Vanessa Evans ('93,'97M)

Vanessa has a passion for working with young people who want to advance themselves and their communities. She's associate director of the Ron Brown Scholar Program sponsored by the CAP Charitable Foundation. The national program awards college scholarships to black high-school seniors of outstanding promise. The program seeks to accelerate their progress into the mainstream of leadership positions in business, education, government and a wide spectrum of professions. Many of these young people have overcome personal and financial obstacles while demonstrating high academic achievement, strong leadership potential and an unerring sense of social responsibility. As president of JMU's Black Alumni Chapter, Vanessa is committed to helping attract and retain students from under-represented populations — enriching the Madison Experience for all.

"If I can reach one young person and set him or her on a path to success and if I can give back to others some of what has been given to me, then I'll know I am a success."