Town & Gown, Chapman University’s philanthropic support group, continues its legacy of providing student scholarships through membership dues and special events. This fall, the group’s signature lecture series, Lunch at the Forum, returns for its 2024-25 season with a lineup guaranteed to inspire and educate.
Since its inception in 1994, Lunch at the Forum has brought together Chapman faculty, alumni, parents, staff, and community members for a unique opportunity to learn from Chapman’s finest professors and thought leaders. Attendees will hear lectures on various subjects, from research and studies to personal experiences, all while supporting the group’s mission of funding student scholarships.
The 2024-25 series kicks off on October 3, 2024, and offers a chance for attendees to contribute directly to these scholarships.
“Our luncheons are a wonderful way for us to raise funds for the scholarships we offer,” said Susie Willits ’71, Town & Gown’s first vice president.
This year, five students have been awarded $7,000 scholarships—an increase of $2,000 per student—thanks to the generosity of Town & Gown members’ support of the Endowed Scholarship Fund. Each recipient will share their personal story at a Lunch at the Forum event.
“Not only do we have exceptional speakers from our faculty and staff this year, but we also get to meet the incredible scholarship students and hear how these funds have changed their lives,” added Willits.
The lecture series will begin with Katharine Gillespie, Ph.D., professor of literature and the humanities at the Smith Institute for Political Economy and Philosophy. Her lecture, “Angels and Basketball: Growing Up Town and Gown at Johnny Appleseed’s Swedenborgian University in Urbana, Ohio,” will set the tone for the season.
The second event on November 7, 2024, will feature Dodge College of Film and Media Arts professors Jill Condon and Travis Knox, discussing “Television is Dead. Long Live Television!” Their conversation will explore how television has evolved over the past four decades.
On February 6, 2025, Peter Simi, Ph.D., professor of sociology from Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, will discuss “Why is Hate so Appealing?” sharing insights into the darker aspects of human nature.
Niklas Myhr, Ph.D., clinical associate professor of marketing at the Argyros College of Business and Economics, will present his lecture on “Social Social Media: Bringing Back the Social to Social Media” on March 6, 2025, exploring how social media is transforming communication.
The series concludes on May 1, 2025, with a performance by Daniel De Arakal, Ph.D., assistant professor at the College of Performing Arts, who will perform and discuss “Classic Strings.”
“We are extremely proud of this year’s lineup, which showcases five of the university’s academic units,” said Bill Cumiford, a Town & Gown member and Chapman professor overseeing speaker selection for the series. “We hope you’ll join us for another enriching season of Lunch at the Forum.”
Tickets for the full series are now on sale. All five luncheons are $230 for members and $250 for non-members, with individual tickets available at $50 for members and $55 for non-members.
