Even at a campus known for the contributions of its faculty and staff to the community, emeritus sociology professor Walt Schafer stands out. Few can match the impact he has made at important Chico organizations as well as to the quality of life and education at Chico State.

Schafer came to campus as a visiting professor in 1975. In that first year he created SOCI 363, Sociology of Human Stress, which became one of the most popular classes at the University. After becoming a tenured faculty member, he served 28 years as professor of sociology, including four years as department chair. In the 1999-2000 academic year, he served as interim dean of the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences. Among his accomplishments was hiring one of the school’s largest tenure-track cohorts over the past 40 years. He was named Chico State Outstanding Professor in 1992.

Schafer was an active scholar during his 30-year career on campus, with dozens of publications including the textbook Stress Management for Wellness, now in its fourth edition. His expertise on wellness was put to good use in 2001-2003 when he served as assistant to President Manuel Esteban for alcohol issues. With funding from a U.S. Department of Education grant, Schafer spearheaded two campuswide efforts that helped change student perceptions about their peers’ drinking and gathered important data about student drinking habits. The findings and successes culminated in the 2005 publication Confronting College Drinking: A Campus Case Study that he and Esteban coauthored.

Schafer’s community contributions began soon after he arrived and continue to this day. In 1979, he founded the Enloe Stress and Health Center and cofounded the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program; he served as administrator and conducted stress management classes for both ventures. In 2004-2005, Schafer was president of the Chico Rotary Club. Between 2008 and 2019, he led the Chico Rotary Club and 19 other California Rotary Clubs in partnership with two Tanzanian rotary clubs, spearheading community development projects in Tanzania that brought clean water, solar power, improved health clinics and agriculture, and educational resources to the Kilimanjaro region.

Currently, Schafer is chair of the Enloe Health Board of Trustees and has served on the board since 2018. He is also president of the Honey Run Covered Bridge Association, leading successful efforts to rebuild the bridge after its destruction in the 2018 Camp Fire. Among the other organizations Schafer has played leadership roles in are the Chico Running Club, Chico Velo Cycling Club, and the Centerville Recreation and Historical Association. He was also the founding race director for the Bidwell Classic and Almond Bowl Run.

“Over his long career and well into retirement, Dr. Schafer has made remarkable contributions to both Chico State and the broader Chico community, exemplifying a lifelong commitment to service and leadership,” said Liahna Gordon, sociology department chair.