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Nazareth Alumna Gail Evans Establishes Scholarship to Assist College's HEOP Program

Published July 26, 2016

Nazareth College alumna Gail Evans credits the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) with her decision to attend college, and now she is giving back with a $25,000 gift to Nazareth College to provide scholarships and other opportunities that will enhance the Nazareth College experience for HEOP students.

The Louise Evans Scholarship pays tribute to the life of her mother, Louise Evans, who was the rock in Gail’s life, providing her with leadership, moral character, and a willingness to help others. In the spirit of that influence, it is Gail’s intent to operationalize these values through supporting students at Nazareth College.

Growing up in Rochester, New York, as one of six, Gail excelled academically and athletically at Benjamin Franklin High School. Upon enrolling at Nazareth, her experiences as a HEOP student helped shape her life trajectory.

“Had it not been for HEOP I would not have gone to college,” said Evans. “HEOP enabled me to leave home and do something different than my peers. My mother wanted something better for her kids — and HEOP enabled her to do this without having the money.  I am now doing what God and my mom want me to do — paying it forward.”

Evans, a 1986 graduate of Nazareth College, currently serves as the Global Information Officer at Mercer, a consulting firm focused on talent, health, retirement and investments. At Mercer, she leads the company’s technology strategy, transformation, and innovation. Prior to Mercer, Evans was an executive at Microsoft.

She started her career in Rochester at Eastman Kodak Company, where she was actively involved with the digital transformation and web first strategies. Evans led the global consumer and small business banking e-commerce application development team at Bank of America. She directed the HP.com team of more than 400 technical members to deliver the most ambitious website redesign project in the history of HP.

For More Information

Julie Long | Nazareth Chief Public Relations Officer | (585) 389-2456 | jlong2@naz.edu

Nazareth University is an inclusive community of inspired learners, educators, and changemakers who for nearly 100 years have been driven by a bold commitment to action, empathy, equity, and leading innovation for the common good. Impact experiences are at the heart of a Nazareth education, preparing each student to discover within themselves the potential to cultivate positive change in their life's work, in any career field, and in a world that is constantly evolving and infinitely interconnected.

Our broad academic offerings present a range of study options typical of larger universities, yet achieved in our supportive campus culture. Nearly 2,100 undergrad and 600 graduate students enroll in degree and certificate programs and engage in collaborative, transformative learning experiences, preparing for the professions and society of today and tomorrow. In a learning community that purposefully integrates liberal arts and professional programs, Nazareth University graduates are able to launch a lifetime of impactful leadership in communities and workplaces near and far.