Jane DeRose Evans, chair of Tyler's Art History Department was elected as the next President of the American Society of Overseas Research (ASOR) by its Board of Trustees. She will serve as the President-elect during 2025, shadowing current President Sharon Herbert, and will work on developing ASOR’s strategic plan that is set to begin in 2026. Jane will step into her three-year term as President of ASOR in 2026.

Evans said she wants to explore how ASOR can broaden its audience for programs, publications and outreach at "a time of consolidation of scholarly organizations. This includes scholars of ancient history, archaeology, Biblical studies, cultural heritage, digital humanities and philology, as well as serious laypersons who are interested in these same topics."

"This research is essential for understanding and preserving the rich diversity of human history and identity. By understanding cultural traditions, practices, and artifacts, we honor past generations while enriching future ones, promote mutual respect and understanding, foster intercultural dialogue and contribute to a more inclusive world," she said.

The American Society of Overseas Research (ASOR) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to initiate, encourage, and support research into, and public understanding of, the history and cultures of the Near East and wider Mediterranean world, from the earliest times. ASOR fosters original research, archaeological excavations, and explorations; encourages scholarship in the Near East’s basic languages, cultural histories, and traditions; builds support for Near Eastern studies; and advocates high academic standards. ASOR is apolitical and has no religious affiliation.