Mark Pitchford ’84

Student and acolyte

I took every course I could from Professor Evans – he is truly the one who inspired me to leverage my HMC approach to solving problems in a broader context and focus it on business rather than engineering. His passion and ability to craft stories around concepts brought them to life and inspired many of us over the decades. He will be missed.

Claeton Giordano ’85

Student and friend

Professor Evans taught his students to think independently, to follow the data, and to understand what it was telling them, regardless of whether it supported the consensus. That ethic created the occasional controversy and enriched the HMC community. His was engaging and supportive, prodding his students to explore further, and, even when he was startlingly challenging, we loved him for it. Dropping by his office to better understand something, I often came away with more mysteries about money and banking to unravel. A couple years ago, I dropped by his office, and an hour later found myself sitting on a panel judging a business plan contest dry run! His fortunate students entered academic and professional institutions well-prepared to understand the economic forces that actually shaped their work. Professor Evans was a bit of an academic maverick, but he was vital to HMC’s fulfillment of it’s mission to endow students with a “clear understanding of the impact of their work on society.” As a young institution, HMC is fortunate to have his legacy to build on.

Mark Minto ’90

Student

Professor Evans was an extraordinary character with a very engaging style of classroom lecture. He really provided a vision of economics that included tremendous optimism with many funny and interesting personal stories. He never, never gave a dull lecture, and that is hard to do in economics! He will definitely be missed!

Daniel Goodwin ’09

Student

Man, I could really go for a cigarette at the Buf with this guy right now. Those were golden times.

This breaks my heart, I wish I’d told him what a huge influence he had on me. He’s one of the catalysts who got me into entrepreneurship, now I’ve started two companies.

I loved his salty, zero BS approach to life. Prof Evans CARED and put so much into what he did. He embodied the idea of “take your work extremely seriously, but yourself not too seriously at all.” I carry a lot of his style with me today.

I remember in his class in 2006, he said that it was common for people to fall into a depression after the stress of completing your PhD subsides. Well, when I finished my PhD in 2021, I had his voice ringing in my head. He was right.

Gary, you rock. And you were a rock of Mudd Entrepreneurship.

David Vick ’94

Student and friend

Prof. Evans was hands down my favorite professor on campus. I took as many of his classes as I could, and those experiences set me on the path to a lengthy and fulfilling career in finance. I will be forever grateful for his coaching as I prepared for an interview with my first employer. He made a real difference for me and helped me land that all important first job. And, with all that said, the most memorable thing about him were his out of this world demon lectures. If you ever heard one, you know.

Jon Miller Schwartz ’13

Student/pupil/friend

Beyond the relationship I built with Prof Evans through taking his econ classes, he played a massive role in encouraging me and helping me begin my entrepreneurial career. At a time when Harvey Mudd was not particularly suited for students who wanted to start companies, Gary Evans was a sole champion and took me under his wing. He was always positive while being critically helpful – I remember after we put together our first draft of a business plan, he tore it apart, and we were all the better for it. He treated us like adults (when in reality we weren’t quite), and always gave us the time of day. I wouldn’t be where I am without Gary Evans.

Ronak Kumar Bhatia ’19

Former Student of Prof. Evans

Prof. Evans was not only an exceptional educator but also a mentor who ensured every student felt valued. It was evident that he reveled in the success of his students and cherished the deep connections he cultivated over the years. Through his teachings, I gained insights not just about economics but also life’s broader lessons. During office hours, his genuine concern for my aspirations and future was palpable; I’ll forever remember his unique character and forthright honesty. My journey into entrepreneurship owes much to Prof. Evans’s unwavering support and wisdom.

Sophie Parks ’14

Former Student

So much of my financial literacy can be traced back to the class I took with Prof. Evans. He was an enthusiastic educator and has no doubt left a mark on thousands of Mudders, myself included, for a lifetime through his philosophy and teaching.

NEIL MYERS ’85

Student

As a freshman, I had the honor of a class with Prof. Evans in his first year at Mudd. I remember his tendency to offer insights into the world outside of the classroom, (such as his dismay that there was a slight chance that Alexander Haig might be a potential Nobel Peace Prize candidate for efforts during the Falklands War!) Near the end of my first year, I contracted mononucleosis and was worried about finals. His reaction to the news was, “Why are you still here? Go home. Get well. We’ll figure it out.” In short, I remember his humanity.

Fernando Salud ’17

Student

Prof. Evans had a knack for making economic theory make sense in the real world. I bet a good chunk of Mudder alumni’s net worth can be linked right back to his Financial Econ classes. He didn’t just teach from textbooks; he gave us real-life advice we could bank on. And it’s clear he genuinely wanted to see every one of us succeed after graduation. He was more than just a professor; he was a real-life guide.