{"id":5313,"date":"2026-10-29T07:30:49","date_gmt":"2026-10-29T07:30:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/?p=5313"},"modified":"2026-10-29T04:58:33","modified_gmt":"2026-10-29T04:58:33","slug":"shon-and-alexis-yates-commit-1-million-to-expand-opportunities-for-engineering-students-at-siu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/?p=5313","title":{"rendered":"Shon and Alexis Yates commit $1 million to expand opportunities for engineering students at SIU"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"ShonShon Yates and his wife, Alexis Yates, have committed $1 million to expand opportunities for engineering students at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, establishing the Shon and Alexis Yates Center for Access and Advancement in Engineering within the university’s College of Engineering, Computing, Technology, and Mathematics<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A 1993 electrical engineering graduate, Shon Yates distinguished himself academically while at SIU. In 1991, he became the first Black student in the college’s history to be inducted into Tau Beta Pi, the nation’s oldest engineering honor society and one of the profession’s most respected academic distinctions. The society reserves membership for engineering students who demonstrate exceptional scholarship and exemplary character.<\/p>\n

Yates retired in 2025 after more than three decades in engineering and executive leadership and continues to serve on the college’s Industrial Advisory Board.<\/p>\n

The commitment includes an immediate gift and a planned gift to renovate a student technology lab, fund a graduate assistantship and support the center’s operations. Building on SIU’s Success in Engineering Through Excellence and Diversity (SEED) program, the center will provide academic resources, mentorship, professional development opportunities and support systems designed to expand access, foster student success and prepare future engineering leaders. Yates hopes the center will strengthen recruitment, improve retention and graduation rates, and eventually introduce middle and high school students to engineering careers.<\/p>\n

\"Shon
Shon Yates speaks about the $1 million commitment he and his wife, Alexis, made to expand opportunities for engineering students at Southern Illinois University Carbondale during the Chancellor’s Reception on Oct. 28 in Chicago. Pictured from left are Shon Yates; Alexis Yates; Dr. Sherrica Hunt, assistant vice chancellor for affinity philanthropy and strategic initiatives; Krystal Hudson, assistant director of development for the College of Engineering, Computing, Technology, and Mathematics; and SIU Foundation CEO Matt Kupec.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Yateses announced the gift during the sixth annual Saluki Takeover Tour Chancellor’s Reception on Wednesday, Oct. 28, in Chicago, which drew 425 alumni, donors and university supporters.<\/p>\n

\u201cShon and Alexis Yates are creating opportunities that will make a lasting difference for generations of Salukis,\u201d said SIU Chancellor Austin A. Lane. \u201cShon’s journey is a powerful example of what our students can achieve with the right support and resources. Their generosity will help ensure more students have the opportunity to succeed in engineering and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Yates, the center reflects lessons learned during his own experience as an engineering student.<\/p>\n

“I know how difficult engineering school can be, academically and financially,” Yates said. “I was able to navigate those challenges successfully. This gift is about helping more students do the same.”<\/p>\n

In addition to supporting the center through philanthropy, Yates plans to remain engaged through mentoring, leadership development initiatives and service to the college.<\/p>\n

\"From
From left, Dr. Xiaoqing \u201cFrank\u201d Liu, dean of SIU’s College of Engineering, Computing, Technology, and Mathematics; Alexis Yates; and Shon Yates gather following the announcement of the Yateses’ $1 million commitment to expand opportunities for engineering students during the Chancellor’s Reception on Oct. 28 in Chicago.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A foundation built at SIU<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yates arrived at SIU through a summer bridge program for incoming engineering students from underrepresented groups who had excelled academically in high school. Dr. Shirlene Holmes was among those who influenced his early experience, leaving a lasting impression through her encouragement and commitment to student success.<\/p>\n

Yates still recalls being summoned to the dean’s office and worrying that he had done something wrong. Instead, he learned he had earned induction into Tau Beta Pi.<\/p>\n

Beyond the classroom, Yates found a sense of belonging through Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., where he developed lifelong friendships and leadership skills. He remains a life member of the fraternity.<\/p>\n

Engineering school demanded discipline, preparation and perseverance. Yates approached his studies by reading ahead, completing practice problems and seeking guidance from professors during office hours.<\/p>\n

Like many students, he balanced the academic demands of engineering school with financial realities. He largely funded his education through scholarships and internships, which helped him cover educational expenses and purchase specialized tools for engineering coursework. Those experiences reinforced his belief that talented students should have access to the resources and opportunities necessary to succeed.<\/p>\n

Returning to SIU with purpose<\/strong><\/p>\n

In March 2026, Yates returned to SIU for the first time in more than 30 years, renewing his connection to the university and strengthening his desire to give back.<\/p>\n

When he first arrived on campus, his goals were much simpler.<\/p>\n

“When I came to college, I was solving for quality of life and stability. Being able to make a contribution at this level was not fathomable back then,” Yates said.<\/p>\n

His return also prompted him to consider how he could support future generations of engineering students.<\/p>\n

“It gave me a sense of purpose. I want to make sure that I can do what I can to support meaningful outcomes at the university,” Yates said.<\/p>\n

Yates credits Alexis with supporting his professional ambitions throughout their marriage, including pursuing his MBA and relocating for leadership opportunities. The couple recently celebrated their 23rd wedding anniversary.<\/p>\n

The Yateses hope their gift will inspire other alumni to contribute their time, expertise and resources to causes they believe in.<\/p>\n

“Find something that you believe in and you’re passionate about and get in the game,” Yates said.<\/p>\n

Their gift supports the SIU Foundation’s Imagine SIU 2030 fundraising campaign, which surpassed its $500 million goal 20 months ahead of schedule and continues through June 30, 2028. During the most recent fiscal year, the foundation awarded a record $6.9 million in scholarships to more than 2,200 students, benefiting nearly 19% of the student body.<\/p>\n

SIU Carbondale is one of only 21 institutions among approximately 4,000 colleges and universities nationwide to hold both the Research 1 and Opportunity University designations under the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. It is also the only institution with both designations serving a rural region.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Shon Yates and his wife, Alexis Yates, have committed $1 million to expand opportunities for engineering students at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, establishing the Shon and Alexis Yates Center for Access and Advancement in Engineering within the university’s College of Engineering, Computing, Technology, and Mathematics. A 1993 electrical engineering graduate, Shon Yates distinguished himself academically … Continue reading Shon and Alexis Yates commit $1 million to expand opportunities for engineering students at SIU<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,3,4,15,2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5313","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-donor-stories","category-higher-education","category-illinois-higher-education","category-saluki-takeover-tours","category-siu"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5313","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5313"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5313\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5317,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5313\/revisions\/5317"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5313"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5313"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5313"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}