Newsroom
Red Cross Chief to Speak at Commencement
Marsha Johnson Evans ’68, president and CEO of the American Red Cross, will be the featured speaker at Occidental College’s 123rd commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 15 in the Remsen Bird Hillside Theater on the Occidental campus.
When Evans took the top post at the American Red Cross in August 2002, she brought with her 29 years of experience with the U.S. Navy, where she headed the Navy Recruiting Command, served as chief executive of the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, and as chief of staff at the U.S. Naval Academy. Evans retired in 1997 as a rear admiral, one of the few women to reach the rank.
After graduating from Occidental with a degree in international relations, Evans joined the Navy on a whim, hoping the experience would allow her to travel. She hasn’t stopped since. Under her leadership, the American Red Cross responds to 70,000 community emergencies a year in the United States.
Prior to joining the American Red Cross, Evans in 1998 took on the executive director position at the Girl Scouts of the USA. There, she labored to offer young women meaningful programs, both personally and professionally. Under her leadership, the Girl Scouts created or expanded cutting-edge programs to enhance girls’ experiences in science, technology, sports, money management, and community service.
Evans is a past recipient of Occidental’s Alumni Seal Award.