Wright State remembers former president Paige E. Mulhollan

(L-R) Wright State President David R. Hopkins, Mary Bess Mulhollan, Angelia Hopkins, Paige Mulhollan Jr., Brenda Rinzler and Allan Rinzler pose for a picture before the memorial service for Paige E. Mulhollan.

Wright State University’s third president, Paige E. Mulhollan (1934–2012) was remembered on campus Friday, October 5, at a memorial that included Mulhollan’s wife Mary Bess, his son Paige, Jr., and many current and former Wright State faculty, staff and alumni.

Mulhollan, who served from 1985 to 1994, is best remembered as a dynamic visionary who forged the university’s dedication to service and leadership.

“President Mulhollan was a visionary. He recognized the importance of research excellence and community service as integral to the academic experience of our students,” said current Wright State University President David R. Hopkins. “Paige ushered in the full university experience for our students with his focus on the Student Union, campus housing and the Wright State University Nutter Center. We are forever indebted to him.”

Paige Mulhollan is remembered on campus as a dynamic but “laid-back” president who took time to personally interact with faculty, staff and students.

During his presidency, the College of Science and Engineering split to form the College of Engineering and Computer Science and the College of Science and Mathematics; the Center for Teaching and Learning opened to assist faculty development in teaching; Wright State athletics moved to NCAA Division I and on-campus housing expanded to accommodate nearly 2,000 students.

In 1990, the university hosted the first national conference of metropolitan universities and launched the journal for member institutions. Annual research funding at Wright State also topped $20 million During Mulhollan’s tenure.

Mulhollan also helped launch the Wright STEPP program in partnership with Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton Public Schools and local corporations. The program encourages minorities and underrepresented high school students to pursue science, math and engineering careers.

Visit http://webapp2.wright.edu/web1/newsroom/2012/09/11/memorial-for-former-wright-state-president-paige-e-mulhollan-set-for-oct-5/ to learn more about Mulhollan.