As a member of the Nerinx faculty, Evelyn taught history, politics, and psychology for thirty years: from 1965-1970 and again from 1975-1999. As former colleague Marion Golden Curtis '61 noted, “Evelyn Donohoo chaired the Nerinx Hall Social Studies department when I taught at Nerinx. She led the Seniors in a deep dive into the nation’s challenges— civil rights, war, dissent, poverty, racial divisions, violence —all against the tumultuous background of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Ever an encourager, Evelyn strove to model what it means to be a woman of hope. She challenged her students to realize that their critical thinking skills could make a difference in driving needed change.” A life-long dancer, Evelyn also taught modern dance. Kathy Roach Day ’68 recalls, “I was lucky to have Mrs. Donohoo for Modern Dance, where I learned and created. It was pure delight! And as a senior, I was challenged to think critically in her American Problems class. I still remember learning that problems in our society are complex, involving a number of factors, what Mrs. Donohoo called ‘multiple causality.’”
ADVOCATE FOR WOMEN. CHAMPION FOR DIVERSITY. TRUSTED ADVISER. FORCE FOR POSITIVE CHANGE. These are just some of the phrases one might use to describe Evelyn Donohoo, a longtime faculty member whose work has left an enduring impact on the Nerinx community. Now 98-years old, Evelyn considers her tenure at Nerinx the highpoint of her career. 30
Fall 2021 | nerinxhall.org
Evelyn also played a lead role in bringing key programs to Nerinx. She spearheaded Nerinx’s Close-up Program, an annual trip to Washington, D.C. that provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students to make personal connections with the people and institutions that embody our democracy. She also established Nerinx’s Model U.N. club. (One of Evelyn’s fondest memories was Nerinx beating SLUH in a Model U.N. debate!) Above all, Evelyn cared deeply about her students— their growth, their success, and the mark they would leave on the world. Her daughter, Christine Donohoo ’68, put it this way: “My mother had an exuberant and unorthodox way of teaching. She understood that not every student learns the same way. She saw her students as individuals. She recognized their special gifts.
