Tulane holds a special place for Yvette Jones
Plans are underway to establish “The McAlister Plaza in Honor of Yvette Jones.”
Alumna Jill Glazer chaired the fundraising effort for the hardscaped space in front of McAlister Auditorium that will include inviting benches, a delightful fountain and landscaped greenery.
Alumni, parents and friends of Tulane have already donated nearly $1 million for the project in Jones’ honor.
"This beautiful space on the campus she knew, loved and served so well will be an enduring reminder of her many contributions.”
Mike Fitts, Tulane University President
It’s a fitting tribute to Jones that such an appealing and prominent outdoor space at Tulane will be named for her. She stepped down as executive vice president for university relations and development in 2016 after more than three decades of devoted service to the university.
“Tulane lost one of their finest when Yvette decided to retire,” said Glazer, “but fortunately for us, she's still a Tulanian and in New Orleans.”
Tulane President Mike Fitts called Jones a “Tulane legend responsible for so much of what we know as Tulane today. This beautiful space on the campus she knew, loved and served so well will be an enduring reminder of her many contributions.”
Widely regarded as the most powerful woman in the history of the university, Jones retired last June after 36 years at Tulane, capping off a storied career in which she worked for four different Tulane presidents and held 10 different job titles. Among her accomplishments was leading the Promise and Distinction campaign, the largest fundraising campaign for the university to date.
Groundbreaking for The McAlister Plaza project in honor of Jones will take place this spring. The project is a component of Tulane’s Newcomb-McAlister Unified Green Project, part of the University Master Plan. It will bookend Benenson Plaza across the quad in front of Newcomb Hall.
Contributions to the project can still be made here.
Like this article? Keep reading: The Incomparable Yvette Jones
