W. Franklin Evans

Dr. W. Franklin Evans is the president of Voorhees College. In August 2016, Evans became the ninth president of the private four-year historically black college located in Denmark, SC, succeeding Dr. Cleveland L. Sellers, Jr., who announced his retirement last year.

Prior to being named the President of Voorhees College, Evans served as the Interim President of South Carolina State University SCSU, in Orangeburg, SC, where he also served as the provost and chief academic officer. Evans is well versed in many areas, these include leadership and supervision in all academic programs and curriculum development, faculty recruitment, enrollment management, strategic planning and the accreditation process.

Under his leadership as interim president of South Carolina State University, enrollment exceeded its goal and fundraising increased by 687 percent; alumni support also improved and the University achieved a balanced budget.

Evans has been in the education arena over 25 years. He served as the Vice President of Academic Affairs at Virginia Union University in Richmond, VA, where he was instrumental in leading the institution through a successful reaffirmation of accreditation and establishing an Honors College, a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Fine Arts and a Master of Education degree. He also worked at Elizabeth City State, J. F. Drake State Technical College and Tennessee State University. He is also an experienced fundraiser and grant writer.

Currently, Evans is active in many organizations such as the NAACP, Black Family Preservation Group, the National Association of Black School Educators, Toast Masters International and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. He has served on the boards of the Sickle Cell Association, Boys and Girls Club, Kiwanis Club International and the AIDS Action Coalition.

In 1994, Evans earned a doctorate degree in higher education administration from Georgia State University. He earned a master’s degree in journalism and middle childhood education, curriculum and instruction as well as administration and supervision from Georgia State University. He earned a bachelor’s degree in entomology from the University of Georgia in 1984.