Gardner-Webb University removed the interim from Nate Evans’ title and has named him the 14th president of the private Baptist-affiliated university in Cleveland County.
Evans has served as interim president since February after William M. Downs departed to serve as president at Campbell University. Evans has been the vice president for advancement at Gardner-Webb since October 2020.
As vice president of advancement, Evans led alumni relations, major gifts, the Bulldog Club and the annual fund. Under his direction, Gardner-Webb raised more than $30 million in gifts and commitments, fueling capital improvements, scholarship funding, and academic initiatives.
The U.S. Air Force veteran previously worked for more than eight years at East Carolina University in admissions and advancement.
Evans thanked trustees and the presidential search committee for having confidence in him, and the campus community for its dedication during the transition.
“Over the past eight months, I have witnessed the strength, faith and resilience that define Gardner-Webb. This is a place where students discover their purpose, where faculty and staff live out their calling, and where our shared mission continues to change lives,” Evans said in a release. “As we look ahead, let’s build on our momentum, strengthen our foundation, expand our reach and ensure that Gardner-Webb continues to thrive as a Christ-centered university of impact.”
Gardner-Webb is located in the town of Boiling Springs, about 50 miles west of Charlotte. It had 128 full-time and 164 part-time faculty members in the fall of 2023, and 3,125 students, including 1,840 undergraduates. Tuition and fees for the current academic year are $34,760, although 99% of students receive financial aid, with the average amount $24,762. On campus food and housing costs $11,410.
Under Evans’ leadership, Gardner-Webb has increased donor confidence and expanded strategic partnerships across the region. The university has secured major philanthropic commitments, including $1.85 million in June, the largest single gift to Gardner-Webb in more than 25 years. It also received a $2.16 million, four-year federal grant for its College of Health Sciences. Gardner-Webb has an endowment of $85 million, according to its website.
“President Evans has demonstrated faith-filled leadership, integrity, and a clear vision for Gardner-Webb’s future,” said the trustees’ chair, the Rev. Dr. Lamont Littlejohn Jr. “He has brought stability, unity and momentum during a time of transition, and the board has full confidence that he will continue leading this University forward with wisdom and purpose.”
Evans has a bachelor’s degree in exercise and sports science from East Carolina University and a master’s in human resource management from Western Carolina University.
Evans has outlined a five-year vision focused on growth, expanding academic programs, deepening partnerships with churches and regional organizations and strengthening recruitment and retention.
Evans and his wife, Brittany Evans, a Gardner-Webb alumna, are also engaged in the university life and its ministry.