A Legacy Conversation With Professor Emeritus Duncan Mellichamp
The philanthropy of Duncan H’09 and Suzanne MA’70 Mellichamp
Why has higher education been such a significant focus of your philanthropy?
My wife and I have always approached philanthropy as a team. We met when she was a young second-grade teacher and I was on winter break from my first year at Purdue. Suzanne was working in Dubuque after earning a B.A. from the University of Northern Iowa. UC Santa Barbara became our professional home. We wanted to give back to the places that invested in us and shaped our lives.
What first sparked your interest in planned giving?
I served on a number of university committees over the years, including the Finance & Planning Committee, and picked up bits and pieces about planned gifts and the different ways in which people can donate to something they care about. Over the years, we received advice and guidance from outside financial advisors as well as a former UC Santa Barbara planned giving officer. The options that provided additional income and tax advantages were very enticing.
Many of your largest gifts support faculty. Why?
Faculty support students. If you understand that, then you support faculty and let them choose the students. When you support faculty, you’re really supporting the entire ecosystem: programs, students, research, and discovery. Two of the chairs we funded support the vice chairs of the department, whomever they may be. We wanted to do that for the department because it creates lasting support for leadership.
You chose to name those chairs after colleagues. Why?
People have asked why we named the chairs for [founding faculty members of the Department of Chemical Engineering] Jack Myers and Bob Rinker. They were the two people who hired me. They gave me the opportunity to join the department and build my career here. Naming the chairs after them was a way of honoring that impact.
How do you think about legacy when making philanthropic decisions?
Legacy is really about creating opportunities for other people. If you can help build something that will continue long after you’re gone, that’s meaningful. Endowed positions do that. They support people who will contribute to the university for generations.
What impact have you seen from the investments you’ve made in faculty and academic programs?
One of the most rewarding things is seeing what happens to the people connected to those programs. Many former students have gone on to remarkable careers. One student from my classes became the president of a major technology company. Many went on to lead significant work in industry and philanthropy. You realize that the influence of a university extends far beyond the campus.
Does that reinforce your belief in supporting higher education?
Absolutely. Universities create opportunities that ripple outward. You teach students, support faculty, and invest in programs, and those people go on to make contributions you could never predict. That’s one of the reasons that higher education is such a worthwhile investment.
What role does planned giving play in that vision?
Planned gifts allow you to think beyond immediate needs and focus on long-term impact. They help create permanent resources that strengthen an institution over time. That’s important because the needs of a university don’t end with any one generation.
What would you say to someone considering a planned gift?
The first question is simple: What are you passionate about? Start there. We tried to find areas where we could participate and make a difference. The vehicle matters, but the purpose matters more. Figure out what you care about and build from there. Think about what made a difference in your own life. Think about the people who gave you opportunities. How can you create those opportunities for others? For Suzanne and me, that has always been a guiding principle.
Looking back, would you create these gifts again?
Absolutely. We would do it over and over.
About Duncan H’09 and Suzanne MA’70 Mellichamp
Professor Emeritus Duncan Mellichamp H’09 is a founding member of UC Santa Barbara’s Department of Chemical Engineering, where he helped build the program into one of the nation’s leading departments during a nearly 40-year academic career. Since retiring in 2003, the year he was elected trustee of the UC Santa Barbara Foundation, he has remained deeply engaged with the university through teaching, research, leadership, and philanthropy. Duncan still serves as Trustee Emeritus.
Duncan and Suzanne have established a significant philanthropic legacy. Their support has funded innovative faculty chair clusters, graduate student initiatives, and other strategic investments designed to strengthen UC Santa Barbara. The Mellichamps’ vision centers on building excellence by supporting promising faculty and students at pivotal moments in their careers. Additionally, their generosity has transformed North Campus Open Space through restoration and public access, and helped name the Carlton Duncan Visitor’s Plaza in honor of Suzanne’s family.
Published October 2026
Universities create opportunities that ripple outward. You teach students, support faculty, and invest in programs, and those people go on to make contributions you could never predict. That’s one of the reasons that higher education is such a worthwhile investment.
Professor Emeritus Duncan Mellichamp H’09