UF's new admissions director helps students find their niche

October 17, 2006

Zina Evans loved being in college. In fact, she enjoyed her college days so much you might say she never left.

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.

“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.”

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.

“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.

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

“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.”

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.

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

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