Dr. Evan's Sparks Legacy of Reflection & Action

“It’s a good time to be at Friends,” Dr. Meredith Evans ’90 declared during her address to the Upper School. “I learned to care about others in this institution,” she reflected. “You will learn more from this place than any other independent school.” With these powerful words, Dr. Evans captured the essence of her transformative experience at Friends Seminary—a foundation that has shaped her exceptional career and leadership journey.

Friends Seminary was thrilled to welcome back Dr. Evans as the keynote speaker during Peace Week, which this year embraced the theme of “Growing Together Through Silence and Dialogue.” Dr. Evans, an accomplished archivist and the Director of the Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, has been a trailblazer in her field. Appointed in 2015, she oversees all operations for the library and museum, including the preservation of records and artifacts from President Jimmy Carter’s White House administration (1977–1981), his post-presidency, and his family. Her work emphasizes expanding public access to these materials, civic engagement, and the role of history in shaping public policy.

In her keynote address, “Positive Peace: Belief and Brains Over Brawn,” Dr. Evans reflected on the influence of Friends Seminary, crediting it for instilling boldness and self-expression—qualities that have guided her career, including her interview with President Carter. She also shared her admiration for Rosalynn Carter, whose wisdom and encouragement as a model of patience and grace left a profound impact on her.