David Shern, PhD, former dean of the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, and Mary Evans, RN, PhD, former associate dean of the College of Nursing and Distinguished University Health Professor Emerita, have graciously named the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences in their will.
Their planned gift, once realized, will establish the David Shern and Mary Evans FMHI Human Services Research Fund. The fund will be used at the discretion of the director of FMHI to support research in human services related to behavioral health as well as to provide stipends for full- or part-time graduate students pursuing human services research related to behavioral health who are collaborating with FMHI.
“We’re hoping that this gift will provide the funding needed to seed important applied research on behavioral health issues and promote partnerships with human service agencies broadly conceived,” said Shern. “To the degree to which graduate students are supported on these projects we also hope to help seed the next generation of researchers who are committed to making a difference in their state and community.”
Shern and Evans have long distinguished careers related to human services research. Shern served as dean of the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute at USF from 1995 to 2006. He became president and CEO of Mental Health America, the country’s oldest advocacy organization addressing all aspects of mental health and mental illness, from 2006-2012 and on an interim basis in 2014. Later, he joined the staff of the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors as a senior public health advisor.
Evans is a Distinguished University Health Professor Emerita. Previously, she served as associate dean for research and doctoral programs within the USF College of Nursing. She was also interim director of the Bureau of Evaluation and Services Research at the New York State Office of Mental Health.
Thank you to Drs. Shern and Evans for your planned support of our students! We are so grateful for your generosity. Learn more about how you can support the college here.