When Christine Mumma ’85, ’98 entered UNC Law School she knew how hard it was to be a working mother of three young children. She did not anticipate the challenges of being a student mother.

“I remember going through orientation, and in my section there wasn’t anybody else who had kids. I felt a little awkward, a little out of place,” said Mumma, whose children turned two, five and seven during her first year of school.

Now Mumma has established the Mumma Scholarship for Single Parents, an endowed fund that will support single law students with custody of a child or children. An additional provision of the scholarship is that Mumma will be available as a mentor to recipients.

Although Mumma was married during the time she attended law school, her husband, a venture capitalist, spent a lot of his time traveling.

“I appreciate the difficulties of being a single parent/student and the scholarship sends a message that the law school is supportive of people who have children and who want to come to law school.

“Yes, the scholarship gives some financial assistance, but I also want to meet the people who have the scholarship and let them know there are people out there who have done it. When you start law school you feel like you’re going to be totally out of place, and I feel like if single parents can start out with a sense of fellowship it would be a better experience for them.”

Her reasons for giving the scholarship stem from her experience at the law school, where the support of the faculty, staff and her peer group eased Mumma’s transition from working mother to student mother.

When the babysitter did not show or when one of the kids was sick Mumma’s friends in the school would help out with childcare.

When professors found Samantha, Kyle and Madison in class with coloring books in hand, they were unruffled and supportive.

“I thought the law school was great,” Mumma said. “They opened their arms to the kids and to me.”

“Anyone who has been around law schools for a time is thrilled to see a scholarship like this,” said Gene Nichol, dean of the law school. “Non-traditional students face hurdles that many of us just don’t anticipate. I’m really delighted that Chris Mumma has chosen to support future generations of students in this way.” 

— Kristina Casto ’01

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