Staci Dumoski
Chapman University has what it takes to be successful, said President Daniele Struppa at his 2025 State of the University address. During his presentation, Struppa offered insights into the institution’s financial and academic strengths and provided a high-level overview of the strategies in place to face the changing landscape of higher education.
This was the final State of the University address for Struppa, who will be retiring from his position in September.
“It’s always a special feeling, walking onto this fantastic stage,” he said to the packed audience gathered in the Musco Center for the Arts. “This is going to be my last presidential State of the University, so I think it’s a good time for me to take a moment to express at least some of the gratitude I have towards all of you who have helped me be successful over the last 19 years.”
He went on to discuss his appreciation for the students, faculty, staff, leadership and governing boards who have supported him during his tenure.
President-elect Matt Parlow gave a moving tribute to President Struppa that looked back on his 19 years of leadership at Chapman and celebrated the legacy he will leave behind.
“It’s hard in any amount of time to capture what Daniele has meant to Chapman University,” said Parlow.
Highlights of Struppa’s time at Chapman include launching six new schools and colleges, the growth of Chapman as a research institution, including achieving an R2 classification, becoming a nationally ranked university and a steady increase in the university’s assets, including an endowment that is valued at an estimated $860 million.
Throughout his time in leadership, Struppa has continued to teach and conduct research, exemplifying the principles of teacher-scholarship that he has sought to imbue throughout Chapman University as a whole.
“A president’s job is hard. I see that every day working with him, and yet he always keeps his cool,” said Parlow. “He cares so deeply about the people he works with, about the students that we serve, the alumni who come back and stay engaged with the university. He really cares about people. It’s genuine. It’s why so many of us love him so much… He’s one of the most special people I know, and Chapman University wouldn’t be what it is today without him.”
Watch the full presentation, or keep reading to review the highlights of the presentation.
Celebrating a Year of Success
Among the topics included in his presentation, Struppa praised the continuing rise the university has seen in national rankings, including being included in the top 30% of national universities by US News and World Report.
Struppa also addressed the drop in enrollment over the past two years, noting that Chapman’s numbers are still high in comparison to the number of high school graduates nationwide. While an anticipated demographic shift and changes to the federal financial aid process have posed obstacles for universities across the country, Chapman’s strategic financial planning has enabled the university to navigate the challenges effectively, says Struppa.
Other updates included:
Campus Developments
Under Struppa’s leadership, Chapman built a number of state-of-the-art facilities including the Keck Center of Science and Engineering, the Swenson Hall of Engineering, the Sandi Simon Center for Dance and the Hilbert Museum of California Art. The university also opened three new residence facilities for students—Chapman Grand, the K Residence Hall and Chapman Court—which deliver on the university’s commitment to house 50% of undergraduate students in campus housing.
As Chapman continues to enhance and improve its campus infrastructure, Struppa highlighted several recent and ongoing projects.
- The renovated Hilbert Museum was named one of the eight best new architecture projects in L.A. in 2024 by the LA Times.
- Chapman was ranked No. 5 in Best Science Lab Facilities by The Princeton Review.
- The renovation of the Killefer School is 80% complete. The site on which the school resides, which has been named the Daniele C. Struppa Research Park, will be the new home of the Institute for Quantum Studies.
- The Dhont Innovation Hub at Chapman Studios West is expected to be complete by January 2026.
Leadership Changes
Over the past year, Chapman has welcomed new faces to senior leadership, including:
- Marie Williams, new Vice President of Marketing and Communications
- Hima Vatti, new General Counsel
- Anne Hogan, new Dean, College of Performing Arts
Chapman also bids farewell to Chief Information Officer Helen Norris and Vice President for Enrollment Management Mike Pelly, each of whom recently announced plans to retire this fall.
Inspire: The Campaign for Chapman University
Now in its third year, Chapman’s ongoing comprehensive campaign is well on its way to achieving its goal of raising $500 million by 2028, with $402 million raised to date and more than 82,000 individual gifts.
“What’s particularly inspiring to me … is that we are really advancing our strategic plan,” said Parlow, who presented on the success of the campaign. “We’re in the middle of our “Path to Greatness” strategic plan, which is the first of a series of three strategic plans that aim to elevate Chapman’s standing … to become one of the truly elite institutions in higher education in America.”
“Every single gift that we get … is furthering our academic excellence. It’s supporting faculty in their initiatives. It’s supporting our students and their success, and it’s connecting us even more fully with the community,” he said.
Among the most significant gifts made in the past year, Parlow noted:
- Simon Family Foundation – Gift supporting the Simon Scholar Physician Assistant Program with funding for 10 full-tuition scholarships for each entering class.
- CalOptima Health Workforce Development Fund – $5 million grant to help highly qualified Orange County students become health care professionals in medically disadvantaged OC communities.
- Masson Family Foundation – $2.5 million for graduate student scholarships, an MPP fellowship, and water polo.
- Fletcher Jones Foundation – $1 million gift from Fletcher Jones Foundation establishes chair in Free Speech.
- Alumnus Alex Hayden ‘95 – $5 million to establish the Hayden School of Real Estate.
- Donald and Deedee Sodaro – $1 million to name South wing of Hilbert Museum
- Samueli Foundation – $3 million to endow the Sala and Aron Samueli Art & Writing Competition in the Rodgers Center for Holocaust Education.
- Samueli Foundation – $1.85 million to establish the Or Initiative at Chapman University to equip students with the skills for civil discourse, digital literacy and nuanced conversations on complex topics.
Watch the full 2025 State of the University address, and learn more about Chapman University’s Strategic Plan, “The Path to Greatness.”
