Chapman University announced a $1 million gift from Board of Trustees Chairman Emeritus Doy Henley during the annual Winterfest holiday celebration on November 29. This contribution will establish an endowed fund= dedicated to driving innovation initiatives at the Argyros College of Business and Economics.
Over the past few decades, Chapman alumni have excelled in the business community, assuming leadership roles across various companies and organizations. Doy Henley, a successful entrepreneur with ownership of multiple manufacturing companies, expressed pride in supporting Chapman students and Argyros Dean Henrik Cronqvist’s vision for the College to achieve Top 50 business school status.
Dean Cronqvist highlighted the impact of the fund, emphasizing its role in supporting groundbreaking research by faculty and accelerating students’ careers. Notable recent innovations include the Leadership Crisis Challenge and an enhanced Career Scholars Program, offering individualized coaching and mentoring to empower students in their professional journeys.
President Daniele C. Struppa recognized Mr. Henley’s visionary leadership and generosity by awarding him the Presidential Medal, Chapman’s highest honor, on Nov. 15. Henley, the 14th recipient in Chapman’s history, has been a pivotal figure in shaping the university’s success. President Struppa stated, “Chapman would not be what it is today if not for you, Doy. You continue to inspire all of us for what we can achieve in the future.”
Henley’s gift is crucial for Chapman’s strategic positioning in emerging industries such as data analytics, machine learning, and AI. Dean Cronqvist emphasized the importance of staying ahead in these areas, stating, “Those subjects are baked into some of our classes.”
Doy Henley, originally from modest circumstances in Illinois, moved to California in the mid-1950s and established himself as a successful entrepreneur. His philanthropic contributions to Chapman, dating back to the 1980s, have been extensive, supporting various initiatives, including the Doy B. Henley Chair in American Presidential Studies, Henley Hall, and the Doy and Dee Henley Reading Room in Leatherby Libraries. The $1 million gift from Doy Henley significantly contributes to Chapman University’s Inspire campaign, aimed at raising $500 million.
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.
