The UK Evaluation Society was deeply saddened to hear of the death of Thomas Schwandt, a much-respected scholar and generous supporter of the Society. Tom was internationally recognised for his extensive contributions to evaluation, particularly his work on evaluative thinking, which has shaped practice, learning, and debate across the field for decades.
Murray Saunders, one of the UK Evaluation Society’s founders and editor of Evaluative Practice, pays tribute to Tom:
“Thomas Schwandt was a much-loved scholar, mentor, and friend whose presence enriched the evaluation community in ways that went far beyond his formidable intellectual contributions. He approached evaluation with humanity, moral seriousness, and curiosity, and he shared his thinking with great generosity. Tom remained an engaged and enthusiastic contributor to UK Evaluation Society events and conversations right up to 2025, offering wisdom, challenge, and unfailing encouragement.
His last contribution to the UK Evaluation Society was his typically cogent critique of the effects of the massive contraction of USAID published in the spring 2025 edition of Evaluative Practice. Many will also remember not only the clarity of his ideas, but also his warmth. In the Round Table Exchanges, the UK Evaluation Society hosted during and after the covid pandemic for example, we will remember his humour, the care he took in listening, and the way he made people feel welcome in serious conversations.
He leaves behind a community that will greatly miss his thoughtful contributions.”
In remembrance, we are sharing an article written by Tom, first published in the spring 2025 edition of Evaluative Practice, as a way of recognising his valuable contribution to evaluation and the Society.
I am writing this on the 44rd day of the new Trump administration. As recently reported in the Washington Post, we are amidst a chaotic scene here in the US with Trump—via the signing of more than 80 executive orders—attempting to seize control of the federal government; issuing directives to eliminate diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility programs; purging high-ranking officials, mounting attacks on academic independence and establishing Elon Musk’s U.S. DOGE Service to slash the federal workforce. As Musk tramples through federal departments (Labor, Defense, Energy, Education, Housing and Urban Development, etc.) and agencies (Consumer Product Safety Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, Social Security Administration, etc.) firing people left and right, affected parties are filing suits to stop both Trump and Musk’s actions, courts are agreeing and disagreeing with various actions, and no one in the federal departments and agencies under assault really knows what the hell is going on. All part of Trump’s strategic plan to “flood the zone.”