Carly MurphyChapman University is poised for a transformative leap forward, thanks to a groundbreaking $15 million gift from Board of Trustee Chair Parker S. Kennedy. This unprecedented gift, one of the most substantial in the university’s history, is set to propel Chapman’s Fowler School of Law to new heights and amplify the law school’s nationally ranked trajectory.
Kennedy’s dedication to Chapman’s strategic priorities has culminated in this pivotal gift, which will wield a far-reaching impact across the campus. Of the $15 million, an impressive $10 million has been designated to power student scholarships at the Fowler School of Law, nurturing top-tier talent and fostering a diverse academic community. Another $1 million will enhance the Parker S. Kennedy Professor of Law, elevating it to be the esteemed Parker S. Kennedy Endowed Chair in Law. The allocation of the remaining $4 million will be shared at a later date.
At a reception celebrating the appointment of new law school Dean Paul Paton on August 24, President Daniele C. Struppa surprised those in attendance, including the dean, with the gift announcement. The gift amplifies the impact of Inspire: The Campaign for Chapman University, which has raised over half of its $500 million goal and was announced just this past February.
“This endowed scholarship fund will help us recruit the best and brightest students. Fowler School of Law has been experiencing such great momentum and is on a terrific trajectory, and Dean Paton is the right leader to take us to new heights in the future” noted Matt Parlow, Chief Advancement Officer at Chapman University.
Parker S. Kennedy’s legacy of excellence, commitment to higher education, and deep ties to Orange—his birthplace—drive his passionate dedication to Chapman’s Fowler School of Law. The law school, cherished by his father and where his heart lies, has become a cornerstone of the Kennedy family’s philanthropic legacy, propelling the school’s ascent in national rankings.
The Fowler School of Law’s upward trajectory is sustained by its unwavering commitment to fostering a diverse and exceptional student body and a dedication to fostering legal thinkers rooted in ethics and professional responsibility, all of which is evidenced by significant gains in the median LSAT and GPA for incoming classes since 2016. As the former Chairman and CEO of the Fortune 500 company First American Corporation and an advocate for numerous nonprofits, Kennedy’s profound impact on the community extends far beyond his philanthropic endeavors.
In celebration of this historic moment, busts of two iconic figures were unveiled at the reception: U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. The event encapsulated Chapman’s enduring dedication to progress and inclusivity in legal education.
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About Chapman University
Founded in 1861, Chapman University is a nationally ranked private university in Orange, California, about 30 miles south of Los Angeles. Chapman serves nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students, with a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Students can choose from 123 areas of study within 11 colleges for a personalized education. Chapman is categorized by the Carnegie Classification as an R2 “high research activity” institution. Students at Chapman learn directly from distinguished world-class faculty including Nobel Prize winners, MacArthur fellows, published authors and Academy Award winners.The campus has produced a Rhodes Scholar, been named a top producer of Fulbright Scholars and hosts a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honor society. Chapman also includes the Harry and Diane Rinker Health Science Campus in Irvine. The university features the No. 4 film school and No. 60 business school in the U.S. Learn more about Chapman University: www.chapman.edu.
