Deb Evano has proudly served the University of Arizona for more than 37 years, with a short, 15-month retirement break along the way. Her journey with the U of A began in February 1989 in Facilities Management’s equipment and parts warehouse. In 1992, she transitioned to the service desk, where she supported the university community until 2005. She briefly joined Northern Arizona University’s Freshman Center before returning to the U of A, this time at Student Retention and the Associate Vice Presidents’ Office. In 2009, Evano joined the Strategic Alternative Learning Techniques Center, where she continued her commitment to student success. She retired in June 2021 during the pandemic only to return in September 2022 at the University of Arizona Health Sciences, where she said she feels fortunate to be working with some of the most dedicated and inspiring colleagues of her career. Evano, a Tucson native, has deep roots in the community. She and her husband, friends for 53 years and married for 32, share a blended family of 10 children, 14 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Outside of work, Evano is a passionate crafter, with quilting being her creative outlet since 2015. Alongside a close friend, they have created or finished for others nearly 100 quilts, including treasured T-shirt quilts and completed heirloom pieces using blocks passed down from loved ones. For Evano, quilting is more than a hobby — it’s a source of joy and a way to spread smiles. Evano and her husband enjoy car shows, off-roading, camping and spending time with their large family. With a history in racing — he a drag racer and she a circle track driver in the 1970s — they share a lifelong love for adventure. Their motto: “We don’t plan to grow old easily — it will have to catch us first.”