Spring 2001

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Sam Hulbert knows he could not have achieved 25 years at Rose-Hulman without the support of his wife, Joy, and their family.

"Our whole life has revolved around Rose-Hulman, and it's been a very positive experience," Mrs. Hulbert noted in a recent interview. "The people at Rose-Hulman have been very nice as have the people in Terre Haute. It's exciting to see the school doing so well."

From dinners to ball games to select committee work, Mrs. Hulbert maintains a constant presence on campus. "I take no part in the academics, but I do get involved making friends with board members and alumni," she explained.

During her tenure at Rose-Hulman, Mrs. Hulbert has served the Vision to be the Best Humanities Task Force, the Diversity Committee, the Hatfield Hall planning committee and on a campus art advisory group. She is president of the house corporation for the Tri Delta sorority, and she and her husband are major benefactors to the college.

Constantly on the go is one description of Mrs. Hulbert's lifestyle. "It was hectic at first because my children were younger," she recalled. "I would run to campus and then back home to feed the kids and take them places, and then run back to campus. There was a lot of back and forth."

Entertaining at home also has been part of the college life for Mrs. Hulbert: "We did so much entertaining that (daughter) Samantha became a gourmet chef at the age of 12."  The Hulbert children -- Greg, Samantha and Jeff -- helped host guests and went to many sports events with mom and dad, but "they developed their own lives and interests." (Greg is a 1983 chemical engineering alumnus, and Jeff received a mechanical engineering degree in 1991.  Samantha is a DePauw graduate.)

While Rose-Hulman has been a focal point in the Hulbert household, "I have my own life, too, and that's great," Mrs. Hulbert said. She is an avid tennis player, and she is involved in volunteer work throughout the community. She is a trustee for the Terre Haute YWCA, and played an active role in a building drive for the group. She also is involved with Trees, Inc., has been on Terre Haute Symphony board, and is a member of Chapter BN PEO.

In addition to her community service, Mrs. Hulbert invests much time as a grandmother. She and the president have 10 grandchildren (six boys and four girls). "I get to be with them a lot and I enjoy that time," she said. "Last year, I spent 100 days throughout the year with them. Being rather statistical, Sam keeps track of those types of things."