Robert SP Yien

Saginaw, Michigan

Beloved husband, father, and grandfather passed away on April 10, 2025 at the age of 84 years. Robert (Bob) was born on November 25, 1940 in Taipei City, Taiwan. He married Amy HM Ting on July 1, 1967; she predeceased him on June 30, 2019.

Surviving are his sons Phillip and Bradley, daughter-in-law Ruth, beloved granddaughter Joanna, his older sister Ruth Tsai and younger brother Lionel Yien.

Born and raised in Taiwan, Bob completed a bachelor’s degree at Tunghai University and left for the United States in 1965 to begin graduate studies at Michigan State University, where he earned his master’s degree and Ph.D. He was hired at Saginaw Valley State University in 1970 to be part of the sociology faculty. As a professor, he earned SVSU’s Landee Award for Teaching Excellence in 1973. He counted that as the first major turning point in his career at SVSU and the recognition encouraged him his entire life.

A series of fortunate events and hard work helped Dr. Yien become vice president for Academic Affairs in 1978 at the young age of 38. He held the university’s top academic office for 27 years throughout a period of tremendous growth for the institution, as the number of faculty grew from 95 to 260 during that time. Early in his tenure, Dr. Yien created SVSU’s College of Science, Engineering and Technology, and he described that as one of his proudest achievements.

An advocate for international education, Dr. Yien played a leading role in the growth and development of SVSU’s international partnerships, particularly in Asia: China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. Among his personal favorite accomplishments here were helping create the SVSU Taiwan MBA Program (1990-2001) and helping establish the Michigan Center for Japan Universities in Hikone, Japan, in 1989.

He also was a strong proponent of writing, having started the SVSU Writing Center and the First Year Writing Awards, which today are named in his honor, as is the Yien International Garden, located outside of the Arbury Fine Arts Center. Dr. Yien was granted emeritus status by the SVSU Board of Control, following his retirement.

Dr. Yien had a second act career: an opportunity arose with Ming Chuan University (MCU) in Taipei, Taiwan, that hastened his retirement from SVSU in 2006. He accepted an appointment at MCU as executive vice president and focused on making it the first U.S. accredited university in Asia. That remarkable goal was accomplished in 2010, one that could not have occurred without the unique experience, interpersonal skill and cultivated relationships that Dr. Yien brought. After that, he helped establish MCU’s first U.S. branch campus in 2014… on the campus of SVSU. Things had come full circle. Dr. Yien was able to drive to work to the same college campus he did daily from 1970 to 2006.

Family was dear to Dr. Yien’s heart. One word best summarizes how he saw his purpose to his family: provider. He always did the best job he could at work to provide for his family -- his own parents, his wife, and his sons. His sons remember a dad who worked hard at the office daily yet always made sure to come home for dinner. Later as empty nesters, Bob took Amy along on his business trips around the world, a chapter in their lives they enjoyed immensely. His job at MCU allowed them to reconnect to their homeland of Taiwan. They began spending time living between Taipei, Taiwan and Saginaw. Amy was able to spend precious time with her six sisters and her older brother. As they grew older, Bob and Amy enjoyed going on walks together in Saginaw. One favorite spot was Krossroad’s Park in Kochville Township.

An avid swimmer, Bob often could be found in the Ryder Center. He missed Amy very much after she passed away in 2019. The Recreation Center swimming pool was one place he found solace when swimming. His sons saw the ironic humor in this situation as mom (Amy) could not swim.

Dr. Robert SP Yien will be missed very much by his family and friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 3, 2025 in the Arbury Fine Arts Center on the campus of Saginaw Valley State University, 7400 Bay Road, University Center, MI 48710.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift in memory of Dr. Robert SP Yien to the Degree Completion Fund at Saginaw Valley State University, which ensures that financial hardship doesn’t stand in the way of a student’s dream of earning a college degree, a cause close to Dr. Yien’s heart. Gifts may be mailed to: SVSU Foundation, 7400 Bay Road, University Center, MI 48710. You can give by phone by calling (989) 964-4052 M-F between 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 pm EST. Online giving: www.svsu.edu/foundation/ Click the “Give to SVSU” tab in the upper right corner and select “Bob Yien Memorial” from the drop-down menu under “I want to support”.