On the second floor of Adorjan Hall, in an office where books crowd every shelf and the window offers a view of the historic Moolah building, English professor Ruth Evans prepares to say goodbye.

“If there are any you see that you want, please take them,” Evans said, gesturing to the double-stacked volumes that line the walls. “I have so many more at home.”

She sits comfortably at the center of it all, surrounded by decades of academic work, draped in another one of her famously stylish outfits; equal parts elegance and edge, paired with a Ph.D. in Middle English. For students and faculty alike, her departure marks the end of an era at Saint Louis University.

“I always thought academics were glamorous,” Evans said, laughing. “Not everyone does, I know … but the life of the mind, to me, is still the most exciting one there is.”

Evans, who has taught English at SLU since 2009, is retiring at the end of this semester. Her specialties — medieval literature, feminist theory and the history of the English language — have helped shape the department’s identity, while her leadership roles extended far beyond the classroom. During her time at SLU, she served as president of the Faculty Senate, helped advance inclusive university policies and mentored dozens of graduate students.

“I think three words to describe her would be brilliant, warm and a fashion icon,” said Grace Bahru, a junior political science major currently taking Evans’ “Encountering English” and previously took her “Writing Sex in the Middle Ages” course. “When she talks, I want to fully listen and take it in. She just has so much to give.”

In class, Evans is both demanding and empowering. “I really had to put my time into her class,” Bahru said. “But I know I became a better writer because of it.”

Bahru recalled sharing a personal experience while reading “Citizen” by Claudia Rankine,  a book of poetry about racism and microaggressions. “She had given me the space to share something I don’t usually talk about,” Bahru said. “Not even intentionally … it’s just the way she creates the classroom.”

Ellen Crowell, associate professor of English and a longtime colleague, said Evans’ presence as a teacher reaches beyond the curriculum.

“She engages the imaginations of students at every level,” Crowell said. “Her deep knowledge of Middle English and the origins of English words helps students understand the language they speak in ways they’ve never thought about before. And the way she reads [Geoffrey] Chaucer aloud … students are always amazed. It’s like it’s both foreign and familiar at the same time.”

Originally from South London, Evans earned her Ph.D. at the University of Leeds and taught at Cardiff and Stirling Universities before coming to SLU. She was recruited to teach medieval literature and feminism and quickly became an influential presence across departments and campus communities.

Alongside her teaching and leadership roles, Evans is a widely published scholar. She co-edited “Medieval Cultural Studies: Essays in Honour of Stephen Knight” and has authored numerous essays exploring feminist theory, medieval manuscripts and representations of gender and sexuality. Her research often bridges centuries, connecting medieval texts to contemporary conversations about identity, expression and power.

In addition to her formal work, she is an active member of five reading groups, including one on Latin led by Joan Hart-Hasler, associate professor of Classics.

“She’s a keen, skilled and engaging contributor,” Hart-Hasler said. “Kind, smart, congenial … and generous.”

Evans’ colleagues also noted her contributions as Faculty Senate president.

“She implemented new policies and procedures that made the Senate a far superior representative body,” Hart-Hasler said.

Ellen Crowell, colleague and professor, agrees. “She initiated an anonymous question box where faculty could send in concerns and she would find answers. She made everyone feel heard,” Crowell said.

Outside of academia, Evans is known just as much for her impeccable style as for her intellect. 

Bahru put it simply: “Her outfits were just the cherry on top. She used fashion to express her personality… and it always worked.”

Looking back, Evans said she will miss the classroom most. Not just for academics, but for the insight students bring.

“It’s that moment when a student says something that I’ve never thought of, and suddenly I have to go home and read something new,” Evans said. “That’s the joy of teaching. You’re always learning.”

Though retiring, Evans doesn’t plan on slowing down. She’ll continue her research, stay involved with her reading groups and mentor a Ph.D. student through completion. She is also considering a move and hopes to travel more. 

“There comes a point where you think, I want to enjoy this next stage of life while I’m still healthy,” Evans said. “And I want to do it before I become too old and decrepit to enjoy it.”

Despite stepping back from formal teaching, Evans said her curiosity isn’t going anywhere.

“I’ll still be reading. I’ll still be studying language. I’ll still be in love with ideas,” she said.

For students like Bahru, the impact of Evans’ teaching reaches beyond the classroom.

“She’s one of the rare professors that students truly admire,” Bahru said. “It’s not just about academics. You leave her class with more confidence in who you are.”

Her colleagues share that admiration, as Crowell echoes that sentiment.

“She’s a renaissance scholar,” Crowell said. “She teaches medieval lit and sexuality studies. She reads theory and contemporary literature. Any topic… she’s already thought about it. She’s constantly expanding her sense of where her ideas fit into the world and she helps the rest of us do that too.”

The news of her retirement has come as a surprise to some students and colleagues.

“I don’t think I’ve even processed it,” Crowell said. “We’re losing something huge.”

Still, Evans is leaving her mark in every direction: in language, in literature, in feminism and in the people who got to learn from her.

“She’s the professor you wish you had more time with,” Bahru said. “The kind you wish every department had. The kind you don’t forget.”