April Evans ’91MBA

As a Simmons Trustee, April Evans ’91MBA is laser focused on stewarding the University for success both now and in the future. Her volunteer leadership service in that role reflects a deep commitment to Simmons’ distinctive mission—which she sees having enduring value.

“I absolutely see a need for place for women to be able to develop not just skills and knowledge, but ‘swagger,’ as the founding dean of the School of Management used to say. And that matters. In my experience, that happens best in an all-women environment. I think it’s essential to our future,” says Evans. “I believe Simmons graduates offer something unusual, unique, and special to the world.”

Her commitment to Simmons’ longevity includes arranging a gift to the University through her estate plans. And Evans “very intentionally” has not restricted the use of her planned gift.

“My view is, if I was hit by a bus tomorrow, then I know exactly how it will be used because I chair the Board of Trustees’ Finance Committee,” says Evans. “But I have no idea how Simmons will want to use my gift 20 years from now. I trust that it will be used well.”
Evans says she doesn’t think about “legacy” too much, but she notes that her planned gift to Simmons reflects a desire to support “social justice causes” as she views them. Her focus is on supporting women, specifically through a handful of organizations she believes “are doing good work and doing it effectively and efficiently.”

When Evans decided to pursue an MBA, she was 35 and well into her business career. The intensive one-year MBA program Simmons offered at the time appealed to her, including the heavy course load. Her career included being a partner, CFO, and CCO of Monitor Clipper Partners from which she retired. “We dissolved it at the end of 2022,” says Evans.

Evans describes herself as “largely retired”—with a caveat. She serves on the boards of a few organizations and fundraises for another nonprofit she champions. For years, she has mentored other women entrepreneurs and been an angel investor. One mentee has started a venture capital firm, and she has asked Evans to step out of retirement to work for it. “I’ll be doing it on a very part-time basis,” Evans says. Her next chapter is a work in progress, as is the one she’s helping Simmons write.