Shalucha, Barbara, 1915-1992

Barbara Shalucha co-founded the Hilltop Garden and Nature Center in Bloomington, Ind. in 1948 and served as its director until 1986.

Shalucha first came to Indiana University as an instructor in the Botany Department. She was hired for her special perspective on applied botany which incorporated youth involvement. Not long after her arrival in Bloomington, Shalucha co-founded the Hilltop Garden and Nature Center, where her work earned her presidential citations from the Garden Club of Indiana, the National Council of State Garden Clubs, and an appointment to the advisory board for the Young Garden Council in Washington, D.C. Shalucha died in 1992.

Barbara Shalucha was born on 9 December 1915 in Springfield, Vermont, to Joseph and Sophie Shalucha. Shalucha graduated from the University of Vermont in 1937 with a bachelor of arts degree and with a masters degree in 1938. She received her doctorate degree from Ohio State University in 1947.

Following completion of her doctorate degree in 1947 Shalucha was hired as an instructor in the botany department at Indiana University. She was hired for her special perspective on applied botany which incorporated youth involvement. As a result Shalucha co-founded Hilltop Gardens in 1948 where she served as director until her retirement in 1986. Shalucha's work at Hilltop earned her presidential citations from the Garden Clubs of Indiana, from the National Council of State Garden Clubs, and in being appointed a member of the advisory board for the Young Garden Council in Washington D.C. in 1963.

Other honors bestowed upon Shalucha include being appointed to the Food and Agriculture Advisory Council of the White River Park Development in 1983 by then Indiana Governor Robert D. Orr. Also in 1985 Shalucha was selected as a delegate by the China-United States Scientific Exchange to lecture on botanical gardens in China.

Shalucha maintained active memberships in Sigma Xi, Sigma Delta Epsilon, Delta Kappa Gamma, and Pi Alpha Xi.

Barbara Shalucha died on 10 May 1992.