Chapman University’s Jim Doti announces plan to step down in August An economist, Doti looks forward to return to teaching

After nearly 25 years of leading Chapman University’s growth into a comprehensive university with a rising reputation for academic excellence and faculty research, President Jim Doti announced today, Sept. 28, that he will step down from the presidency at the end of August, 2016. The president shared the news in the following letter to the campus community and expressed confidence in the leadership of Chancellor Daniele Struppa, who was named “presidential designate” by the Board of Trustees in March, 2014.

At today’s meeting of the Board of Trustees, I announced my intention to step down as president, effective August 31, 2016. While I still love my job, I think it’s time for a change.

I’m delighted that Daniele Struppa will become Chapman’s 13
^th
president. I have great confidence in Daniele’s vision and his leadership skills, all of which have been recognized by the faculty and the Board of Trustees who formally endorsed him as president designate.

The succession plan also involves identifying and appointing a new chief academic officer. In consultation with Faculty Senate President Cris Giannantonio, we have determined the structure of the search committee, which will include trustees, faculty, staff and an academic dean. The membership of the committee will be announced soon. We have also made the decision to have Storbeck/Pimentel & Associates help us with our search.

It hardly seems possible that almost 25 years have passed since the Board of Trustees invited me to serve as Chapman’s president. We have accomplished a great deal working together. But we must, and I am confident we will, continue to make our University’s intellectual environment ever more vibrant, exciting and trendsetting.

During this last year of my presidency, I am particularly excited about the opening of the Marybelle and Sebastian P. Musco Center for the Arts. I look forward to helping complete the critically important initial phase of our Harry and Diane Rinker Health Science Campus. It also is gratifying for me to serve my final year as president in planning our new Center for Science and Technology and its groundbreaking, scheduled to take place next April. Our progress with these transformational projects, along with our critically important advances in scholarship and research, illuminates the remarkable momentum taking place everywhere at Chapman.

Following the transition, I look forward to returning to teaching and research as well as helping Daniele and serving Chapman in any way that I can.

Meantime, there is much to be done during the rest of this academic year—the 155
^th
year in the life of Chapman University. It is exciting and fulfilling for me to continue to work together with what I believe is the greatest team in higher education, serving the University that I cherish.

More information is available in Chapman University’s Press Room.