Keynote speaker and author; narrative change champion; systems thinker

Evans served for thirteen years as President and CEO of the American Public Human Services Association (APHSA), a bi-partisan national membership organization representing leaders of state and county human service agencies. She led APHSA’s expansive network through significant macro-level events, including the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Great Recession, an increasing number of severe weather and climate-related disasters, and the nation’s ever-deepening political division. Evans supported the sector through implementation of the Affordable Care Act, the 2013 and 2018/19 government shutdowns, as well as significant reforms in child welfare, child care, food/nutrition, and economic mobility. During her tenure, APHSA grew in influence and organizational capacity, more than doubling the size and increasing the diversity of the APHSA team and more than tripling the Association’s budget with new philanthropic and federal investments. Evans also spearheaded international outreach with the European Social Network, a sister organization representing countries in the EU.

Evans served as a senior advisor to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, advising on the social response to federal disasters, and working closely with FEMA to accelerate long-term recovery efforts from Hurricane Katrina. She worked alongside Admiral Thad Allen in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill to ensure people displaced from employment by the oil spill where fairly compensated.

Served as member of Arizona Governor Napolitano's cabinet, leading the 10,000+ employee Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES), an integrated human service agency serving one in six Arizonians