After a highly competitive national search, Rick Bischoff has been selected as Chapman’s next senior vice president of enrollment management, effective Jan. 12, 2026. In this role, Bischoff will serve as Chapman’s chief strategist and executive leading a team of nearly 100 professionals responsible for enrolling a student body that will thrive and enrich the Chapman Family. Bischoff will have oversight of the offices of Admission, Financial Aid, Registrar, International Student Services, and the Veterans Resource Center.
Bischoff joins us most recently from Case Western Reserve University, where he transformed the breadth, depth, and selectivity of its applicant pool. Over a 16-year period, he moved Case Western’s admissions strategy and operations from regional to national, significantly increasing applications, enrollment, and net tuition revenue while driving down the acceptance rate from 73% to 35%. During his tenure, Bischoff established close relationships and collaborations across campus and within the community to achieve admissions and university objectives and to expand access, increasing the number of Pell-eligible students during his tenure.
The search attracted dozens of highly qualified candidates from across the country. “From the beginning of the search, Rick stood out immediately as a seasoned professional with a strong commitment to excellence,” noted Amy Rogan-Mehta, executive vice president and chief of staff at Chapman University and chair of the search committee. “His veteran leadership and clear track record of results, his experience working in private higher education and in the California market, and his commitment to mission and to internal and external bridge building made him a stellar choice to lead our enrollment strategy and operation forward.”
Bischoff previously held roles at the California Institute of Technology, where he served as the chief admissions officer and modernized day-to-day recruitment practices, and the University of Chicago, where he developed and implemented an effective long-range recruitment plan. Like many admissions professionals, he started his career at his alma mater, Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minn., quickly rising through the ranks from counselor to associate director of admissions. He also holds an MBA from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota.
He is active in enrollment management societies including American Association of Universities Chief Enrollment Officers, National Council for Education Policy and Planning, Enrollment Planning Network, NACAC, College Board, and the Council of International Schools.
“I could not be prouder and more excited to join the Chapman Family,” Bischoff said. “I see a university with tremendous potential—one that could be even more valued in the national marketplace. I look forward to showing prospective students and families what I recognized the moment I stepped foot on campus: It is a special place with great people, an enviable location, and an impressive range of offerings.” He also noted our mission and values, as he shares our drive to make an impact on our students’ lives.
Bischoff succeeds Mike Pelly, whose admissions career spans 40 years at Chapman. Pelly began—like many do in the admissions profession—as an admissions counselor and then worked his way up to director of undergraduate admission before eventually becoming the area’s leader. During his tenure, Chapman grew from a small regional college that enrolled a couple of thousand students to one that today enrolls nearly 10,000 from all over the country and world.
“Mike has had a profound impact on Chapman as a person and professional,” said Rogan-Mehta. “He embodies the personalized approach that characterizes a Chapman education, as he cares deeply about every student and family – and every member of his team. Mike has made significant strides in growing our enrollment over many years, helping to make Chapman the remarkable university it is today. While his impact remains, he will be greatly missed.”
A retirement celebration will be planned for Pelly later in the academic year. Chapman President Matt Parlow, who calls Pelly “Chapman incarnate,” will be among those celebrating him.
“I am incredibly excited about the future of Chapman,” concluded Parlow. “Chapman is such a special place, and we are continuing to build on our trajectory of success with new leaders who understand our legacy and will help us reach even greater heights. Rick is an extraordinary leader and an amazing addition to the team.”
