Bette Novit Evans

Dr. Bette Novit Evans, Professor Emertius

Dr. Bette Novit Evans, Professor Emertius of political science, was born in Stevenville, Texas and received her B.A. and M.A. degrees in political science from Tulane University where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and was also a University Fellow.  After graduate study at the University of Virginia, she completed her doctoral studies at the University of Pittsburgh, receiving her Ph.D. in 1972 with specializations in comparative politics, political philosophy, and American politics.  Beginning in graduate school, Dr. Evans developed an interest in the intersection between political ideas and public policy choices.  Her doctoral dissertation focused on the relationship between ideology and economic policy in post-revolutionary Cuba.

Dr. Evans joined the Creighton faculty in 1975, where she has been responsible for courses in legal and philosophical approaches to political life.  Her concern for the intersection of philosophy and public policy is reflected in her courses on constitutional law and policy, and in her approach to teaching political theory.  She received the Student Board’s Robert F. Kennedy Award for teaching excellence, and the University's Mary Lucretia Creighton Award for enhancing opportunities for women at Creighton.

As well as political philosophy, Dr. Evans studies and teaches Constitutional interpretation, and civil rights and liberties policies.  Her research has focused on the question of equality for American minorities, and issues of religious freedom.  Dr. Evans spent summers in National Endowment of the Humanities advanced seminar on constitutional jurisprudence at Princeton and Stanford Universities.  In 1998 she published a book entitled Interpreting the Free Exercise of Religion:  Pluralism and the American Constitution.  She also pursued these interests in an applied setting as a past member of the Nebraska Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.  Dr. Evans is married to Dr. Michael Makoid, a former professor in the School of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions, who also recently retired from Creighton. Dr. Evans has two grown sons.  Dr. Evans is enjoying retirement and what the good life has to offer.  Dr. Evans is retired and living life to its fullest.