Barbara Mulch remembered as a passionate advocate for Chapman students

Generous, courageous, inspirational, dedicated — such words of affection flowed throughout a memorial service honoring Chapman University Professor Barbara Mulch, Ph.D., Thursday evening in the Wallace All Faiths Chapel of the Fish Interfaith Center.  But many in the throng attending were also introduced to a new term to describe the woman who served Chapman as a full-time faculty member for 44 years.

“The Mulchinator.”

That’s how she was known to one of the many Chapman honor students she worked with in her most recent role as director of fellowships and scholar programs. It’s clear she was never more ardent and persuasive than she was in championing the cause of Chapman students as they pursued their own scholarly passions. On one table at the memorial sat a floral-like arrangement that included scores of thank-you cards sent by students to Dr. Mulch over the years.

“She was so optimistic and confident, and that transferred to her students,” said Presidential Scholar Sabrina Davis ’12, who with the help of Dr. Mulch recently earned a Fulbright scholarship to study in Madrid, Spain. “I will think of Barbara in Spain and for the rest of my life.”

Dr. Mulch passed away April 29 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Orange after a massive stroke. She was 77.

She joined the Chapman full-time faculty in 1968 and served in many capacities during her storied career, including as a history professor, dean of graduate studies, vice provost and as Chapman’s first female chair of the faculty. But her influence went far beyond any job description.

“She defined the word integrity and did so with all the power of her formidable intellect and huge heart,” said Dr. Marilyn Harran, writing in the program for the memorial, to which many in the assemblage wore vibrant red — Dr. Mulch’s favorite color.

Dr. Myron Yeager, professor of English, remembered Dr. Mulch as a steadfast advocate for faculty and students, as a leader of cheers at Chapman sports and performing arts events, and as the producer of an annual rock ‘n’ roll show that generated scholarship funding.

Noting that Dr. Mulch was selected as one of the 150 Faces of Chapman to mark the university’s 150th anniversary last year, Dr. Yeager added, “If we should have a competition for the 150 voices of Chapman, very few, if any, could ring out more stridently than Barbara’s.”

After Chapman Trustee Doy Henley praised Dr. Mulch as a source of inspiration, President Jim Doti announced that, at the request of benefactors Doy and Dee Henley, a scholarship fund aiding students who study abroad would be renamed in honor of Dr. Mulch.

“Barbara Mulch loved Chapman,” President Doti said. “She had a visceral sense of our mission. It was in her gut.”

He called on Chapman faculty and staff members to “rededicate ourselves to the things Barbara brought to Chapman — a love for this learning community, and most of all a love for its students.”

A video of the memorial is available for online viewing at Chapman University’s Mediasite.