Agricultural communications leader and alumna Amy Roady has been named the inaugural director of the James F. Evans Global Center for Food and Agricultural Communications in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Roady brings more than two decades of experience spanning agricultural communications, Extension, journalism, nonprofit leadership, and corporate communications. In her […]
In the spring of 1963, Jim Gardner walked into a class in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, not knowing much about writing — or the professor who would soon leave a lasting impression. That professor was Dr. Jim Evans. More than six decades later, Gardner is […]
Two short years ago, during National Ag Day at AgRally in Fort Worth, Texas — an event sponsored by John Deere and broadcast on the RFD-TV network — ACES alum and AgRally co-founder Lyle E. Orwig helped introduce the vision for the Evans Center. Fast forward to the fall of 2025 and the James. F Evans Global […]
The College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has reached the university-required $5 million threshold to officially establish the James F. Evans Global Center for Food and Agricultural Communications. The milestone caps a campaign unveiled during National Ag Day on March 19, 2024. It was achieved today, Sept. 3 (9/3), on James F. Evans’ 93rd […]
Long-time Farm Progress economics editor makes significant commitment to the James F. Evans Global Center for Food and Agricultural Communications at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign For more than three decades, John Otte played a pivotal role in providing economic analysis and guidance to readers of Prairie Farmer magazine and other Farm Progress publications across the Midwest. […]
Barb and Keith Anderson, proud Illini and lifelong champions of agricultural communications, now call South Carolina home — where they parade their Illini golf cart each year in a celebration of college colors (pictured above). In their own words below, they reflect on the deep, personal impact of Dr. Jim Evans — the mentor who brought […]
What it means to honor Dr. Evans as a former student and believer in the global power of agricultural communications.
ACES and IFAJ formalize plans to launch a Certificate in Global Agricultural Communications, a milestone initiative of the proposed Evans Center.
AGCM alumni, students, and global guests gathered for the 2024 Homecoming Huddle to celebrate connection, communication, and Jim Evans’ legacy.
Join us for the annual Homecoming Huddle featuring a panel on bridging the rural-urban divide.
Alum Holly Spangler announces new Evans Center to elevate food and ag communications globally.
The University of Illinois announces the Evans Center to advance global food and agricultural communications through research, training, and outreach.
Jim Evans’ legacy inspires a proposed global center at Illinois to advance food and ag communications through connection and training.