board of Education’s State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board (SEPLB). Prior to her work in academia, Dr. Evans worked for 11 years as a high school science teacher and alternative school administrator in the Chicago area.

I understand the importance of education, integrity, and collective responsibility in developing and preparing others. It is my personal mission to lead by example, positively influence others and create purposeful pathways for them as future leaders. I believe in the “village” philosophy and comprehensive approach through family involvement, academic improvement and community partnership. It is my intent to continue to design and implement programs that have the power to transform, cultivate and sustain greatness in our leaders as they move on to the next level.

She has also been a member of The Association for the Study of Classical African Civilization (ASCAC) for over 5 years, which led to two study abroad pilgrimages, one to Brazil in 2009, and the other to Egypt in 2010. With over 25 years of experience in the field of helping women who suffer from mental health and substance abuse issues, Ms. Dukes is currently pursuing a second Master's Degree in Social Work here at Northeastern Illinois University.