Staff Spotlight: Sharrae Evans

Sharrae Evans, administrative support coordinator for the Art & Design and Theatre & Dance departments, didn’t just happen to land a job on the CSUDH campus. “I’m a Toro!” she proudly proclaims.

Indeed, Evans is a Toro alumna who has made the university her home away from home for the past 15 years. She started as an undergraduate student, attaining her BA in Business Administration (Management and Human Resources) in 2007. She returned to CSUDH for her master’s degree in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, and Peace Building, which she earned in 2012.

She started her career at CSUDH by working as a student assistant on campus during her undergraduate years. Evans spent time in both the Dean of Undergraduate Studies and University Advisement Center before transitioning to her current position. “My background as a former student worker helps me relate to the students and serve as a role model to them,” says Evans. “I understand the nature of being a student and an employee.”

Evans spends her days working with faculty in Theatre & Dance and Art & Design, making sure the departments run smoothly and everyone has the resources they need. She also works closely with students, “helping them with their day-to-day trials and challenges”–which includes everything from connecting with faculty to simply getting directions. From her office on the first floor of LaCorte Hall, Evans gets to see and interact with everyone coming and going from the busy building.

Her interactions with other Toros are Evans’ favorite part of her job. “I’m fortunate to work on one of the most diverse campuses in the CSU system–from students to staff to faculty.”

As both an employee and an alumna, Evans feels a strong connection with the university’s mission. “CSUDH stands for personal and professional success, as well as economic and social mobility,” she says. “This is something I try to remind our students of daily: the value of higher education.”

When she’s not on campus, Evans enjoys her other full-time job–parenting her two sons. She says she finds inspiration in “setting an example for my children and the students at CSUDH. Achieving a degree in higher education is a goal that can be reached, regardless of your background or circumstances.”