What it means to honor Dr. Jim Evans as a former student, a storyteller, and a believer in the global power of agricultural communications.

I still remember the nervous excitement I felt walking into my first meeting with Dr. Jim Evans. A meeting he had called — with me, a freshman who had just arrived on campus and didn’t know the difference between a cutline and a caption.

I also didn’t know that I was stepping into the office of a visionary. Dr. Evans didn’t just help build the agricultural communications program at Illinois — he helped establish the discipline. That day, he generously listened to my big dreams and encouraged me to dream bigger. I walked out of his office feeling seen, supported, and more certain than ever that I was in the right place.

I never could have imagined that fifteen years later, I’d be sitting across from him again — this time at a signing ceremony to launch the first deliverable from the James F. Evans Global Center for Food and Agricultural Communications.

That moment felt like coming full circle.

As the ninth generation on our family farm and a fifth-generation Illini — among many ag communications graduates, including my mother — I’ve always known that the power of this college doesn’t end at the edge of campus. It lives in the communities we serve, the industries we support, and the ideas we share.

And now, as the college’s director of communications, I feel a deep sense of pride and responsibility in helping tell the stories of this land-grant institution — stories that connect our research, our people, and our purpose.

Now, as the College of ACES announces a new partnership with the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists — and prepares to launch a globally focused and accessible certificate in agricultural communications — I can’t help but reflect on how powerful Dr. Evan’s original vision remains. And how much it still has to offer the world.

The Evans Center isn’t just about honoring one man’s legacy, though Dr. Evans has certainly earned that. It’s about building a home for the next generation of communicators: people who will translate science into solutions, bridge divides across borders, and tell the stories that shape our food systems and our future.

With more than 60% of the $5 million goal already secured, we’re close. But we need your help to bring the Evans Center to life. Your support will help launch programs like the Certificate in Global Agricultural Communications and ensure Illinois remains the epicenter of agricultural communications education, research, and leadership.

I’ve seen firsthand how one person — through vision, mentorship, and relentless dedication — can shape a field and change the lives of hundreds of students. Now we have the chance to create a center that will carry that impact forward, reaching students and professionals across the globe. Help us reach our goal by Dr. Evans’ 93rd birthday on 9/3! Give now or reach out to Stacey Cole in the College of ACES Office of Advancement at 217-244-1676 or smcole@illinois.edu.