Back to school for leading academic

Professor Allan Evans will be back on familiar ground when he gives the Occasional Address at this week’s Year 12 Academic Assembly.

Prof Evans, who has been an academic at the University of South Australia for more than 25 years, is a Blackfriars old scholar, graduating in 1979.

He was thrilled to be coming back to his old school, after so many years, to address the class of 2021.

“I fondly remember my years at Blackfriars and how the school shaped my ambitions for lifelong learning and influenced me so meaningfully as a person,” Prof Evans said.

“I have vivid recollections of the very special teachers who inspired me in the areas of mathematics, chemistry and physics.

“Together, these teachers provided me with a solid foundations to build a successful career as a scientist, an academic and a university leader.

“Coming back to Blackfriars to provide the Occasional Address is a wonderful opportunity for me to express my gratitude to the school and to hopefully inspire the next generation of graduates to pursue excellence in their life and to reinforce in them the empowering and enduring value of education.”

After leaving Blackfriars, Prof Evans completed a Bachelor of Pharmacy at the South Australian Institute of Technology – which, in 1991, became the University of South Australia.

He completed his PhD in clinical pharmacology at Adelaide University, before heading to the UK and the University of Manchester, where he gained post-doctoral experience.

↓↓↓ READ’S PROF EVANS’ OCCASIONAL ADDRESS BELOW ↓↓↓

In an outstanding academic career, Prof Evans has been Professor in Pharmaceutics, Head of the School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences and Pro Vice Chancellor and Vice President: Division of Health Sciences at UniSA.

In 2013, Prof Evans was appointed UniSA’s first Provost and Chief Academic Officer.

As Provost, he is responsible for enhancing UniSA’s educational offerings, providing an outstanding student experience, and planning and development of the university’s academic programs.

He is also the former president of the Australasian Pharmaceutical Science Association (APSA) and winner of the APSA medal for outstanding contributions to pharmaceutical science.

_{Pictures: Supplied/UniSA}