Wonderful mentor. Great listener. Gentle spirit. Colleagues and students describe former VP Kathleen Yorkis in terms typically reserved for a parent or close friend — roles she played often during her 25 years at the university.
Yorkis joined Bentley in 1986 as dean of student affairs, advancing to chief student affairs officer in 1999 and to vice president for student affairs in 2001. She retired from the latter post in June.
“Kathleen has worked diligently to create a vibrant sense of community where students can live, learn and thrive,” says President Gloria Cordes Larson. “Her messages had an unending reach.”
In addition to being designated vice president emerita by Bentley trustees, Yorkis was honored with the creation of a named scholarship fund and an annual award. The latter will recognize a graduating senior whose contributions have made a lasting impact on other students.
Model Behavior
Yorkis led with a “three circles” perspective of student affairs work that focuses on campus life, services and student development. That is, creating a community where students feel comfortable, their needs are met, and the climate for learning is maximized; offering professional and practical services from freshman to senior year and into graduate school; and fostering students’ growth from adolescents into responsible, competent, successful young adults.
“The beauty of this model is that it is very adaptable; it involves the entire campus,” Yorkis notes. “It can be used when we are thinking about where student affairs fits in the university experience.”
The years tested her leadership, as Yorkis saw the campus through times of great joy and great tragedy: numerous commencements and athletic victories, September 11, unexpected student death. She offered early and ardent support for campus-wide initiatives to help victims of Hurricane Katrina and the earthquake in Haiti.
Nurturing Nature
Along with guiding students, Yorkis was a nurturing force in her department. She championed staff development, work– life balance, and collaboration.
“Kathleen encouraged us to celebrate our accomplishments,” recalls Maria DiLorenzo, director of student activities and family programs until her recent appointment as director of spiritual life. “But she also helped us understand that all departments and divisions in a university are dependent upon each other and must work together.”
The lessons are particularly meaningful for J. Andrew Shepardson, whose role as dean of student affairs has expanded to include overseeing the division.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better mentor,” he says. “Kathleen’s lessons about listening, caring about people, and putting students first will guide us all for many years to come.”
Personal Best
One high point for Yorkis is her ongoing connection with former students. Among them: Krystin (Gacioch) Knox ’89, who worked in Student Affairs during her freshman year and had regular interaction with the office through extracurricular activities.
“I was always struck by her calmness and command over situations,” recalls the alumna, a director of information systems at Tekelec in North Carolina. “I quickly learned that listening and taking in all the information about a situation would allow me to have much greater presence and understanding.”
Yorkis counts reflections like Knox’s among her best accomplishments. “The biggest reward,” she says, “is knowing that I have made a difference.”