UNIVERSITY'S PRESIDENT WILL RETIRE EVANS WON'T QUIT POST UNTIL SUCCESSOR PICKED.

Byline: Krystn Shrieve Staff Writer

CAMARILLO - J. Handel Evans, who helped lay the foundation for a fledgling state university in Ventura County, announced Friday that he will retire after a permanent president is chosen next year.

Evans was hired in 1996 to plan and develop California State University, Channel Islands, which is scheduled to open in 2002. The university's first president also oversaw the creation of California State University, Monterey Bay, in the early 1990s.

``I told someone today that stepping down reminds me of the day my little boy - who is now close to 30 years old - went off to school for the first time,'' said Evans, a Camarillo resident. ``I saw this little guy with his huge backpack looking vulnerable and thought to myself that I should go with him. But I knew that I couldn't. All I could do was say a little prayer and hope it was a good experience. That's how I feel again today.''

CSU Trustee William D. Campbell said he's proud of Evans' work.

``There's no doubt in my mind that we couldn't have accomplished what we have without Handel Evans,'' Campbell said. ``He had experienced this type of process before when he successfully opened our university at Monterey Bay with the first-time conversion of a military base. Down there in Camarillo, he once again did a terrific job.''

State university trustees are expected to authorize a nationwide search for a permanent president at their Sept. 20 meeting.

Evans could not predict how long the search will take, but said a permanent chief could be hired as early as January. The goal is to have a president in place by June 30. The new president will be expected to make at least a 10-year-commitment.

Evans, a career architect, oversaw plans to transform the former Camarillo State Hospital into a state-of-the-art university campus.

``The guy is a true genius,'' said county Supervisor Frank Schillo. ``He's done something no one else has been able to do. I'm personally going to miss him. The one redeeming thing is that he'll stay in Ventura County and will be a great help in the future.''

Evans was instrumental in steering the campus' environmental impact report through channels and overseeing the renovation of 100,000 square feet of hospital space into classrooms, computer labs and faculty offices.

He also has been credited with developing plans for student and faculty housing, creating a campus governing body, and raising money for a library, access roads, scholarships and greenbelt.

``It's exciting,'' said Evans, who plans to stay in Camarillo with his wife, Carol. ``How many people get to start a new university? How many get to do it twice?''

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``Stepping down reminds me of the day my little boy went off to school for the first time. I ... thought to myself that I should go with him. But I knew that I couldn't.''

- J. Handel Evans

CSUCI president