Guided by Mission, Driven by Relationships

Meet GWU Interim President Nate Evans

In February 2025, the Gardner-Webb University Board of Trustees appointed Nate Evans as interim president. Evans, who served GWU since October 2020 as vice president for Advancement, brings 13 years of experience in higher education to his new role.

“I am honored and humbled that the board of trustees selected me for this responsibility,” Evans stated. “I am grateful to those who have led Gardner-Webb so well. I pledge to uphold our Christian values and build upon our University’s momentum and success.”

Board Chair the Rev. Dr. Lamont Littlejohn Jr. remarked, “I have known Nate since he arrived at GWU. He has been a constant presence on campus and has built strong relationships of trust with stakeholders across the University community. He is a man of faith and will keep the University on its Christian mission during this time of transition.”

During his tenure in the Advancement Office, Evans led initiatives that positively impacted GWU’s campus. Notably, he and his team raised more than $30 million in gifts and gift commitments. His leadership contributed to new construction, renovations, lab equipment purchases, and scholarship funding, to name a few.

Now serving as interim president, Evans sees his role as providing stability and continuity. “That means supporting ongoing initiatives, especially our focus on enrollment growth, student retention, and academic excellence,” Evans said. “I’m spending a lot of my time truly listening to what the University community are saying, their perspectives, what they need, their ideas, and concerns. I’m supporting the team that’s already here, and keeping the University moving forward in a healthy, mission-driven way. It’s about stewarding the momentum and setting the table for whoever comes next,” noted Evans.

The relationships and collaboration he already established in Advancement helped him transition into the presidential role. He described the Office of Advancement as “a front row seat to the heart of the University.”

Evans explained, “You interact with our students, you interact with donors, alumni, our faculty and staff. And through that, I learned how much people care and how much people love Gardner-Webb. And then, of course, working across those departments, building those relationships as we steward the resources that folks have given us really helps you get in tune to the University ecosystem and how things work and who does what.”

Evans holds a Bachelor of Arts in exercise and sports science from East Carolina University and a Master of Science in human resource management from Western Carolina University. Before his higher education career, Evans served as an officer in the U.S. Air Force and worked in the small business sector.

His leadership style draws from all those experiences—marked by attention to detail, adaptability, and relational leadership. “In every role I’ve had, success came down to staying grounded in the mission and focusing on relationships,” Evans said. “You won’t be the expert in everything, but you need to know who the experts are and understand what drives them. That’s how you bring it all together.”

In the military, he was given an assignment and told to go figure it out. That experience made him a better manager. “It reminds me to make sure that people have the resources and the understanding on how to do their jobs if they need it,” Evans related. “Provide them what they need and remove the barriers.”

Evans is happily married to Dr. Brittany Evans, a Gardner-Webb alumna and visiting assistant professor in the College of Education. They enjoy supporting students at GWU events, being outdoors, motorcycle riding, and spending time with friends.