Celebrating more than 60 years of public service - Evans School of Public Policy & Governance

The Honorable Daniel J. Evans & Nancy B. Evans

Formerly known as the UW Graduate School of Public Affairs, the Evans School was renamed in 1999 to honor Daniel J. Evans, who ranks as one of the most distinguished leaders in the history of the State of Washington. Perhaps best known as governor from 1965-1977, he has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to public service. He has longstanding ties to the University of Washington (UW) and exemplary experience in the fields of governance, education, and the environment.

Dan Evans was a civil engineer before he entered politics in 1956 as a member of the Washington State House of Representatives.

He became governor of the State of Washington in 1965, ultimately serving an unprecedented three consecutive terms. He was recognized as “One of the Ten Outstanding Governors in the 20th Century” (University of Michigan study, 1981). After the death of Senator Henry “Scoop” Jackson in 1983, Evans was appointed and then elected to the U.S. Senate. In 1989, he chose not to run for reelection.

Evans is actively involved in many community and nonprofit organizations. From 1989-1994, Evans also served as a political analyst for KIRO radio and TV. He taught as a part-time lecturer at the Evans School from March 1989-1990, and currently heads his own consulting firm, Daniel J. Evans Associates

Daniel J. Evans

Governor, State of Washington (1965-1977)
Senator, State of Washington (1983-1989)

Nancy B. Evans
(1933-2024)

First Lady to Governor, State of Washington (1965-1977)

First Lady Nancy Bell Evans worked tirelessly as a civic volunteer to bring energy, grace, and passion to public and nonprofit service. A leader and innovator, she was a founder and chair of the Friends of Cancer Lifeline, national chair of the First Ladies’ Mental Health Month, founding trustee of Planned Parenthood of Olympia, and founder of the Governor’s Mansion Foundation.

Her passion for music was reflected in her lifelong commitment to the arts. Evans was a co-founder and board member of the Governor’s Festival of the Arts and a trustee of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra for nearly 30 years. Evans was actively engaged in the community and served on the boards of the Benaroya Hall Music Center, Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation, and KCTS Public Television.

Her commitment to higher education and the University of Washington was also noteworthy. She was a former member of the visiting committee for the School of Public Health and Community Medicine, a member of the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance Advisory Board, and an honorary co-chair of the Evans School’s Campaign.

Our History

1900 – 1939

1902: Built as ‘Science Hall,’ Parrington Hall is one of the first buildings on the University of Washington Seattle campus.
1930: Parrington Hall is renamed for Vernon Louis Parrington, an English professor at UW from 1908 to 1929.

1940 – 1979

1947: Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree program originates in the UW political science department.
1958: UW President, Charles Odegaard, appoints a committee to determine how the University could improve public policy and management education. Following the committee’s recommendations, Odegaard asks Brewster Denny to develop a model for an independent school of public policy and governance.
1960: MPA program and Institute of Political Affairs transfers to the UW Graduate School.
1961: School of Public Administration is created.
1962: The UW Board of Regents accepts proposal for the creation of the UW Graduate School of Public Affairs, one of the nation’s first schools of public policy at a public university.
1962: Brewster Denny becomes dean.

1980-1999

1980: Brewster Denny steps down as Dean, returns to the faculty; Jared Hazelton becomes dean.
1982: Hubert Locke becomes dean.
1988: Margaret Gordon becomes dean.
1988: The UW Graduate School of Public Affairs moves from Smith Hall to Parrington Hall.
1998: Marc Lindenberg becomes dean.
1998: The UW Graduate School of Public Affairs officializes mission statement.
1999: The UW Graduate School of Public Affairs becomes the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs to honor one of Washington state’s most revered politicians, a U.S. senator and three-term governor.

2000 – 2009

2001: The Evans School launches Peace Corps Master’s International MPA.
2002: Marc Lindenberg passes away; Paul Hill becomes interim dean.
2003: Sandra Archibald becomes dean.
2003: The Evans School welcomes first cohort of Executive MPA program students.
2006: The Evans School is accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration.
2006-2007: The Evans School enrolls its first four Ph.D. students.
2009: The Evans Diversity Committee (EDC) formally becomes an ad-hoc committee reporting directly to the dean.

2010 – 2019

2010: The Evans School graduates its first Ph.D. students.
2013: The Evans School mission statement is revised after two years of conversation with faculty and extensive deliberation and consultation with the school’s community of students, alumni, Advisory Board members, employers, and University administrators.
2015: The University’s largest graduate degree program is the MPA at the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy and Governance.
2016: Dean Sandra Archibald reconstitutes the EDC to have equal representation from students, faculty, and staff.
2016: The Evans School kicks off campaign for full renovation of Parrington Hall.
2017: The Evans Diversity Committee drafts its Blueprint for Diversity (2017-2021) based on the 2009 Evans School Diversity Strategic Plan and the UW Diversity Blueprint 2017-2021.
2018: The Curriculum Advocacy Team (CAT) is established “to create a community of practice between students, faculty, and staff where we can meaningfully, inclusively, and consistently collaborate on issues regarding race, equity and inclusion in curriculum”.
2019: Parrington Hall renovations begin following a $24M campaign to modernize the historic facility.
2019: The Evans School launches Global MPA for international public service leaders offered jointly with Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Victoria University of Wellington, and Tsinghua University.

2020 - Present

March 2020: The Evans School closes its Parrington Hall doors for the first time to operate virtually in response to the global coronavirus pandemic.
June 2020: Undergraduate Minor in Public Policy is approved.
September 2020: Parrington Hall construction is completed; the building is renovated with new classrooms outfitted with technology and spaces to support engaged learning and community discussions.
October 2020: The first entirely virtual school year begins due to the coronavirus pandemic.
January 2021: Jodi Sandfort becomes dean.
March 2021: The Evans School embarks on a bold journey with a new vision for public service including new mission, vision, purpose, and values.
September 2021: The Evans School reopens Parrington Hall to in-person classes.
January 2022: The Evans School publishes its new five-year Equity & Inclusion Blueprint.