Donor Spotlight: Barbara Lyghtel Rohrer

In the late 1970’s, Barbara was traveling the rural roads of Brown County, Ohio, when she came upon a sign for the former Chatfield College. Then, in her mid-twenties, she was not a traditional student but nevertheless quickly found a haven on the serene and sprawling campus. 

“The first person I met when I stepped on campus was Sister Agatha,” Barbara recalled. “She was so wise and grounded in who she was and accepted me for who I was.” That encounter was the start of a lifelong relationship and one that gave Barbara clarity about her own life’s calling.

Sister Agatha helped her find a work study job producing short radio spots, which ultimately led to Barbara’s career in public relations and communications. After four years of taking classes that interested her, she left Chatfield College and earned a BA in English from Northern Kentucky University and an MA in Communications from the University of Cincinnati. She also took graduate classes in theology at Xavier University  and The Athenaeum of Ohio. Through it all, Barbara never forgot the intellectual stimulation and emotional support she experienced at Chatfield.

“Chatfield was there for me when I needed it,” she recalls. “It was a refuge for me and a place where I felt I belonged, was welcomed and accepted, and made good friends.”

In 2023,  Barbara heard about the launch of The Chatfield Edge and signed up as a monthly financial supporter to help continue a mission that had made a difference in her own life.

“When I was young, struggling and not sure what I was doing, Chatfield helped me figure out what my gifts were and where I wanted to go,” she said. “Now, I read stories about Chatfield Edge scholars becoming social workers and barbers – people pursuing where they feel called – and I want to do my small part to make sure they have the support needed to make their dreams a reality.”

Like many current Chatfield Edge scholars, Barbara worked a job to support herself while earning her undergraduate degree. Along the way, she developed a desire to give back to others in small ways, resonating with St. Mother Teresa’s famous phrase “do small things with great love.”

Today, Barbara supports her church with an active social justice ministry by using her talents to organize an annual rummage sale fundraiser, ushering monthly, occasionally leading a service, and simply pitching when needed. She is also eager to help The Chatfield Edge augment its “Servant Leaders” program which aims to strengthen academic success through service to others.

“That’s where my passion is. I want to help students take on roles in community service so they can do small things to make the world a better place for all of us,” she said. “One of my prayers is that all people will be blessed with wisdom, insight, and compassion, with a commitment to common good, world peace, and healing the earth.”

When asked to reflect on advice or wisdom that she received that might compel others to engage in service Barbara shared this story:

“At the age of 15, I started wearing glasses. My dad, who was in many ways a typical hands-off father of the 1950s and ‘60s, didn’t give much advice or direction. The night I got my glasses, he came to me and said, ‘When you take your glasses off, make sure you put them down lenses up, so they won’t get scratched.’ What struck me was not what he said but the care, kindness, and love that came through. That’s what I think about servant leadership. It’s the little things that will change the world.”

The Chatfield Edge relies on people like Barbara to step forward in small (or big) ways to support its vision of equipping first-generation and underserved students with resources to reach their education and life goals, increasing their employability and deepening their impact on their families and communities.

We would love to talk to you about how you can join us as a volunteer or monthly financial partner. Contact us at 513-875-3344 or visit our website at chatfieldedge.org to learn more.