Rush University is saddened to share the news of the passing of Sharon D. Gates, DSW, senior director of Student Diversity and Community Engagement at Rush University. Sharon’s dedication to the Rush community and her infectious smile left a lasting impression on anyone who knew her.
For more than four decades, Sharon made a profound impact on Rush and the communities we serve. A dedicated teacher and mentor, she helped build a foundation for our students rooted in service and compassion.
“Sharon was a unique leader and an inspiring force for good — listening and supporting our students, teaching all of us about the value of working with the community, and always finding time for anyone who needed her, including me,” says Dr. Omar Lateef, President and CEO of Rush University System for Health and Rush University Medical Center. “She walked the halls of Rush with grace, and she made all of us better people and Rush a better place forever.”
A Legacy of Service
Sharon was instilled with a passion for giving back. At a young age, she would go to soup kitchens with her mom to serve meals in vulnerable communities. She raised funds with her mom for the yearly March of Dimes and Mental Health drives in their community. In her work at Rush, she carried on that same commitment to philanthropy, multicultural affairs and community and global health.
Sharon started her career with Rush in the Alumni Relations office in 1985, including a role as director of Alumni Relations. Her career then led to director of multicultural affairs for Rush Medical College. In 2008, she was named interim director of Multicultural Affairs at Rush University. This expanded her work in multicultural affairs and community services initiatives to include the entire university. In 2011, she was named senior director of Multicultural Affairs and Community Outreach at Rush University.
Throughout her career at Rush, she led numerous fundraising, community service and outreach initiatives.
Among her many contributions was her longstanding leadership of the Rush Community Service Initiatives Program. In 1991, the Rush Community Service Initiatives Programs was founded to help the community better understand their heart health by taking their blood pressure. Under her leadership, RCSIP has grown exponentially. Incorporating a variety of initiatives, focused on reducing health disparities through education, outreach and access.
For more than three decades, Sharon was a driving force behind RCSIP’s growth and impact. Programs now include community health clinics, community gardens, health education programs, pipeline programs for school-age children and more.
A Lasting Impact at Rush and Beyond
Sharon was also one of the first members of Rush’s Diversity Leadership Group, an initiative founded in 2008. She received numerous awards at Rush for her mentorship and commitment to others, including the Henry P. Russe, MD, Award in 2006. This award is given to individuals who demonstrate a daily commitment to philanthropy while on the job. She was also presented with the Rush Leadership Award in 2017 for her deep impact on students. Most recently, she was named endowed chair of a fund to provide financial assistance to medical students.
As the news broke about Sharon’s passing, the Rush community gathered in hallways, meetings and on social media. Some shared moments of comfort, stories and memories about Sharon’s impact on them.
People will remember Sharon as an integral part of their educational journey, a strong support system and an inspiration to lead by example. They found her warmth, positive energy and giving spirit to be infectious, something she instilled in every person she encountered. She was a legend in our midst.
Sharon’s legacy will live on through the students she taught, the many people she mentored, communities she served and the colleagues she worked with to advance Rush mission.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to support the Rush Community Service Initiatives Program, here.
We extend our deepest condolences to Sharon’s family on behalf of Rush.