UF’s new admissions director helps students find their niche

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Florida
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<p>Zina Evans loved being in college. In fact, she enjoyed her college days so much you might say she never left.</p>

<p>Evans is the University of Florida’s new director of admissions. She comes into the position with a lot of experience and a big desire to help expand the Gator Nation.</p>

<p>“I’ve been in a college environment for over 20 years, and I’m still not tired of it,” she said. “I’ve never left college, and I keep trying to bring more people in with me.”</p>

<p>At UF, Evans is already working hard on her main goal of continuing to attract the brightest students in the state and the nation. Evans said she hopes to give prospective students an opportunity to interact on a personal level with current UF students, faculty and staff through open houses and other events.</p>

<p>“We want students who will take an active part in their education, who will be diverse leaders and who will contribute to the community,” Evans said.</p>

<p>Alumni also are part of Evans’ efforts to increase UF’s profile among potential students.</p>

<p>“Almost everyone already knows someone who is a Gator,” she said. “We want to figure out how we can engage UF alumni in the actual admissions process. We want them to be active in a more formal way in promoting UF.”</p>

<p>Evans’ experience at the University of Maryland should serve her well at UF. As the associate director of admissions, she was responsible for generating interest in the university through the “Fear the Turtle” campaign to promote the University of Maryland name. Evans also was an admissions supervisor at the University of California at Berkeley and the director of research for the National Association for College Admissions Counseling. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Irvine, a master’s degree from the University of Rhode Island and a doctorate from the University of Maryland. </p>

<p>Evans says she feels at home on the UF campus and hopes to help incoming students find their way here.</p>

<p>“I want students to see there is a place and a space for them. Everyone can find that perfect fit for them.” </p>

<p><a href="http://news.ufl.edu/2006/10/17/uf%e2%80%99s-new-admissions-director-helps-students-find-their-niche/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://news.ufl.edu/2006/10/17/uf%e2%80%99s-new-admissions-director-helps-students-find-their-niche/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>ZINA EVANS HAS EXPERIENCE AT TOP UNIVERSITY</p>

<p>The new UF director of admissions will arrive just before this year's freshman class when she takes office on Aug. 1. </p>

<p>Zina L. Evans, the associate director of admissions at the University of Maryland, will succeed Pat Herring, who has served as UF's interim admissions director since June. </p>

<p>Evans will oversee an office that has come under increased scrutiny and parental pressure recently, as the university has hiked admissions standards and worked to cut the number of students admitted. </p>

<p>The university admitted fewer students for the 2006-07 academic period than it has since 1991. </p>

<p>Evans said she was drawn to UF because of the variety of opportunities available to students in each major. </p>

<p>"UF is such a comprehensive institution, with so many opportunities," she said. "Connecting bright students with those opportunities - that's what's going to help us get to that Top 10 group." </p>

<p>UF administrators have said that capping enrollment and slowing the university's growth are key factors in UF's climb to the ranks of the Top 10 public research universities. </p>

<p>Evans, 42, served as director of research for the National Association for College Admission Counseling before she joined the Maryland staff, according to a UF press release. Her appointment was announced May 8. </p>

<p>Evans was also an admissions supervisor at the University of California-Berkeley, according to the release. UC-Berkeley is the No. 1 public research university in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report. </p>

<p>"Dr. Evans has admissions experience in large state universities, which have more applicants just from the children of alumni than there are openings in the freshman class," UF Provost Janie Fouke said in the university press release. "Her skill set will be welcome here at UF." </p>

<p><a href="http://www.alligator.org/pt2/060516director.php%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.alligator.org/pt2/060516director.php&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>