Arthur C. Evans, Jr., PhD, was awarded a Presidential Citation for his effective efforts at transforming healthcare systems to ensure they bolster self-determination and resiliency and prioritize recovery.
Commissioner of Philadelphia's Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services and former deputy commissioner for the Connecticut Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services, Evans impressively implements strategic initiatives that enhance the delivery of behavioral health, addiction and disability services city- and state-wide. A leading advocate for a recovery-oriented policy framework, his evidence-based innovations reduce health care disparities. The high esteem in which Evans is held is reflected in his countless senior leadership roles nationally associated with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, National Action Group on Fostering System Reform for Adults with Serious Mental Illness, Federal Center for Substance Abuse Treatment Advisory Committee, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the American Psychological Association. A compassionate leader and activist par excellence, he models genuine dedication to improving the quality of life for people who are underserved.