Gabriela Castaneda steps into “an amazing opportunity” as director of Latinx achievement

MBA Program Rises to Highest Ranking Ever

BY DENNIS ARP

Chapman University’s Argyros School of Business and Economics has vaulted to No. 72 in the latest Best Business School rankings by U.S. News & World Report, announced Tuesday, March 29. It’s the school’s highest-ever position in the prestigious rankings of business schools with full-time MBA programs.

Since Thomas Turk assumed the role of dean five years ago, the Argyros School has jumped 26 places in the national rankings.

“These 2023 rankings validate our position among the top private business schools on the West Coast as well as our overall position among all California schools,” said Turk, Ph.D., who holds the Robert J. and Carolyn A. Waltos Endowed Deanship in the Argyros School. “This achievement reflects the quality of our faculty, staff and students, and it shows the impact our school has on the communities we serve.”

Notable is that Chapman’s MBA program now ranks No. 3 among private universities and colleges on the West Coast. Included in the key metrics accounting for the Argyros School’s rise, 91% of full-time Argyros MBAs secured job offers within 90 days of graduation.

“Our personalized approach to education continues to provide a competitive advantage, attracting highly qualified students to pursue their MBA and establish themselves in their careers,” Turk said.

The U.S. News rankings of schools with fulltime MBA programs are based on a range of indicators, including career placement success, student excellence and qualitative assessments by experts.

Gabriela Castaneda to Open Doors as Director of Latinx Achievement

BY MICHELLE ANGUKA

Chapman University’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion has named Dr. Gabriela Castaneda the new Latinx Achievement Director. Castaneda, Ed.D., comes to the position from the Argyros School of Business & Economics, where she has served as the assistant director of career services since 2016. For the past three years, Castaneda has also served as Chapman’s Latinx Staff & Faculty Forum president.

“It’s a very exciting time right now at Chapman, but specifically for the Latinx community,” Castaneda said.

One of the first objectives of the new position will be to earn Chapman designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), a White House initiative that recognizes higher education institutions with an undergraduate enrollment of at least 25% Hispanic representation. “This is where our population is going, given that the fastest-growing minority population at Chapman is Latinx,” said Castaneda.

In her new position, Castaneda will increase the visibility of and opportunities for Chapman’s Latinx students. She also hopes the increased focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) will encourage scholars and potential staff members to consider Chapman as their place of employment.

“The Latinx community is a pretty tight community. This is an amazing opportunity and exciting time to be able to give back to the community that has given so much to me and my career,” she said. “I’m very much aware that the people who came before me opened doors for me to get to where I am now.”