Zac Evens and his family

Zachary Evans BS'15 (center left), with his family after the Honors Convocation, earned degrees in finance and marketing last spring. Evans received the Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award for his leadership and academic achievements.

Zachary Evans BS’15 comes from a family of artists. His dad works in graphic design and owns his own business, and his mom is an art teacher. 

It was no surprise that Evans inherited their artistic talent. At Plano East Senior High School, he was design editor of the yearbook and drew political cartoons for the newspaper. But Evans did not anticipate his fascination of economics — a class his peers dreaded. 

When it came time to choose a major, Evans wanted to stay true to his artistic roots, while fulfilling his interest in economics and passion for making a difference. Once at UT Dallas, he combined those strengths by dual majoring in finance and marketing in the Naveen Jindal School of Management

“I realized finance, similar to economics, could provide an analytical foundation, and marketing could provide a creative outlet, while still touching on economic theories like price elasticity, consumer behavior and research,” he said. “Finance and marketing balance the left and right sides of my brain.” 

Out of all the students I have been exposed to while teaching at the University, Zac is one of the most skilled in marketing I have seen. I fully expect him to one day be the chief executive officer or chief marketing officer of a major corporation.

Julie Haworth,
director of the undergraduate marketing program in the Naveen Jindal School of Management

In May, at the annual Honors Convocation ceremony, Evans received the Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award. The honoree possesses qualities of leadership, commitment, perseverance, creativity and service to the community. The winner receives a diploma frame and $5,000, which is funded as a gift from an anonymous donor. 

Julie Haworth, director of the undergraduate marketing program, met Evans in her honors marketing class when he was a sophomore, and saw his marketing and finance skills develop through the years. She nominated Evans for the award, touting his high academic achievements, graphic design skills and commitment to multiple campus activities. 

“Out of all the students I have been exposed to while teaching at the University, Zac is one of the most skilled in marketing I have seen,” Haworth wrote in a nomination letter. “I fully expect him to one day be the chief executive officer or chief marketing officer of a major corporation.” 

Evans said his well-rounded experiences affected his college career greatly. Through his involvement in student organizations, volunteer efforts, business competitions and employment, he connected with people of different backgrounds and faced challenges he wouldn’t have otherwise. 

“Some of the biggest learning opportunities I had were from experiences UTD offered outside the classroom,” he said. “My involvement helped me gain new perspectives.” 

Evans' Achievements &
Activities at UT Dallas

  • Student Union and Activities Advisory Board – Activities board marketing manager
  • Chi Phi – Psi Zeta Chapter- President, treasurer
  • Naveen Jindal School of Management C.R.E.W. Team – Team leader
  • Comet Cents Financial Success Program – Marketing assistant
  • JSOM Dean's Council – Undergraduate council member
  • 2014 GEICO Achievement Award recipient
  • Chi Phi Educational Trust Scholarship recipient
  • Beta Gamma Sigma International Business Honor Society inductee
  • Sparks Memorial Medal awardee
  • 2013 UT Dallas Business Idea Competition – Ericsson Innovation Award Undergraduate Division recipient
  • JSOM Dean’s Cup winner
  • 2014 Davidson Management Honors Program Scholarship recipient
  • 2012-2013 Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas’ “On My Own Time” Employee Art Show – First-place winner

After his graduation in May, Evans was hired as a management development professional at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, where he previously interned. He said he rotates between business units, cultivating management skills and working alongside senior leadership on challenging projects. 

Evans knows he will pursue higher education in the future, but whether it’s a financial certification or an MBA, he’s not yet certain. He said he may tap into his entrepreneurial interests and open his own branding or marketing agency. Ultimately, he wants to continue working in a public service role. 

Whatever Evans decides to do, he said he’ll never forget his UT Dallas experience. 

“Going to UTD is one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life,” he said. “The faculty, the staff and my fellow students changed how I view learning. I will be an eager, curious student for as long as I live. 

“The personal transformation we undergo — from taking that first step on to campus to that last step off the stage at graduation — is truly remarkable. I can’t thank the school enough for providing me the opportunities to become that person I want to be. I’m still not that person yet — and I will be constantly working to get there — but I wouldn’t be in the position I am without UT Dallas.”