The tragic passing of School of Forestry executive director Yeon-Su Kim
Dear Lumberjacks,
I write to you this evening with a heavy heart.
As many of you know, our dear colleague Yeon-Su Kim and her husband, Corey Allen, have been lost at sea since Thursday when they faced strong winds while kayaking off of Rocky Point Beach.
This evening, after days of search and rescue efforts, the tragic passing of Yeon-Su was confirmed. The search for Corey continues.
The first time I interacted with Yeon-Su, I walked away impressed by her love of NAU, passion for our mission, and devotion to advancing the well-being of our university’s community.
This first impression would hold true in every subsequent interaction I had with her, and it is an impression that will now forever be cemented in my heart as I reflect on the many people from inside and outside our university community who have contributed in one way or another to the efforts to search for her and her husband, and who today are striving to help their children in these most devastating circumstances.
Yeon-Su was an invaluable faculty member in the School of Forestry and esteemed academic leader who joined NAU in September 1998 and has served as the school’s executive director since July 2021. Her accomplishments and contributions to her academic discipline, our university’s mission, and the broader community were many, and—in consultation with her family and friends—we will find the appropriate time and place to celebrate her legacy of a life well-lived.
In the meantime, let us all keep the hope alive that Corey will be found soon and brought home safely.
I will provide more information as things evolve and encourage anyone in need of support processing this painful news to access NAU’s resources.
- Counseling Services: 928-523-2261
- NAU Counseling Services Online Resources
- Employee Assistance and Wellness Resources
- Crisis Response Network: 877-756-4090, a 24-hour crisis line available to anyone experiencing a mental health crisis.
Sincerely,
José Luis Cruz Rivera
President