Sharon Boyack Myers ’90 earned her undergraduate degree in Arts Administration from the Jordan College of the Arts and has remained deeply connected to Butler through service on committees, philanthropic giving, mentorship of students, and more. Sharon’s connection to Butler is exemplified by her ongoing support and lifelong friendships forged on campus. She served for eight years as a director on the Butler University Alumni Association Board of Directors. During that time, Myers and her husband, Craig, created the Boyack Myers Family Scholarship supporting students in the Jordan College of the Arts. After completing her service as President of the Alumni Board of Directors in 2024, Sharon and her husband decided to document a planned gift to support their family scholarship.
Why is Butler special to you?
Butler provided me a transformative educational experience, from allowing me to nurture my love of the arts and learning the skills to succeed in nonprofit management to developing friendships that have lasted a lifetime. I came to Butler sight unseen as a freshman in 1986 to pursue an Arts Administration degree (at that time one of the few universities to even offer the program) and to have the opportunity to perform – both of which I was able to do. The reality is that if it were not for the generosity of Butler alumni and the gift of scholarship, a Butler education would have been unattainable for me and my family. Butler gave me a sense of belonging and allowed me to explore areas of interest that have shaped me into the person I am today.
How did your Butler student experience shape your life?
While at Butler, I was encouraged to dream big, to think differently and to try every experience possible – to never think a door could be closed. Because of that encouragement and the development of a “why not” attitude, I’ve been able to develop a career I couldn’t have foreseen when I graduated in 1990. I started my career working on the administrative side of theatre and then took the leap to start a theatre with two colleagues. When my husband and I were presented the opportunity to move overseas, we both said why not?! We spent six years living abroad, three years in England where I was able to attain my MBA in International Management and work as a direct marketing executive for the World Wide Fund for Nature and three years in Italy, where I worked as the academic director for a university in Milan, Italy. Who knew all that singing in Italian would pay off in learning how to speak the language! Once we moved back to the States, I stayed in education working as a marketing director for private secondary schools and universities and then decided to open my own consulting firm, which allowed me to work with a variety of organizations in the areas of brand, marketing, and fundraising. I was then presented an opportunity to work for a manufacturing company and now have the position of director of brand marketing. Butler gave me the tools to make these leaps of faith – from giving me an education that allowed for transferable skills in an ever-changing marketplace as well as providing stability with lasting friendships and relationships that I’ve maintained to this day. It’s because of those relationships that I was drawn back to Butler and wanted to serve my alma mater via the Butler University Alumni Association.
What prompted you to think about documenting a planned gift?
My husband and I have been fortunate throughout our careers and as we got to the age where we recognized we needed to document our wishes, we felt strongly that philanthropy needed to be part of our plan. A community is only as strong as the support it receives and recognizing the impact Butler has had on my life, we felt strongly we could make a difference through a planned gift. It goes back to the opportunities I was afforded as a Butler student, made possible through the generosity of alumni and student scholarships. I’ve been an annual donor to Butler for several years and it made sense to make a gift that would live on in perpetuity.
Why did you choose to direct your gift to support student scholarships?
My husband and I set up an endowed scholarship–the Boyack Myers Family Scholarship–to honor my parents (Robert and Carol), who passed away in 2020 and 2022. The intent of this endowment and the subsequent scholarships is to emphasize the importance of easing the financial burden for aspiring Jordan College of the Arts students. My parents had supported me in pursuing my love of the arts and did everything in their power to allow me to pursue my educational dreams at Butler. The reality was that the price tag was out of our reach and student loans were not something we wanted to pursue. Were it not for the generosity of Butler alumni and the scholarships I received, I would not have had the opportunity to attend Butler. I will never forget the scholarship letter I received from Butler and calling my dad at work to tell him the good news! It was a defining moment for me and my family.
How did documenting your planned gift make you feel?
My husband and I have always supported causes that are important to us – be it Butler or those in our local community. We are not the wealthiest people, but we do recognize how incredibly fortunate and privileged we are to be able to do what we do. Philanthropy is necessary if our communities are going to thrive and documenting our plans, and our gift, ensures that our work continues long after we have left this earth. It’s a great feeling knowing that a student 50 years from now could benefit from this gift!
Do you have any advice for someone considering a planned gift to Butler?
Philanthropy is a very personal journey and while making a planned gift to Butler may seem overwhelming, it’s simply an extension of what you’re already doing in supporting Butler today. I would recommend meeting with a good estate lawyer who can take you through the necessary steps to ensure your wishes are followed, as well as working with the Butler advancement team to understand how you can make the largest impact with your gift. I think the most important point is to understand a planned gift at ANY level/amount has a huge impact on the future of Butler University. Each of us can make a difference in the lives of students aspiring to attend Butler; a planned gift allows your legacy to live on and ensure the success of our alma mater for years to come.