Evett L. Simmons Center for Multicultural Appreciation
2013
The Evett L. Simmons Center for Multicultural Appreciation provides support services, educational opportunities, and cultural awareness programs for Florida Southern students as well as to promote multiculturalism, social justice, and inclusion for the College community. The center was named in honor of alumna and Trustee Evett L. Simmons (Class of 1979). In 2021, Brenda's Place was dedicated inside the building to Brenda Lewis, the Director of the Simmons Center and who had been part of the Florida Southern community for over 26 years until her retirement. Lewis was instrumental in forming both the Multicultural Student Council and the Simmons Center.
Evett L. Simmons had a rough start to life. She was born premature, was thrown from a car accident as a baby, and her mother died from a blood disease when she was ten. She was left to be raised by her aunt, relying on her faith and hard work. Evett graduated from FSC in 1979, and got her law degree from Mercer University in 1982. In 2001 she received an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from Suffolk University. She is an avid practitioner of the law, including estate planning, probate and guardianship administration, litigation, and corporate law with an emphasis on franchising. In 2000 she was appointed 58th President of the National Bar Association. Evett also served as a member of the Board of Trustees at FSC. In 2013, the Multicultural Center was named in her honor.
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