Former University of Illinois faculty member Don Llewellyn and his spouse Carol Norcross ('78, Fine and Applied Arts) established the Yuki Llewellyn Family Fund to support student internships at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Asian American Cultural Center, ensuring that future generations of students have meaningful opportunities to learn, lead, and advocate. The fund honors the life and legacy of Yuki Llewellyn—a woman whose personal history, professional career, and lifelong commitment to equity left an indelible mark on the University and beyond.
Born Helen Yukiko Okinaga on April 22, 1939, in Los Angeles’s Little Tokyo, Yuki Llewellyn’s earliest years were shaped by one of the most profound injustices in American history. In March 1942, at not yet three years old, she was photographed sitting atop a suitcase at the Santa Fe Depot in Los Angeles, waiting with her mother, Mikiko, to be sent to the Manzanar War Relocation Center. Both were American citizens of Japanese ancestry and among the first individuals incarcerated following President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Executive Order 9066. The photograph, taken by Clem Albers, would later become one of the most widely recognized images of Japanese American incarceration and is now displayed at the Smithsonian Institution and at the Manzanar National Historical Site.
While that image captured a single moment, Yuki’s life reflected decades of resilience, achievement, and leadership. After leaving Manzanar in 1945, Yuki and her mother relocated to Cleveland, Ohio, with the sponsorship of a Buddhist family. There, her mother supported them by sewing and operating a small boarding house for Japanese American students. Despite arriving with limited English, Yuki excelled academically, earning a scholarship to Lake Forest College near Chicago. She graduated in 1962 with a degree in Dramatic Art and was remembered as one of the most active and engaged students on campus.
Yuki continued her education at Tulane University, earning a Master of Fine Arts in Directing. During this time, she met her future husband, Don Llewellyn, a scenic designer. Together, they collaborated on theater productions that blended creative vision and storytelling, including a thesis production of Rashomon for which Yuki’s mother designed the costumes.
The couple moved to the Champaign-Urbana area when Don was offered a teaching position in the Speech and Theatre Department (now in the College of Fine and Applied Arts) at the University of Illinois. But Yuki encountered barriers that were common for women of her generation, including anti-nepotism policies that limited her ability to teach in the same department as her husband. She redirected her talents towards directing plays at off-campus venues such as the Depot (now the Station Theatre), and in student affairs and public relations, ultimately serving as Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Student Organizations. In these roles, she became a trusted mentor and advocate for countless students.
As one of the University’s earliest Asian American staff members, Yuki played a critical role in advancing support for Asian American students. She co-chaired the Asian American Advisory Council, helped organize the first Asian Variety Show, and contributed to foundational reports that helped pave the way for the establishment of the Asian American Cultural Center. Her work reflected a deep belief in the power of education, representation, and community.
Yuki’s commitment to service extended beyond campus. She served as Executive Director of the Illini Mothers Association and, in retirement, as a board member of the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District, where she worked to improve accessibility and sustainability in public transportation. She also served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), giving voice to children in the foster care system and ensuring their needs were represented.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Yuki was a devoted mother to her son, David ('99, Media) and a proud grandmother to three grandchildren. Known for her warmth, humor, creativity, and quiet determination, she approached every role in her life with intention and care.
Today, Yuki’s legacy continues through the Yuki Llewellyn Family Fund. By supporting student interns at the Asian American Cultural Center, the fund provides hands-on learning opportunities that prepare students to lead with compassion, cultural understanding, and courage. Don, Carol, and the Llewellyn family ensure that Yuki’s lifelong dedication to education and equity lives on—empowering students to shape a more inclusive future at the University of Illinois and beyond.
Learn more about Yuki's life and impact: Tribute to Yuki Llewellyn.
