The Keiser University community deeply mourns the loss of its esteemed co-founder, Evelyn C. Keiser, a visionary, and highly respected leader in higher education. Evelyn passed away on February 5, 2024, at the venerable age of 100.
Evelyn’s unwavering perseverance and tireless efforts have profoundly shaped the higher education landscape in Florida and beyond. She co-founded The Keiser School which, following years of dedication, blossomed into Keiser University. From a modest two-room storefront in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Evelyn played a pivotal role in expanding Keiser University into one of Florida’s largest private, non-profit universities. Her influence was crucial in the university’s growth and cultivation of its student-centered mission during her remarkable 40-year tenure from 1977 to 2019.
Evelyn’s journey was distinguished by a steadfast belief in the transformative power of education. Her commitment has indelibly altered the lives of innumerable graduates, paving the way for them to realize their educational and career aspirations. Her enduring legacy is reflected in every Keiser University classroom, each student’s success story, and the vibrant community the university represents today.
Evelyn was born and raised in Philadelphia and obtained her bachelor’s degree from Temple University, later completing her master’s degree at Florida International University. She began her career in 1956, teaching laboratory sciences at the Franklin School of Science and Arts. As an educator with an entrepreneurial spirit, she became one of the first women in Philadelphia to own a medical laboratory.
In 1961, Evelyn moved to Hallandale Beach, Florida, and took up the medical director role at Charon Williams College in Hollywood, Florida. In 1977, she co-founded Keiser University, alongside her son, Arthur Keiser, Ph.D., where she dedicated over four decades to being an instructor, program director, and chief academic officer.
Evelyn’s passion for high-quality instruction was evident in her routine; she was often the first to arrive on campus each morning. In recognition of her commitment to effective teaching, Keiser University’s highest faculty honor, the Evelyn C. Keiser Teaching Excellence Award, is named in her honor. This award celebrates faculty members who excel in proactive instruction and successful student learning outcomes, a trait Evelyn committed to tirelessly.
Her remarkable contributions were formally acknowledged in 2015 when Evelyn was inducted by the Florida Commission on the Status of Women into the Florida Women’s Hall of Fame, a testament to her significant impact on the lives of women and all citizens of Florida.
Evelyn’s life and work powerfully remind us of education’s ability to transform lives. Her legacy continues to inspire and guide Keiser University as it relentlessly pursues its student-centered mission, embodying the values of educational excellence and community service that she championed.
Evelyn is lovingly remembered by her three children Ellen K. Farren (Richard) of New York City, Arthur Keiser of Parkland, FL (Belinda) and Jeffrey Keiser of Pompano Beach, FL (Judith), and by her four grandchildren Elizabeth (Nico) and Robert Farren (Nicole), William Keiser, and Robert Keiser (Andrea), and her seven great grandchildren, Alexander and Caterina Piro, Juliette and George Farren, and Isabelina, Rosalina and Sarafina Keiser.
(L to R): Dr. Arthur Keiser, Keiser University Chancellor; Evelyn Keiser; and Belinda Keiser, Vice-Chancellor
Evelyn Keiser (left) and Terry Avitable (right), Keiser University’s first student.
My instructors believed in me. They were more than instructors, they tried to get to know you as a person and tried to understand your goals so they could push you towards them. Student services helped me find a job before I even graduated. Everyone was dedicated to my overall success.
