The Power of Forward Momentum

Welcome to the inaugural issue of Chapman Forward magazine, devoted to the sharing of new discovery, scholarship and creative activity by our students and faculty. Chapman has a long reputation for attracting preeminent faculty whose expertise enhances student learning. I am excited to be part of the Chapman Family, not just to help grow the research enterprise as the vice president of research, but to continue my own academic endeavors related to water resources, climate and impact to human systems.

In the past decade, Chapman has seen a tremendous expansion in research and scholarship. Since 2006, publications from Chapman faculty have increased ten-fold, and research expenditures have risen by five times. New infrastructure includes state-of-the-art core lab facilities at the Harry and Diane Rinker Health Science Campus in Irvine, as well as the Keck Center for Science and Engineering and Musco Center for the Arts on our Main Campus in Orange. This infrastructure allows Chapman faculty and students to conduct transformative research projects and perform in world-class facilities.

The stories presented in Chapman Forward highlight just a few of the exciting areas where Chapman faculty and students are making a difference in the world and in our community. Many of these efforts are funded by outside sponsors such as federal, state and local nonprofits and foundations. These include diverse research subjects such as changes in natural ecosystems; maternal and child health; documentaries about rural America; and studies of extremist groups and terrorism.   

Chapman is committed to continuing growth in research and has highlighted several areas in the University’s 2018–2023 Strategic Plan. Among them are establishing the new Fowler School of Engineering in 2020; supporting the research agenda through the Faculty Opportunity Fund, student support and research services; and further expansion of our research infrastructure.

This is an exciting time, and Chapman Forward provides a glimpse into the role that research and scholarship play in enhancing student experiences and growing Chapman’s reputation. At Chapman, we are proud to embrace an “Anything Imaginable” attitude, and we invite you along for this exciting journey.

Thomas Piechota, Ph.D. 
Vice President for Research