Dr. Norman W. Evans, a professor in English as an international language was named teacher of the year for 2003 by the BYU-Hawaii President's Council.
President Eric B. Shumway presented Evans with the award at a faculty/staff meeting in the David O. McKay auditorium at the beginning of the fall semester.
Evans had no prior notification he would receive the honor. "When President Shumway called my name, I was stunned and numbed," he said.
"When we look at faculty members and what it means to be a university professor, you have scholarly work, teaching and community or university service," said Keith Roberts, BYU-Hawaii vice-president for academics. "The President's Council strongly considers the faculty member who in our minds has had the largest single impact on university service for that particular year."
"Professor Evans has developed a resume of university service accomplished over the years," Roberts added. "Even though there's always a lot of faculty who contribute, each year somebody rises to the top and he stood a little above the rest this year."
"Service has always been a big part of my life and I think a lot of this recognition came as a result of so many opportunities to serve here," Evans said. "Everywhere you turn there's something that needs to be done and that's the nature of a small campus—there's just way more to do than people to do it."
Roberts explained that past honorees had done significant things that made them deserving of the annual award.
Evans' chairing of an important "returnability" committee—a group that examined ways to help students get back to their home countries and be successful after graduation and interest in the scholarship of English teaching and learning, combined with many other activities Evans has been involved in were significant factors in the final decision.
"He is a good, positive contributor on every committee, and when somebody good gets on more committees, they work harder," Roberts said. "He doesn't turn work down and he takes it seriously. When it leads the group, the results are thoughtful."
Evans explained that in his 22-year affiliation with BYU-Hawaii the most gratifying aspect is seeing programs continue as a direct result of hard work. For instance, Evans spearheaded the launching of the reading/writing center on campus and served as its first director.
"It's just very satisfying to look at that center," he said. "Every time I go by there I have some memories of being involved with that in its initial stages."
Evans added, "There's no end to things that can be done to make education more effective, to make the transition for our international students to this very new environment smoother and more successful, and to help retain those students. BYU-Hawaii breeds innovation and there's great support for it."
Evans hopes to further his work in the future by helping others become aware of what it means to be in such an international environment and the importance of the scholarship of teaching and learning on campus.
Evans completed his doctoral studies in educational leadership at the University of Southern California, focusing on the retention of Polynesian students and international student issues. Much of his research that he did on campus has been implemented into the curriculum and aided in the retention and returnability of students.
When asked about his busy calling as president of the BYU-Hawaii second stake for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and how he handles his many responsibilities, Evans responded, "The nice thing about working here is how all of that intertwines. Here at BYU-Hawaii it's one package; a lot of my students that I used in my research were in my stake or in my ward when I was a bishop — I can't separate them."
Roberts said that Evans' heavy responsibilities as stake president did not diminish his commitment to the university.
Evans earned his B.A. and M.A. from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and his Ed.D. from USC. He and his wife Kaylynn have four children.