Mark T. Evely, director of Wayne State University’s mortuary science program, was recently elected to the Michigan Funeral Directors Association (MFDA) Board of Directors.

“It is my privilege to serve on the board of directors of the Michigan Funeral Directors Association,” said Evely, who has served as director of the mortuary science program in the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences since 2013. “Advancing funeral service on campus and through our association is a top priority. I look forward to bringing my knowledge from serving MFDA to the Wayne State community.”

Through high-quality classroom, laboratory and practical instruction, Wayne State’s mortuary science program educates and develops funeral service professionals who will uphold the values of service, professionalism and ethics in carrying on the tradition of serving their communities with care and distinction.

In his new role, Evely will represent MFDA members in District 6 from Oakland, Macomb and St. Clair counties. The MFDA is a professional organization representing roughly 1,200 funeral directors serving 500 funeral homes statewide and more than three-quarters of all mortuary science licensees in Michigan. Evely was installed in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, at the MFDA’s 139th annual convention.

A native of Shiawassee County, Evely attended Wayne State and earned a degree in mortuary science. He then went on to earn a juris doctor degree from Western Michigan University-Cooley Law School and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy at Wayne State.

In addition to his role with the MFDA, Evely is an active member of several other professional organizations. He serves on the National Funeral Directors Association Professional Conduct Committee and as chair of the American Board of Funeral Service Education Committee on Accreditation. Evely is also a regular National Board Exam item writer for the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards.

Founded in 1880, the Michigan Funeral Directors Association is the nation’s oldest organization of funeral professionals. The board of directors guides the work of the MFDA in its mission to enhance the value of funeral service and the profession through government advocacy, public information and professional education.