Robert W. Evans, who resigned as the University's student financial aid department's assistant vice president in August, took up his new post with the U.S. Department of Education this month.

Evans, now chief of the Guaranteed Student Loan Branch in Washington, D.C., will be responsible for all policy and program development for the GSL program.

His duties will include collecting and analyzing national financial aid statistics. This information, which helps analysts forecast trends in the program, will assist Evans to develop policies for student loans, he said.

Evans said working at the University was a valuable experience.

"I thought the Penn State office of financial aid was one of the best in the country and also one of the most highly animated," he said.

Evans said he thinks his colleague, Anna M. Griswold, the University's new assistant vice president of student financial aid, will add to the department's reputation. "I've known Anna very well for about 15 years. She's a very able person and I have no doubts she will do an exceptional job in her new position," he said.

Evans said he valued the work he did for his former supervisor, University Vice President and Vice Provost Robert Dunham.

"Dr. Dunham was my boss the entire time I was at Penn State. He is very committed to student and customer service. It was a pleasure working with him," Evans said.

Dunham, who received Evans' letter of resignation Aug. 8, said Evans was a good employee.

"I think Bob Evans is probably one of, if not the most, knowledgeable person in the country when it comes to issues of financial aid," Dunham said. "I'm sure he will be a great help to the department."

Evans first came to the University in March 1986 as student aid director. In 1989 his title was changed to assistant vice president for student financial aid, though his duties remained the same.