The Henry and Emma Rogers Society honors alumni and friends who have included Northwestern in their estate plans. Rogers Society members support schools and programs across the University. In this issue, we celebrate those members who have made a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion at Northwestern and beyond through their planned gifts.
Willard Evans Jr. ’77, ’81 MBA
As an undergraduate, Evans was among the few Black students in his engineering classes. He has now committed to supporting the Northwestern University Black Alumni Association (NUBAA) Achievement Scholarship Fund through his estate plan. A former president of Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas, Evans was appointed chairman and chief executive officer of the Illinois Tollway by Governor JB Pritzker ’93 JD in 2019.
Anne Fredd ’73 JD
A Chicago-based attorney, Fredd has included a bequest in her estate plan to support the African American History and Culture Endowed Scholarship at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law. The scholarship is awarded annually to an outstanding student who demonstrates interest in or commitment to African American History and Culture.
David F. Freedman ’81
Through a gift in his estate, Freedman will create the David F. Freedman Fund for Social Justice Reporting Initiatives at the Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications. The fund will support programs focused on investigative reporting, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, globalization, and other social justice issues. A Medill alumnus and former managing editor of the Daily Northwestern, Freedman is now retired from his career as an international lawyer and focused on his volunteer work with the Palm Springs Sustainability Commission, Desert Community Energy, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Doris Hightower ’79
Hightower has committed to supporting future engineering students with a bequest in her estate plan. Through a scholarship in her name, she will provide aid to outstanding underrepresented students within the McCormick School of Engineering. Hightower earned an undergraduate degree in engineering before transitioning to a career as a tax attorney.
Paula B. Pretlow ’77, ’78 MBA, Trustee
Through a gift in her estate, Pretlow will create the Paula B. Pretlow Social Justice Education Fund at Northwestern. Pretlow earned degrees from the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences and Kellogg School of Management before embarking on a career in investment management. She currently serves as a Northwestern trustee and is co-chair for participation for We Will. The Campaign for Northwestern.
