Evelyn Campbell, Ph.D.
Dr. Evelyn Campbell launched Impactus Research & Consulting in May 2025, where she serves as the Founder and Principal Consultant, leading community-centered strategy and social impact initiatives. A human-centered social investment strategist and international business developer, she blends scientific rigor with deep community commitment. Trained as a microbiologist and shaped by many years in academia, she developed expertise in research design, statistical analysis, evaluation, and program leadership. Over time, however, she recognized a persistent disconnect between academic theory and lived public experience.
Coming from a low-income, first-generation background, Dr. Campbell felt called to step beyond the university setting and re-engage the communities that reflect her own roots, ensuring her work directly serves those navigating structural inequities. In her role as Principal Consultant, Dr. Campbell oversees a portfolio of client projects, manages strategic partnerships, cultivates new collaborations, and works hands-on across strategy, analysis, implementation, planning, and logistics. With approximately three years of consulting experience prior to and alongside launching her firm, she partners with nonprofit, philanthropic, government, and mission-driven organizations to strengthen data infrastructure, measure programmatic efficacy, and build sustainable funding and implementation systems.
Her work translates academic and analytical training into practical, real-world solutions that generate measurable and meaningful community impact. Dr. Campbell’s professional philosophy centers on leading with love, compassion, and an unwavering respect for human dignity. She is committed not only to advancing social sector initiatives, but also to supporting individuals—particularly those from low-income, first-generation, and marginalized backgrounds—in recognizing their inherent worth and potential. By integrating strategy with soul and analytics with empathy, she creates impact that is both structurally transformative and personally affirming. At the heart of her work is a simple but powerful belief: when we remember that we are embodiments of love and act accordingly, we build stronger communities and a more just world.
• Credential in Higher Education Administration
• Adult Mental Health First Aid USA
• Certificate of Leadership
• Certificate in College Teaching
• Restorative Justice Circle Training
• University of Chicago - PhD, Microbiology
• Rider University - BS, Biology
• 2026 Lawson R. McElroy Award for Excellence in Engaged Learning, Rider University
• Healing Illinois Award Recipient, Field Foundation
• Honoree - Women in Excellence, Black Professional Network
• Honorable Mention, Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship Program
• Ronald E. McNair Scholar
• Forman S. Acton Scholarship Recipient
• Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated
• Chicago Women's Philanthropy Chapter
• MetroBoard, Chicago Urban League
• Umu Igbo Unite
• Board Member, Forman Acton Foundation
• Grant Reviewer, National Science Foundation
• Board Advisory Member, Youth Sports Science Institute
• STEM Instructor, Target H.O.P.E.
• Evaluator, Umu Igbo Unite Chicago
• Tutor, Imagine Englewood if...
• Mutual Aid Volunteer, Healthy Hood Chicago
What do you attribute your success to?
I’d say a big part of my success comes from mentors and individuals who believed in me and recognized my potential before I fully recognized it myself. I’ve been fortunate to have strong support throughout my journey, and their guidance and encouragement has played a significant role in my development. While I’ve worked hard to get where I am, I’m deeply appreciative of the encouragement, guidance, and community that have helped shape my growth.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received is to trust that things will work out as long as you stay true to your purpose. That perspective has helped me stay grounded and focused, especially during times of uncertainty, and has encouraged me to make decisions that align with my values and long-term goals.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Honestly, I’d share the same advice that was given to me: take the time to discover your purpose and what truly motivates and energizes you, and commit to it fully. The journey won’t always be easy, but if you stay aligned with what genuinely drives you, things tend to fall into place and you’ll find your way forward.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I see a significant opportunity right now in the growing desire for healing and connection, particularly in the United States. With so much happening politically, socially, and economically, many people are recognizing that support needs to extend beyond just the financial; they’re also seeking emotional, personal, and even spiritual connection. I’m excited about bringing that focus into my business and helping people reconnect with what unites us at a deeper level.
At the same time, I think a related challenge is the amount of division that exists today. Factors like race, gender, and other social labels can sometimes create barriers between people, and working through that won’t always be easy. Part of my goal is to help remind people that we share far more in common than what separates us. When people begin to recognize that, it can be incredibly empowering. I hope that through my work I can help spark that awareness, creating a ripple effect where positive change spreads through how people live, connect, and support one another.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
For me, one of the most important values is leading with love and remembering the shared humanity in ourselves and others. I try to reflect that in how I live and work by approaching people with empathy, respect, and openness. I believe in creating space for others to show up fully as themselves, and I strive to encourage that same awareness and kindness in the communities I’m part of.