Carly MurphyChapman University’s commitment to pioneering interdisciplinary education received a significant boost today with the announcement of two transformative gifts totaling $5.5 million. These generous contributions, announced during the first conference for the Doctor of Science in Math, Philosophy, and Physics (MPP) Program, positions it as a beacon of innovation in academia.
The first gift, a remarkable $2.5 million, establishes the Anne and Chris Flowers Family Endowed Doctoral Fellowship. Embracing Chapman’s ethos of interdisciplinary exploration, this endowment will provide crucial support to students within the MPP Program, enabling them to pursue groundbreaking research at the nexus of mathematics, philosophy, and physics. Anne and Chris Flowers, proud parents of two Chapman alumnae, expressed their enthusiasm for the program’s forward-thinking approach and its potential to shape future leaders in the sciences.
“We are so pleased to endow this doctoral fellowship in the Math, Philosophy, and Physics Program,” remarked Anne and Chris Flowers in a joint statement. “Chapman’s leadership with this cross-disciplinary research doctoral program is both innovative and inspiring, and we are proud to support its growth.”
“The support from Anne and Chris Flowers and Parker S. Kennedy is a testament to Chapman’s dedication to pioneering interdisciplinary education,” shared Chapman President Daniele C. Struppa. “These gifts will empower our students to embark on transformative research journeys and solidify Chapman’s position as a leader in academic innovation.”
The second momentous gift, totaling $3 million, was bestowed by Chapman Board of Trustees Chair Parker S. Kennedy. This unprecedented contribution establishes endowed chairs in each of the MPP disciplines—mathematics, philosophy, and physics. The endowed chairs, accompanied by busts commemorating esteemed figures in each field, were unveiled to surprised recipients during the event.
The MPP program confers a Ph.D.-equivalent degree and emphasizes the connection between mathematics, philosophy and the physical sciences. While some universities pair two of these subjects in a single degree, Chapman’s program may be one of the few of its kind.
The degree offers a number of unique benefits, including a smaller course load that enables students to focus on their dissertations. The program also equips students with an interdisciplinary perspective that is invaluable when confronting important philosophical concepts.
These generous donations not only propel the MPP Program to new heights but also bolster Chapman University’s strategic plan goal to raise $500 million through its Inspire campaign. With a total of $370 million raised so far, the university is well on its way to achieving this ambitious objective.
As Chapman University celebrates these monumental contributions, it looks forward to a future where the MPP Program continues to thrive, shaping the next generation of visionary scholars poised to make enduring contributions to science and society.
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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.
Media Contact:
Carly Murphy, Public Relations Coordinator | carmurphy@chapman.edu | Desk: 714-289-3196 | Mobile: 714-497-9683
