Graduate Programs Commencement Ceremony, July 31, 2010
Honorary Degree Nominee
Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD
Arthur C. Evans Jr, PhD. is the director of Philadelphia's Department of Behavioral Health and Mental Retardation Services (DBH/MRS), a $1 billion healthcare agency. In this capacity, he is leading a major initiative to transform how behavioral health care and mental retardation services are delivered in the city. Since Dr. Evans' appointment in November 2004, Philadelphia has begun a transformation of its entire system to one that focuses on recovery for adults, resilience for children and self-determination for all people who use mental retardation services. In addition to his current duties as DBH/MRS director, Dr. Evans served as acting commissioner of the Department of Human Services. In this role he led reform efforts for Philadelphia's child welfare system.
Dr. Evans is a clinical and community psychologist. He holds a faculty appointment at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He held faculty appointments at Yale University School of Medicine and Quinnipiac University. Dr. Evans has extensive experience in transforming systems of care while serving in several national leadership roles.
Prior to coming to Philadelphia, Dr. Evans was the deputy commissioner for the Connecticut Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services (DMHAS). In this capacity, he led several major strategic initiatives for the Connecticut behavioral healthcare system. He was instrumental in implementing a recovery-oriented policy framework, addressing health care disparities and increasing the use of evidence-based practices.
Dr. Evans serves in several national leadership roles including: chair of the National Advisory Committee for Robert Wood Johnson's Path To Recovery Project; a member of the American Psychological Association's Task Force on Severe Mental Illness and Severe Emotional Disturbance; past president of the Board of Directors of the New England Institute of Addiction Studies Inc. (NEIAS); and a board member and summit chair for the American College of Mental Health Administration. Dr. Evans is highly committed to serving people who are underserved and ensuring that all people have access to effective, quality services.
