A billion-dollar milestone unveiled in President Parlow’s first State of the University
Photo by Easton Clark, Photo Editor
In his first State of the University Address as president, Matt Parlow traced Chapman’s improvement over the past three decades, pointing to higher rankings, expanding research and record-breaking fundraising.
The annual presentation serves as an update to the campus, community and donors on Chapman’s achievements thus far and what is in store for the future.
This year, Parlow leaned heavily into themes of academic excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration and a renewed commitment to civil discourse. These topics align with areas of focus Parlow cited during his investiture ceremony in October.
The biggest announcement came at the end with Parlow announcing that Chapman’s endowment has surpassed $1 billion for the first time in university history. Just 10 years ago, it stood at $300 million, Parlow said.
The announcement underscored the broader fundraising momentum building across campus, helping to increase enrollment.
The Inspire: The Campaign for Chapman Universityfundraiser now sits close to its $500 million goal at $480 million, buoyed by several major gifts announced during the address.
“The state of our university is incredibly strong,” Parlow said during the ceremony. “We’re going to continue with that.”
The first major donation, Parlow announced, had arrived just hours earlier. Chapman parents Amy and Jad Duncan gifted $10 million to support academic leadership and deepen experimental learning in the Fowler School of Engineering.
Photo by Easton Clark, Photo Editor
Several other donations were recognized before Christine Cross was brought on stage to honor four recipients of her scholarship with Cross Scholar medals. It was then revealed that an additional $20 million will be gifted to further endow such scholarships.
Building on a legacy that already includes $10 million in student scholarship funding, Cross announced a $5.5 million gift to the university’s summer music camps for high school students.
Aside from the donations, Parlow also praised student success, including the 100% pass rates for teacher credential candidates and physician assistant students, as well as strong results in pharmacy and law. Also acclaimed were performing arts students for their national recognition, and Chapman Radio, which continues to collect national awards.
“It shows the kind of education you’re getting here at Chapman,” he said. “When our students compare to others, Chapman shines.”
Executive vice president, provost and Chief Academic Officer Michael Ibba was welcomed on stage to discuss the university’s emphasis on experiential learning, students working in the community and praising Chapman’s research.
“This emphasis on research is central to who we are as a university, and it permeates throughout what we do,” Ibba said.
Photo by Easton Clark, Photo Editor
Ibba also talked about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the classroom. Although clear university guidelines regarding the use of AI have yet to be set, Ibba said that Chapman is working to be ahead of AI in academia through curriculum changes and integrating it as a source.
He cited pharmacy professor Sherry Wang, who recently won an AI Researcher of the Year award from the Women in AI Society, as an academic expert in the field. He also showed off a picture captured from a student-made AI-generated movie trailer.
“AI is part of how we’re making our students ready for the workforce,” Ibba said.
When Parlow returned to the stage, he spoke about campus civil discourse and praised the Or Initiative for teaching students and faculty how to have difficult conversations about complex, heated issues.
In recent years, student activism has grown more visible on campus. Several student demonstrations took place shortly before Parlow entered office, including protests for Gaza’s liberation, walkouts opposing the end of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and verbal remarks made during former President Daniele Struppa’s State of the University address last year.
Parlow is optimistic about the university’s commitment to free speech and civil discourse and continues to promote the value of seeing other perspectives.
“Chapman is uniquely situated to take this long-term dedication to free speech and civil discourse and really try to become national leaders on this, to model for others something that most of society is desperately struggling with,” he said.
Echoing the themes of growth and shared purpose that ran throughout the address, Parlow emphasized that the university’s success is rooted in its sense of community and collective mission.
“What we want to do is continue that momentum,” Parlow said. “The pride of being part of this special community that has this really unique and impactful mission, that we all feel part of something bigger than ourselves.”