Posted 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026
Elizabeth Evans to receive Morgan Improving Lives Alumni Award
If you don’t know the name Elizabeth Evans, you are certainly familiar with the impact of her work.
Evans, community impact director for Great Rivers United Way, has been instrumental in distributing millions of dollars in grants supporting local organizations that work to make the La Crosse area a better place to live for all.
Colleagues say Evans, ’05, approaches her work with diligence and professionalism, and a strong personal drive to lend support to people who need it.
These efforts inspired the UW-La Crosse Alumni & Friends Foundation to select Evans for the 2026 Morgan Improving Lives Alumni Award. The award recognizes undergraduate alumni who have made significant contributions toward improving the quality of life in the Coulee Region.
“Liz has a true heart and compassion for others,” says Mary Kay Wolf, executive director of Great Rivers United Way (GRUW) and a longtime colleague of Evans. “I appreciate Liz’s insight in not only helping others outright, but with how she thinks and manages processes. This community is stronger because of Liz’s work.”
Evans has served as GRUW’s community impact director for a decade, devoting her talents to everything from grant-making, to program development and coordination, to data collection and strategic decision-making in the distribution of funds.
She coordinates the Community Investment Grant program, through which GRUW directs much-needed funds to support mental wellbeing and other basic needs — food, shelter and safety — in local communities.
And she oversees the Compass community needs assessment published every three years, which allows GRUW to set its priorities to closely reflect identified needs.
“Thanks to the work she has done perfecting Compass, thousands of individuals and families have been able to receive the help that they need because nonprofit organizations are able to keep their programs alive because of these grants,” Wolf says.
Evans’ impact is felt in organizations and communities across the seven counties GRUW serves in western Wisconsin and southeast Minnesota: La Crosse, Buffalo, Crawford, Houston, Monroe, Trempealeau and Vernon.
But it’s her colleagues — those who see her every day — who can see most clearly the goodness behind her work.
“Personally, I can tell you that Liz has a passion for creating good,” says Teri Booth, GRUW’s office manager. “She sees potential in every person and situation that she comes upon and is highly respected by members of the nonprofit community and public sector. She has made an impact on countless lives, mine especially.”
Since she graduated from UWL with a bachelor’s degree in sociology, community service has been at the heart of Evans’ career.
She began community work while a student as a legal advocate intern at New Horizons Shelter and Outreach Centers. After graduating, she continued to work at New Horizons as a housing advocate and also was an office assistant for Couleecap. Later, served as a development director for New Horizons, before entering her current role.
But her commitment doesn’t end there. Beyond her career, Evans is highly involved in the community, serving on several boards, including: the La Crosse County Family Policy Board, the Coulee Collaborative to End Homelessness and the Monroe County Mental Health Coalition.
Evans’ drive to help others is contagious.
Brian Shawley, Evans’ husband, has spent his career in a factory setting with limited exposure to nonprofit work. Evans introduced him to the good that can come from volunteering, and together, they continue to make a difference not only in others’ lives, but in their own.
“She is a great person and a great motivator to me to get out into the community to volunteer and help where I can,” Shawley says. “When we volunteer together, it makes me feel like an important part of the community and that I am helping others. From volunteering, I’ve met new people and done new things I would hot have otherwise.”
About the awards
The UWL Alumni & Friends Foundation is honoring five highly accomplished graduates from 1983 to 2012 with its top alumni awards for 2026. These individuals are being recognized for their distinguished service and outstanding careers.
The award recipients will return to campus Saturday, April 11, 2026, for the Distinguished Alumni Awards ceremony. This event is open to the public, and all are welcome to join in celebrating these remarkable alumni and the pride of our UWL community.
See the full list of 2026 recipients.
Nominate outstanding alumni
Nominate alumni who are making a difference in our schools and communities to be considered for a future Altman Teacher Education Award.