Bohemian Foundation Honors Colorado State President with $1.5 Million Gift to Establish the Albert C. Yates Endowed Chair in Mathematics

In honor of exceptional leadership by Albert C. Yates as president of Colorado State University for the past 13 years, the Fort Collins-based Bohemian Foundation is providing a $1.5 million gift to establish the Albert C. Yates Endowed Chair in Mathematics.

The surprise announcement was made today by Bohemian Foundation President Pat Stryker at the Celebrate Colorado State! Luncheon.

"I have truly enjoyed the opportunity to know and work with President Yates, and along with the rest of our community, I am proud of the amazing progress Colorado State has made under his leadership," Stryker said. "To honor his exceptional leadership and scholarship and to help enhance the future of this great university, the Bohemian Foundation is providing a $1.5 million gift to establish the Albert C. Yates Endowed Chair in Mathematics, a field in which Dr. Yates earned a degree and in which he believes strongly."

The Albert C. Yates Chair, the first endowed chair in the Department of Mathematics, will support distinguished teaching and research in the academic area Yates has described as "the language of science." Yates graduated magna cum laude, earning a bachelor’s degree in mathematics along with another in chemistry, from Memphis State University in 1965. He went on to earn a doctoral degree in theoretical chemical physics from Indiana University.

"Under Dr. Yates’ leadership, Colorado State has undergone an exceptional transformation and has been recognized as one of the nation’s top public universities," said Rick Miranda, dean of the College of Natural Sciences. "Given his love of mathematics, his appreciation for its central importance in the sciences and in our college and his enduring commitment to excellence in teaching and research, the creation of the Yates Endowed Chair in Mathematics is a very appropriate honor that will help continue the president’s legacy of academic and research excellence at Colorado State University. The department and college are absolutely thrilled with this wonderful endowment that will benefit our students and programs in perpetuity."

Addressing Yates at today’s luncheon ceremony, Stryker commented, "Thank you for all you have given to our university, and please know that your legacy will live on through generations of professors and scientists who share your extraordinary commitment to excellence in teaching, learning and scholarly research."

The Bohemian Foundation is a private family foundation focused on improving the quality of life in Fort Collins through efforts to strengthen the future of the community’s youth, building the capacity of organizations working together in the care and improvement of the community, and strengthening the community by building on a tradition of citizen involvement. The foundation, which has provided more than $10 million in grants to Fort Collins organizations, strives to create an environment where youth see themselves as a success and have the opportunities to function as productive, contributing citizens.