A proud east coaster born in Bridgeport, CT and raised by the women in her family, Dr. Kawami Evans is a graduate of the Connecticut public school system and a first-generation college student. At Eastern Connecticut State University she obtained a  bachelor’s degree and teaching credential  while working as a Resident Assistant. This was a transformative experience that inspired her to pursue a career in student affairs and ignited her passion for social justice and the intersections of spirituality in colleges and universities. Dr. Evans obtained a Master of Education from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, and her doctorate from Drexel University.

Dr. Evans is a student affairs practitioner with more than 20 years of professional experience in institutions of higher education. Her work experiences span administrative roles within residence life, academic retention, student affairs, and organizational development at both public and private universities including University of Massachusetts Amherst, Northeastern University, University of California Santa Cruz, and University of California Davis. She is also a member of several higher education professional associations including the National Association for Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) and the National Association for Diversity Officers of Higher Education (NADOHE).

Currently, Dr. Evans, serves in a dual leadership capacity as the Executive Director of Inclusion, Culture, and Belonging in Student Housing and Dining Services and the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Strategist for the Division of Student Affairs at the University of California Davis. In these complementary roles, she leads strategic planning and large-scale trainings to build the capacity of staff to embody the spirit of the Principles of Community in our engagement with students and work with each other. Dr. Evans is passionate about fostering workplace cultures that are grounded in the virtues of anti-racism to inspire collective thriving and true inclusionary excellence. As the Divisional Strategist for Equity and Inclusion, she serves as the chief diversity officer on matters of equity and inclusion for staff and is responsible for the development, design and integration of DEI principles into the policies and practices across the division. She also serves as a subject matter expert and an executive advisor to the vice chancellor.