Most people never need to navigate the workers’ compensation process. But if they do, Dayna Evans is there to guide them through it.
As the risk management coordinator in Insurance and Claims Management within Finance & Administration’s Risk and Resiliency Division, Evans oversees the University of Georgia’s workers’ compensation process from start to finish, providing support to those facing an on-the-job injury. She serves as a guide through what can be an unfamiliar and overwhelming experience, making sure people understand their options and what comes next.
“The workers’ compensation program is a benefit to people as employees of the university,” Evans said. “It’s a way for them to be taken care of, and I’m here to be an advocate.”
If someone is injured at work, they can submit an online injury report that goes directly to Evans. From there, she files the claim with the Georgia Department of Administrative Services, serves as a liaison between DOAS and the university and supports departments on return-to-work options. Her day can include anything from connecting individuals with in-network medical care to identifying modified duties that keep paychecks as uninterrupted as possible.
But her job goes far beyond paperwork and phone calls.
When a staff member was injured and unable to continue in her position, Evans worked to find another path forward. The individual wanted to return to work as quickly as possible but needed a role that could accommodate physical restrictions. Evans coordinated temporary placement in another department that had a need for light-duty work, allowing that staff member to stay engaged, continue contributing and keep her full paycheck.
“That was a moment where we realized that getting people back to work as fast as possible and doing something meaningful where they’re making their full wages, matters a lot,” she said. “It’s profound — more than you would realize, especially if you’ve never been in that situation.”
Evans joined UGA in 2024 in a newly created role that serves as a centralized point of contact for workers’ compensation claims across the university. Before coming to Athens, she worked as an adjuster for a private insurance company. But her career path wasn’t traditional. She owned a business for many years before transitioning into insurance after a friend encouraged her to apply for an adjuster role.
“No one really sets out to be in workers’ comp,” she said with a laugh. “You kind of land in it.”
Over time, Evans advanced from trainee to lost-time adjuster, where she ensured employees continued receiving regular paychecks while out of work. The job required patience, attention to detail and strong communication skills — qualities she still uses every day.
“People are often anxious, in pain or worried about what comes next,” she said. “Being able to listen and walk them through it makes a huge difference. Sometimes, just a phone call is enough to make things a little better.”
At a university with over 16,000 employees, that kind of support depends on a clear and reliable process behind the scenes. Since Evans joined the team, the workers’ compensation program has been enhanced to better support employees when they need help.
“Before, departments called a 1-800 number to report a claim, and it would take 45 minutes to an hour,” Evans said. “Now, I can do that all online in five minutes. I can email an urgent care and say, ‘Hey, our employee is on the way.’ That’s another five minutes. And then the employee’s not waiting hours for medical treatment.”
Faster reporting and quicker connections to care make a meaningful difference. For Evans, the most telling measure of success is the feedback she receives from employees and departments navigating the process.
“The whole point of my role is to make things easier for everyone,” Evans said. “When someone tells me they felt heard or taken care of, that means everything. That’s how I know I’m on the right track.”