SHRIEKA EVANS & DESTIN BELL: Merging Physical and Mental Wellness

Mother And Daughter Dynamic Duo

Shrieka T. Evans, APRN, FNP-C, PMHP-BC, acknowledges her parents, Clara N. Evans, and Robert B. Evans, as role models who inspired her to pursue education. She is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Practitioner with 13 years of experience in healthcare.

Evans states, “Education is of vital importance in my family. My parents are retired educators and stressed nothing short of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. They invested heavily in their children’s education.” As a fitting tribute to her parents’ influence, Evans graduated from Pineview High School in Lisbon, LA, the same high school where both her parents are alums.

In 1999, Evans enrolled at Grambling State University (GSU) in Grambling, LA, earning a BS in Biology and a BSN in Nursing in 2008. Continuing her academic pursuits, she returned to the university in 2013, achieving an MSN as a Nurse Practitioner in Family Medicine. Both of her parents also attended and graduated from Grambling.

Evans reminisces, “Early on, my dream was to become a Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) player, but God had other plans for my life. I was recently honored and inducted into the Hall of Fame at GSU. I received numerous awards and accolades during my basketball career at GSU, including the NCAA 3-points made champion for 2 years and the NCAA steals champion.

For the most recent award, I was the only female selected in a group of over 500 applicants for the 2023 class for the Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Fame.” In July 2023, Evans became the sixth athlete inducted into GSU’s Hall of Fame in Women’s basketball.

As a nurse practitioner, Evans gained valuable experience with adults and geriatrics working as a provider in skilled nursing and long-term care facilities. During this time, she decided to further her education at McNeese State University and become a certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner in this field.

Evans remarks, “One of the most rewarding aspects of working in the healthcare industry is helping others. Seeing the difference I’ve made, seeing someone’s life turned around, and knowing that I’ve made my patients feel that they were seen and heard is so rewarding. I feel truly blessed knowing I’ve helped patients better their lives.” Having a dual certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner and a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner enables Evans to treat the whole person physically and mentally.