AIT CEO to be Honored with Honorary Degree

AIT Founder, President, and CEO Michael A. Evans, Ph.D will be presented an honorary doctor of engineering degree during Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology’s 133rd commencement on Saturday, May 28.

Evans puts more emphasis on “learn” and “return” and sees “earn” as simply a means for giving back to his employees, his company and the community. He founded AIT Laboratories in 1990. The company is an independent reference laboratory based in Indianapolis that specializes in compliance testing, forensic toxicology drug testing, clinical laboratory testing, and pharmaceutical testing. In 2009, Evans transferred ownership of the company to his employees through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).

Under Evans’ direction, AIT has been repeatedly recognized both locally and nationally for its commitment to employees, culture, education and training. Accolades for AIT Laboratories include being named one of the Best Places to Work in Indiana, being recognized by Inc. magazine as one of the top 5,000 fastest-growing, private companies in the nation, and being named to Training magazine’s Top 125 list of companies recognized for employer-sponsored training and development programs. Evans has also been personally recognized as the 2008 Ernst & Young Midwest "Entrepreneur of the Year" for the Midwest region.

Prior to founding AIT, Evans served as tenured professor, director, faculty member and researcher for institutions such as the Indiana University School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Illinois Institute of Technology and University of Illinois College of Medicine. He was also a visiting professor of toxicology for Kunming Medical College and the Sichuan Institute of Materia Medica, both located in China.

Evans has served on numerous boards, including the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Science Advisory Board, the Board of Trustees for Saint Joseph’s College and for Indiana Tech, the Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) Science Advisory Board, IUPUI National Science Foundation for Forensic Sciences, and Marian University College of Medicine Advisory Board.

Evans also has a true passion for charitable deeds. He is closely tied to organizations that provide post-secondary opportunities for disadvantaged students, including Project SEED and Providence Cristo Rey High School.

Evans is a disabled veteran who was awarded a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart for his service in Vietnam. He resides in Indianapolis and is married with three children.

Joining Evans in receiving the honorary doctor of engineering degree from Rose-Hulman will be:

Michio Kaku, acclaimed public speaker, famed futurist, best-selling author, theoretical physicist and radio/television personality. He will present the commencement address. Using the cutting edge research of today’s foremost scientists Kaku explores the science of tomorrow: computers, artificial intelligence and reshaping our genetic inheritance. He explains how science is opening entirely new avenues for society and organizations at large.

Gian Paolo Dallara, owner of Dallara Motorsports, who has been devoted to the business of designing, building and supporting some of the world’s most competitive racing cars. Dallara is currently building the 2012 car for the IZOD IndyCar Series, and his company is planning to move into a new, state-of-the-art technology center located in Speedway, Ind., near the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

About AIT Laboratories
AIT Laboratories, headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., is an independent reference laboratory that is a premiere testing and research institution recognized nationwide for superior customer service and quality in testing. AIT specializes in compliance testing, forensic toxicology drug testing, clinical laboratory testing, and pharmaceutical testing. AIT has been recognized by Inc. magazine as one of the top 5,000 fastest-growing, private companies in the nation for four consecutive years. In 2009, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce named AIT as the “Small Business of The Year.” Learn more about AIT Laboratories at www.AITLabs.com and AIT Bioscience at www.AITBioscience.com.