A familiar face to students, faculty and staff at the OU College of Law will retire at the end of the semester after a decade at the university.

Barbara Lynn has only worked in the Amicus Cafe since May 2008, but many say she’s left a lasting impact on those she’s met there.

Christa Evans, president of the OU College of Law class of 2011, said Lynn is part of the OU law experience.

“She’s made as much if not more of an impact on our lives as our professors and faculty do,” Evans said.

Lynn started working for OU Housing and Food in September 1999, where she was a Cate Taco Mayo supervisor, Retail Operations Director for OU Housing and Food Kevin Barker said by e-mail.

She has also worked at the former Taco Mayo (now Laughing Tomato) in the Oklahoma Memorial Union, Freshens in the Huston Huffman Center and the Redbud Cafe in the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, he said.

In May 2008, Lynn started working in the Amicus Cafe and took total ownership of that operation, Barker said.

“Her love for her law students and the great faculty/staff there made her a unique and popular person,” Barker said.

Law student Jay Scears remembers his first personal experience with Lynn at the Amicus cafe. Scears didn’t have any cash, and wasn’t sure if the cafe accepted credit cards. He said when he asked Lynn if the cafe accepted them, she said, “I take cards, and I even take IOUs.”

Stanley Evans, OU College of Law assistant dean of students, said this is something Lynn regularly does.

“She sets up an account for students who forget their money,” he said. “She covers their meal, and they always come back and pay because she knows who they are.”

Stanley Evans said this system creates a level of trust with the students and in return, they don’t have to miss a meal.

“She sets up a spirit of friendliness that becomes contagious with the students,” he said. “She makes students feel welcome and at home.”

Lynn has been honored at least twice for the law school’s Staff Support Person of the Year, and was the special guest at Gridiron, the law school prom this year, Stanley Evans said. He said she was invited and given a free seat at the prom, although he had to pay his own way.

“Students care about her because she cares about them,” he said.

He said Lynn makes an effort to get to know all the students, and is always there with a smile and a hug.

“If you’re having a bad day, she’s attuned to that and will encourage you,” he said. “If you’ve had a success, she’ll be the first to congratulate you.”

Lynn is like a proud parent, he said. She keeps clippings from The Daily about their students on the cafeteria fridge.

“We’re really going to miss her around here,” he said.

Mitch McCuistian, Student Bar Association class of 2012 president, said Lynn was an asset and friend to everyone at the College of Law. McCuistian said one time when he was overloaded with books, he spilled his soda on the counter in the café.

“Ms. Barbara simply smiled like she always did, gave me a hard time in a playful manner, and proceeded to help me clean up the mess I had created even though she didn’t have to,” McCuistian said. “That’s just the type of woman she is.”

McCuistian said he wishes the incoming freshmen had a chance to get to know Lynn like the students before them.

Lynn has had her retirement scheduled for a while, but a surgery forced her to leave a little earlier, Barker said.