Honoring the Legacy of Yvonne Shaheen

Mrs. Yvonne Shaheen, a true pillar of Indianapolis and the state, has enriched the University of Indianapolis and the community with her remarkable generosity, sharing her limitless energy, altruistic financial support, and wise counsel. A distinguished business and community leader, she has dedicated herself to advancing culture, education, and other vital causes in central Indiana, with a far-reaching history of impact.

The retired CEO of Long Electric Co., Mrs. Shaheen joined the University’s Board of Trustees in 1992, serving as chair from 2016 to 2018. She also served as chair of the institution’s most successful comprehensive campaign “UIndy Starts with You: The Campaign for the University of Indianapolis.”

Mrs. Shaheen’s impact on the University reached new heights in 2015 with her gift of $5 million, at that time the largest single gift in the institution’s history, to support the College of Arts and Sciences. The University commemorated that gift with the renaming of the College as the Shaheen College of Arts and Sciences, in honor of Mrs. Shaheen and her late husband, Riad. The gift bolsters liberal arts education in support of creative, analytical and logical reasoning, and writing and communications across all disciplines.

Mrs. Shaheen’s hands-on approach to philanthropy has made her a model leader for nonprofit organizations. She served 20 years as a board member for the Arts Council of Indianapolis, the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis and the Indianapolis Symphony. She also ultimately served as Board Chair of each of these organizations. She was the first woman to serve as Board Chair of the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce and served on the Indianapolis Private Industry Council. Mrs. Shaheen also has served the healthcare industry by serving as a board member for Community Health Network and the Community Health Network Foundation for more than 20 years.

Mrs. Shaheen has been recognized frequently for her service and leadership. She was named to the Indiana Historical Society’s roster of Indiana Living Legends and was awarded a Sagamore of the Wabash by the state of Indiana. She was also honored with the Charles. L. Whistler Award and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

The University of Indianapolis is deeply grateful to Mrs. Yvonne Shaheen for her impact upon generations of both faculty and students.