End of an era: A look back on President Struppa’s leadership

Photo Collage by Emily Paris, Photo Editor

After nearly a decade of leadership, President Daniele C. Struppa is preparing to step down, closing a chapter marked by change, growth and controversy. 

Following the conclusion of his presidency on Sept. 1, he will return to his academic roots as a member of the mathematics faculty. 

“I have been an administrator for more than 30 years, and while I have been able to teach and publish while serving in my administrative roles, I have increasingly missed devoting more of my time to those activities,” Struppa wrote in an email announcing his retirement last May. “I have had a lifelong love of math, and I want to spend the rest of my intellectual life immersed in it.”

Struppa first joined the Chapman community as provost and chief academic officer in 2006, where he was responsible for creating and implementing academic priorities. This leadership was furthered a year later when he was appointed as the university’s first chancellor.

In 2016, Struppa became Chapman’s 13th president. 

Under his leadership, Chapman expanded its research capabilities, becoming an R2 research institution, establishing the Fowler School of Engineering and opening the Keck Center for Science and Engineering in 2018 under the “Engineering the Future” strategic plan.

In 2023, Struppa launched “Our Path to Greatness,” the university’s current five-year strategic plan. This plan encompasses five main areas: academic excellence, expanding graduate health science programs, organizational excellence, campus projects for enhancing community-building and a comprehensive campaign.

Several initiatives in this plan have already been accomplished, such as the completion of the Sandi Simon Center for Dance, the expansion of the Hilbert Museum, the completion of the Campus Center at the Rinker campus and the continued restoration of the Lydia D. Killefer School building.

Chapman’s endowment money has been on the rise as part of Struppa’s fundraising initiative, Inspire: The Campaign for Chapman University. The ongoing fundraiser started two years ago, aiming to reach a fundraising goal of $500 million, with already $402 million raised to date. 

However, with the intention of using these funds to support all 11 Chapman schools and colleges, Struppa has had to implement a budget cut of $30.4 million due to projected budget deficits amidst Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) issues.   

“When we have those resources, the financial strength, that’s what helps our school and colleges and our faculty flourish. That’s what helps give our students even more opportunities, and what (Struppa) was able to achieve was significant,” said President-elect Matt Parlow during the State of the University Address in February. 

Struppa has also overseen increased enrollment and the expansion of student housing. Over his nine years as president, admissions and enrollment have been on the rise, including this year’s enrollment class tracking favorably after last year’s FAFSA delays.

To accommodate the influx of students, Struppa oversaw the development of Chapman Grand in 2018, The K in 2019 and Chapman Court, which opened last fall. This raised the university’s housing capacity to almost 55% of the undergraduate population. 

His other accomplishments include establishing a chapter of the national honor society Phi Beta Kappa in 2018 and the graduation of Chapman’s first Rhodes Scholar in 2019.

While there was change and growth under Struppa’s leadership, there has also been controversy in recent years, especially regarding students’ rights to free speech.

Struppa has also caught fire due to Chapman being investigated after allegations of antisemitism, and with Provost Norma Bouchard and Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Reg Stewart being placed on leave without explanation. 

Struppa also recently announced to students, staff and faculty that Chapman is dismantling the existing DEI office and introducing new position titles that comply with federal demands. 

While much of the future is unknown, Struppa is confident in the way he has served the university.

“It is not important how my presidency will be remembered, if at all. I did my job with honesty and at the best of my ability, and that’s really all there is to say,” Struppa told The Panther.