Kevin Youmans, '87
Originally published
in September 2007
Kevin Youmans, '87, Physical Education
Kevin Youmans, '87, works in healthcare administration. More than two decades after graduation from Carolina, he also has a healthy connection to his alma mater, and is active in making the student body stronger through recruiting outstanding young prospects for the University.
Kevin and his wife, Lolita, '86, '91, live in Fairfax, Virginia, which is approximately 15 miles from Washington, DC. He recently accepted a position as Director of the Orthopedic Clinical Service Line at Inova Fairfax Hospital with the primary function of leading business development, new product identification, and strategic planning for the department.
"This role includes administrative responsibility for inpatient surgery, outpatient trauma clinic, and research," Kevin explains. "Additionally, the role consists of establishing and maintaining relationships with patients, medical staff, and other departments to fulfill the mission of the organization."
Kevin also recently became involved in helping the University of South Carolina through the Alumni Association's Alumni Recruitment Network.
"I became involved in the recruiting process last year when representatives from the admission's office came to Washington for the Alumni Network training event," Kevin explains. "During last year's high school graduation ceremonies, I presented scholarship certificates to incoming Carolina freshmen. I've made congratulatory calls to prospective students who have been accepted to the university. I've also attended the last two freshman send-offs. It gives me great pleasure to hear the excitement in students who have chosen to attend my alma mater."
Kevin's new career at the hospital began in July 2006 after spending 16 years as a sales representative with Toyota Motor Sales. During that time he worked in Beaufort, Savannah, Columbia, Augusta, Houston, and League City, TX, before making the career change.
"At some point in career, I ran into a high school friend who worked as a hospital administrator," Kevin says. "After investigating the career, I soon concluded health administration would be my focus. About that time, my family relocated in Mount Pleasant, SC, where I enrolled in the Master of Health Administration program at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, graduating in May 2006. Studying healthcare administration was a great decision allowing me to work in the field of my academic study, while also providing me an opportunity to help families at their most vulnerable time."
Carolina was on his mind at an early age
Growing up in Hampton in the South Carolina low country, Kevin always knew he wanted to attend Carolina, and that turned into a lifetime commitment to the University.
"I decided on Carolina in about the fifth grade and never wavered," Kevin says. "During my freshman year in high school, my older sister Cassandra was a freshman at Carolina. I visited her during football and basketball weekends. Once I saw how nice the people were and how easy it was to get around campus; I knew this was the place for me."
Kevin was also sure about whom he would spend the rest of his life with at an early age.
"My wife and I met in the ninth grade during a wedding at Fort Jackson. I told my mother that day Lolita would be my wife. We married approximately eight years later at Rutledge Chapel on the Horseshoe. In July we will celebrate our twentieth wedding anniversary."
One of his best memories of his college days involved his future bride during the 1985 Homecoming week when his fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha, sponsored her to run for Homecoming Queen.
"They strategically promoted her candidacy during the week of the vote, and she received the majority of the votes," Kevin recalls. "We all took great pride in working towards a common objective and achieving the goal. After the game, Lolita and I went to California Dreaming for dinner and by wearing her crown, we were treated to dinner 'on the house' for her big day."
In addition to that one unforgettable day, Kevin holds terrific memories familiar to many who attend Carolina. He's also thankful for many of the professors who made his years here so memorable.
"I enjoyed football games, intramural sports, fraternity events and Group Therapy," Kevin says. "The Physical Education teachers who had a major impact on my life at Carolina were Dr. Harriett Williams, Dr. Mark Davis, Peter Werner, Dr. Neal Earls, and Coach Berry."
Commitment to Carolina on many levels
Kevin remains connected to Carolina in many ways. He and Lolita enjoy a Life Membership in the Carolina Alumni Association as a way to stay connected to the University.
"When my wife and I graduated, the Life membership was a great value, tax deductible, and a way to give back to the University," Kevin says. "I have really enjoyed the Carolinian magazine over the years allowing us to stay abreast of the latest news and information at the university."
Kevin and Lolita enjoy sharing their connection to Carolina with their four children; Donte, 24; Jordan, 14; Devon, 11; and Morgan, 7. His sister, Dr. Cassandra Youmans, '82, '87 MD, was honored with the Outstanding Black Alumni Award by the Carolina Alumni Association's Black Alumni Council at the 2007 Homecoming Awards Gala.
"The opportunity to share the Homecoming football experience with my children has been a lot of fun," Kevin says. "During the last few years, we've come back to at least three football games per year."
He also serves as the Treasure for the Alumni Club of Washington, DC, and enjoys many events close to home and back in Columbia.
"The local alumni club events are fun to attend," Kevin says. "There is so much energy in the room when alumni gather for game watching and other social events. I still communicate with a few friends from school. At a recent Black Tie event in Washington, I saw many people who attended Carolina at the same time I was there."