President’s Message

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT BUILDING GLOBAL IMPACT ON A FOUNDATION OF COMMUNITY

At Chapman University, our goal is transformational change on a scale that matches the magnitude of today’s global challenges. But we also know that the best source of experience and the greatest chance to make a difference is often right here in our home communities.

With this issue of Chapman Magazine, we seek to show how our community of scholars is working on a wide range of initiatives that reflect Chapman’s dedication to this local-to-global approach.

For instance, on Page 40 you will read about how Chapman’s participation in an alliance of high-tech leaders in Orange County has led to the university receiving a donation of one of the fastest supercomputer clusters in our region.

Nvidia Corp. chose Chapman to receive the supercomputer so we can pursue the shared goal of preparing more students from underserved communities to thrive in the local and global high-tech economies. Additionally, with the cutting-edge supercomputer as a vital new tool in our research arsenal, Chapman faculty and students will take the next steps in their research in artificial intelligence and the data sciences, tackling issues that have international ramifications.

Also in this issue, beginning on Page 18, you will find a story about the groundbreaking work of a Chapman team led by Hesham El-Askary, professor of earth systems science and remote sensing. With the support of a $1 million grant made possible by our local congressmember, Lou Correa, Chapman researchers are applying their expertise in machine learning and data mining to address the immense challenges of global climate change.

The team’s research covers everything from drought, wildfires and the risk of flooding here in Orange County to the effects of desertification and rising temperatures in the Middle East. In addition to local policymaking, the international graduate research team mentored by Professor El-Askary will have a chance to influence global strategy during this fall’s United Nations COP 27 climate change conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. Such leadership is critical, whether our scholars are addressing regional needs or issues of international importance. Beginning on Page 12, you’ll learn more about the work of four transformational leaders at Chapman who are applying their expertise both locally and nationally on issues of cyber security, campus design, legal representation and strategic marketing and communications.

With their work, they show that even as Chapman’s growing influence makes us players on the world stage, we continue to nurture our local community connections. Those links are highlighted by recent independent reports showing that Chapman generates more than $213 million in economic output for the City of Orange each year, and more than $1.1 billion for California.

On Page 56, you can read more about the many ways we contribute to our communities – financially, socially and culturally.

That sense of community is evident across our campuses, from the studios of Chapman Radio in the basement of Henley Hall (Page 34), to the Ranney Food Processing Lab inside our Keck Center for Science and Engineering, where the Chapman Coffee Club is brewing up a supportive culture (Page 28), to the community clinic on our Rinker Health Science Campus in Irvine, where Crean College clinicians are helping sufferers of long COVID reclaim their lives (Page 32).

These are all exemplars of Chapman’s local-to-global commitment to transformative impact.

Beginnings become easier when we see where things can lead. Let there be no doubt that what starts here can truly change the world.

With gratitude,

Daniele C. Struppa President, Chapman University