Meet the Staff: Caroline Evans

By Diane Lee, Public Information Officer, Garrett County Health Department

Caroline Evans is the Director of the WIC Program at the Garrett County Health Department. WIC is the federally funded Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children that provides nutritious foods, health screening, nutrition counseling and referrals to eligible pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, as well as infants and children up to age five. 

After she graduated from Southern High School, Caroline followed in her mom’s footsteps at Davis & Elkins College, graduating with an associate degree in nursing. A few years later, with encouragement from her best friend, she graduated from WVU with a bachelor’s in nursing degree.

“I started my nursing career at Davis Memorial Hospital in Elkins, WV,” Caroline said. “It was tough driving more than an hour one way to work a 12-hour shift! Fortunately, I was soon hired at a long-term care facility in Kingwood, WV, where I was a nurse supervisor.”

“In 1999, I began my career at GCHD in the WIC Program and loved it,” Caroline continued. “In 2011, I transferred to Personal Health which broadened my ‘Community Health’ knowledge extensively, but when the opportunity arose in 2020 to return to WIC, I took it, and that’s where I’m going to stay!”

“My favorite part of my job is that every day is different,” she said. “I love interacting with participants when I can, but it also feels good when my staff feels like they made a difference when they help someone. I believe my biggest accomplishment is yet to come. I am grateful for the working relationships I’ve developed in WIC. The staff have helped me grow in this position, as every day offers different challenges.”

“When I am not at work, I am living life on the farm,” Caroline continued. “I grew up riding horses and have traveled great distances to compete. I have trained with great equestrians and thought at one point that horses would be how I made a living. My how things can change. Now, my barn is occupied by my daughter’s (and husband’s) beef. I like going to the barn to check on the animals, and believe it or not, I enjoy cleaning stalls and pens. It is mindless, physically demanding work. Those who know me well, know that I would rather be outside on the farm doing something.” 

Something only those close to Caroline would know, “This summer I bought a 1979 MG MGB to restore!” 

Caroline’s favorite quotes:

• “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” -Walt Disney (Caroline often paraphrases by saying to her family, “Stop talking about it and just do it.”)
• “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” -Dr. Seuss