Jeffrey Howard
When Chapman University publicly launched Inspire: The Campaign for Chapman University, it set forth an ambitious goal to raise $500 million by 2028 and significantly expand its endowment by 2037. Just two years later, that vision is rapidly becoming reality.
With more than $404 million raised ahead of schedule, the campaign’s success is already reshaping campus life and expanding opportunities for students across disciplines. At the heart of this progress is a shared belief that philanthropy unlocks potential, expands access and inspires the next generation of leaders, artists and innovators.
Included are but a few of the stories of impact from more than 19,000 donors making over 80,000 gifts. Inspire is not just a campaign of numbers, it’s a movement with purpose. Every gift, every donor and every story is part of a larger transformation, one rooted in a belief in Chapman’s mission and a shared commitment to empowering the leaders of tomorrow.
Supporting Civil Discourse and the Arts
The Samueli Foundation’s support for Chapman’s new Or Initiative is a great example of how the university is focused on impact. In an era marked by division and digital misinformation, this bold effort led by Dr. Vikki Katz, professor in the School of Communication and Fletcher Jones Endowed Chair in Free Speech, is being initiated to equip students with the tools to engage in respectful, informed and nuanced discussions on difficult topics.
Through curriculum development, educator training and communication-centered learning, the Or Initiative is creating space for students to listen, understand and lead with empathy.
The support of the Or Initiative followed another impactful investment from the Samueli Foundation, an endowed gift supporting Chapman’s renowned Holocaust Art & Writing Contest. For 25 years, this powerful program has connected Holocaust survivors with students around the world. What began as a local event is now an international phenomenon with over 150,000 participants, preserving memory and encouraging students to reflect, create and advocate for justice through the arts.
“The Samueli Foundation’s gifts enable Chapman to take a lasting, impactful approach to civil discourse education and to be a real leader in a space where society has struggled to do well,” said Matt Parlow, president-elect.
At Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, the Dhont Family Foundation is helping Chapman redefine storytelling with the creation of the Dhont Family Innovation Hub. This cutting-edge space merges artificial intelligence with virtual production to give students access to emerging technologies and creative possibilities while also supporting travel-based documentary filmmaking through Community Voices: Global Stories, ensuring students develop as global citizens and impactful nonfiction creators.
Driving Innovation
Donations are also enabling the expansion and evolution of innovative programming at Chapman, like alumnus Alex Hayden’s ’95 gift establishing the Alexander E. Hayden School of Real Estate within the George L. Argyros College of Business and Economics. The gift is intended to bring national and global cachet to Chapman’s real estate profile, recruit top faculty in the field and create an environment where the university’s real estate students have the highest-quality programming, connections and success.
“Chapman was instrumental in shaping my career and personal development,” Hayden said. “I’m thrilled to give back in a way that can help the next generation of real estate professionals succeed.”
Chapman alumna Nella Webster O’Grady and Kevin O’Grady are enriching academic, cultural and entrepreneurial opportunities through their support of the Argyros College of Business and Economics, the Hilbert Museum of California Art and the Leatherby Center for Entrepreneurship and Business Ethics. Their gift is advancing innovative leadership training, supporting artistic engagement and expanding programming that nurtures future business leaders.
Board of Trustee Melinda Masson and her son, Chapman alum Pierre Masson ’12, are sharing their passion for lifelong learning and water polo through establishing endowments to support graduate student scholarships, students enrolled in the Doctor of Science in Mathematics, Philosophy, and Physics (MPP) program, men’s and women’s water polo programs and team tournament travel.
“One of the many remarkable qualities of Chapman is its strong sense of family and commitment to the long-term success of our community,” Parlow said. “The Massons embody that spirit in mind and action.”
Committed to Student Well-Being
While bolstering innovative programming and curriculum is an important focus, Chapman is known for its commitment to supporting the holistic development and well-being of every student. A clear example of this is the Women of Chapman Student Hardship Assistance Fund, which will continue to provide support for students facing unforeseen challenges with the help of a generous gift from Allison “Ally” Lentz ’13 and the Swenson Family Foundation.
Lentz, who serves on Chapman’s Board of Governors and has been a dedicated member of the Alumni Association Board, helped direct a gift from the foundation to the assistance program. The vital resource provides food, housing, medical and family crisis support, ensuring that students can remain on track academically and personally.
“I feel immense pride in giving back—not only as an alum but as someone who humbly carries forward the legacy of generosity that changed my grandparents’ lives,” Lentz said. “To follow in their footsteps and support Chapman students in their time of need is a profound honor.”
And at the Fowler School of Law, alumni Samuel Mirejovsky ’11 (JD ’14) and Ashley Watkins (JD ’14) are giving back to the place where their law careers began. Through their support, Chapman unveiled the Sam & Ash Student Lounge and Rocky Recreation Room, new spaces designed to foster community, connection and well-being for law students navigating the rigors of legal education.
Learn more about Inspire: The Campaign for Chapman University.
