On September 14, 2025, Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen and Community Relations Manager Tracy Parsons (Equity and Engagement), attended the unveiling of Dean Clarence Shelley Way, located at the corner of Sixth and John Streets.
The ceremony honored the life and enduring legacy of Dean Clarence Shelley, a trailblazing administrator at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. As the university’s first Director of the Office of Minority Student Affairs and later as Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Dean Shelley dedicated his career to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion on campus.
Widely respected for his compassionate leadership and unwavering commitment to student success, Dean Shelley was a mentor, advocate, and role model for generations of students—particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds.
The street naming serves as a lasting tribute to his profound contributions to the university and the broader Champaign-Urbana community.