Matt Parlow was sworn in as Chapman’s 14th president amid a week of events focused on community, leadership and civil discourse, marking the official start of his tenure.
Parlow was first appointed in December 2024, following the resignation of former President Daniele Struppa, and started transitioning into the role starting in September.
Inauguration week, held from Oct. 3 to Oct. 10, began with a talk by Keegan-Michael Key, where he offered students advice based on his life journey as an actor and comedian.
The weekend continued with Homecoming events, which included a series of masterclasses such as “Leadership Talents and Virtues” and “Strategies for Being a Healthy Artist.” These offered students and families lessons in what it means to effectively lead and how to thrive mentally, physically and financially while pursuing a creative field.
There were also alumni reunions, new members added to the 50 Year Club and an alumni social where past and present students could network and connect. A wide range of alumni were present, ranging from the class of 1981 to the class of 2020.
“The goal was to meet alumni and form connections, especially within the entertainment industry,” said Shayaan Ahmed, a junior writing for film and television major who attended the social.
Parlow made an appearance towards the end of the mixer, giving a speech to thank the alumni for coming and sharing stories of their time at Chapman.
“The connections between classmates (and) between alumni are really special, and what I’ve noticed today are the relationships of different generations of alumni who have bonded because of this alumni community, and that says a lot about the Chapman family,” said Parlow.
On Monday, a breakfast was held at the Hilbert Museum with local community leaders, including Orange Mayor Dan Slater and Congressman Lou Correa, who represents California’s 46th District, as well as other community members.
Parlow gave remarks regarding Chapman’s relationship with the Orange community and reaffirmed the university’s commitment to maintaining strong community partnerships.
The week continued with talks by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Nadia Murad and University of California, Berkeley School of Law Dean Erwin Chemerinsky. There was also a panel discussion at Chapman’s Rinker campus with keynote speaker Diana Ramos, the surgeon general of California.
The community building continued with a faculty mixer, where faculty members had the opportunity to speak with Parlow. An all-campus and community picnic also took place, gathering students, staff and community members for lunch and refreshments.
Parlow’s official investiture ceremony took place on Friday, Oct. 10 in Musco Center for the Arts. Among the attendees were the two previous Chapman presidents, Jim Doti and Daniele Struppa, representatives from universities across the world, Board of Trustees members, former Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti as well as Parlow’s family and friends.