Tonya M. Evans

Dr. Tonya M. Evans is a professor at Penn State Dickinson Law and a leading expert in crypto law and policy. She is the author of "Digital Money Demystified" and host of the podcast "Confidently Crypto." A contributor to Forbes, Dr. Evans empowers leaders in legacy corporate and academic institutions to navigate and excel in the digital economy, particularly in the rapidly evolving web3 landscape.

A former professional tennis player turned legal scholar, she holds a prestigious co-hire at the Penn State Institute for Computational and Data Sciences. Her areas of expertise include intellectual property, blockchain and virtual currency law and policy, entertainment law, and trusts and estates law.

Dr. Evans was named to the inaugural Forbes Over 50 list in 2021 in the investment category and received the 2023 EDGE in Tech Athena Award for Academic Leadership. She expertly prepares yesterday’s executives for tomorrow’s disruption in web3 and beyond.


A former tennis professional turned academic, advisor and leadership powerhouse, Dr. Tonya M. Evans stands at the confluence of law, technology, and finance. As a full tenured professor at Penn State Dickinson Law with a prestigious co-hire at the Penn State Institute for Computational and Data Sciences, Dr. Evans embodies the pinnacle of academic excellence. She is the proud recipient of the 2023 EDGE in Tech Athena Award for Academic Leadership and holds an esteemed place in the inaugural Forbes Over 50 List (Investment category, 2021). Combining her background in tennis, law, and new technologies, she is a beacon of expertise in intellectual property, blockchain and virtual currency law and policy, entertainment law, and trusts & estates law.

Dr. Evans was named to the prestigious Forbes 50 Over 50 List in the category of Investment to honor 50 women who are shaping the future of finance, fueling high-growth businesses and forging a more innovative and inclusive financial future. She was also named to the Fastcase 50 of 2021 list, an annual award that recognizes 50 of the smartest, most courageous, innovators, techies, visionaries, and leaders in the law. In 2018, Prof. Evans received the inaugural Blockchain Enterprise Award in the category of Governance and Policy Leadership during the Blockchain Revolution Global Conference in Toronto.

Prior to joining the Dickinson Law faculty, Professor Evans served as Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor of Law at the UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law, created and directed the law school’s Blockchain, Cryptocurrency and Law Online Professional Certificate Program.

Dr. Evans served as Chairperson of the Maker DAO’s Maker Ecosystem Growth Foundation from 2020-2021 to oversee the final phase and full decentralization of the MakerDAO. She is also member of the Bermuda Global FinTech Advisory Board and Observing Member of the Global Blockchain Business Council.

In 2020, Dr. Evans created the Advantage Evans™ Academy and launched her popular course, From Cash to Crypto™, and NFT Law Guide for Creatives and Collectors. She also hosts a weekly show, the Tech Intersect™ Podcast, that features both new and notables working at the intersection of law, business, and technology to lead in the future of work, wealth and creativity.