Lucy Imholte’s influence on the Morris campus is inescapable. For more than three decades, she worked in tandem with her husband, Chancellor Emeritus Jack Imholte, building a community at the university where everyone felt welcomed and valued. She used her hospitality to bring people together. Thanks to her family, a sculpture now stands east of Imholte Hall in honor of her commitment to campus, her energy, and her pursuit of knowledge. Named ‘Transference’, the sculpted bench’s design incorporates flowers and books.
“She loved to be outdoors, reading, chatting, doing a crossword, and basking in the sunshine and flowers,” says Sara, the Imholtes’ oldest child. “It also represents our family’s abiding devotion to UMM.”
Lucy’s support for UMN Morris continued throughout her lifetime. In addition to her volunteer work on campus, attending concerts and plays, and filling the family home with art from Morris students and faculty—she was engaged off campus, serving on the library and historical society boards, active in the League of Women Voters, working as an election judge and supporting local merchants.
As the Imholte family contemplated a way to honor their mother’s contributions to the campus, a work of public art seemed most appropriate.
“I wanted to be able to stand in the building that's been named after Dad (Imholte Hall)… and see my mother,” Sara explains. “I wanted something that joined the two of them together.”
The sculpture was designed and constructed by Minnesota sculptor Craig Synder. Dedication of the sculpture was held during Homecoming 2025.