Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs – Student Housing and Residential Life

Don Yackley joined the University of Houston in June 2011. He provides leadership, vision, and oversight of the housing and residential life operations and programs primarily serving undergraduates and graduate/professional students at the university. The student housing system at the University of Houston includes seven diverse residential complexes and two partnership properties with an overall bed capacity of 8,397. The student housing program boasts professional and student staff, learning and theme communities, Faculty in Residence, and educational, social and leadership programs that positively impact student success which can be measured in residential student completed course credit hours, GPA, and graduation rates.

Don is a member of the ACUHOI, Senior Housing Officer Institute class of 2006 and the NASPA, James E. Scott National Academy for Aspiring Senior Student Affairs Officers, class of 2005. Don served a term as the chair of the ACUHOI Internship Committee in 2015 and 2016 and served as Faculty for ACUHOI’s National Housing Training Institute in 2017. Don served as an ACUHOI STARS College Faculty member in 2018, 2019, and 2020. Don served as Chair of the SWACUHO Professional Development Committee in 2018 and 2019.

Don earned a B.S. in Psychology at Southern Oregon University and an M.Ed. in College Student Services Administration at Oregon State University. He started his career in student housing as a Resident Assistant in 1988 and has worked at Southern Oregon University, Pacific University, Oregon State University, Central Washington University, University of Idaho, Portland State University, California State University, Monterey Bay, and the University of Houston.

Don works to provide a great housing experience, with an ethic of care, that supports student academic success.