The Kogod community already knows Casey Evans as a dedicated leader, supporter, and advocate for students. Now, as she takes on the role of interim dean, she's eager to ensure Kogod remains a place where students, faculty, and staff can learn, grow, and thrive. Before diving into the work ahead, we asked Dean Evans to share what this opportunity means to her, what she's most excited about, and a few rapid-fire hot takes as she steps into the Dean’s suite.
Dean Evans: Stepping into the role of interim dean feels less like a promotion and more like a chance to do more for the place I care so much about—especially the students, staff, and faculty who make Kogod what it is. I hope to be a steady, approachable leader who keeps our momentum going while also listening closely to what people need right now. It’s an opportunity to serve a community that has invested in me over many years and to ensure Kogod remains a place where students feel they belong and can thrive.
Dean Evans: We have great momentum right now. I’m most excited about how we’re aligning what happens in the classroom with the world students are actually graduating into, arming them with the skills they need to be successful. I’m also encouraged by the energy I see in our students. They’re asking hard questions, they care about impact, and they push us to be better. When I look ahead, I see a nimble school that’s willing to adapt and keep improving, and that’s exactly the kind of environment where students can grow.
Dean Evans: I wish more people knew how personal Kogod feels once you’re here. For a business school in a major city, it can be surprisingly tight knit in the best way—and that’s by design! We want Kogod to be a place where faculty know your name, advisors notice if you’re falling behind and reach out to check in, and staff make every day-to-day experience better. A lot of the real work happens in conversations that never make it into a brochure: checking in with a student who may be struggling to pick their major, helping someone tap into a new interest, or connecting them to an opportunity they didn’t know existed. We are super high touch and that day-to-day care is one of Kogod’s greatest strengths. It’s something I’m really proud of.
Dean Evans: I hope people remember this as a time when we kept Kogod moving forward and stayed focused on our students. There are challenges ahead, but we will work to solve them together. I’d like students to feel that I listened, that decisions were explained clearly, and that we tried to make it easier—not harder—to navigate their time here. For staff and faculty, I hope this period feels like one where their expertise was trusted, they felt included in important conversations, and they had the space to do their best work. I hope people will remember me as approachable and kind, and also see my leadership during this time as steady, transparent, collaborative, and grounded.
Walk-up song if you had one? Demi Lovato, “Confident”
Coffee or tea? Coffee
Favorite place on campus? The Quad!
First job? Tigger at Walt Disney World
Vacation bucket list location? Hawaii
A book you've recommended recently? Don’t judge me...Paris by Paris Hilton
One word that describes Kogod? Nimble
Early bird or night owl? Early bird, I’m up at 5:30 a.m.
Favorite way to spend a weekend? Cheering on my son’s baseball team
Favorite local DC spot? Nats Park
Most-used apps on your phone? WSJ and Starbucks
A skill you're still trying to master? I’m still working on saying “no” in a way that’s honest, timely, and still feels supportive. A business school like Kogod is full of smart people and good ideas, and my instinct is often to say “yes.” Part of my job as dean, though, is to protect our focus and our limited resources, so the things we do take on are done well and actually move the needle for students.