Matt Parlow has spent much of his career at Chapman University mentoring students, guiding faculty and leading major initiatives in roles that ranged from law professor to law school dean to executive vice president and chief advancement officer. Now he’s the university’s 14th president, ready to lead Chapman to new heights.

Parlow stepped into his new role on Sept. 2, marking a new chapter in what has been a story of remarkable transformation for Chapman. Over the past three decades, the university has grown from a small regional college facing financial struggles into a nationally-ranked university, with nearly 10,000 students across 11 schools and colleges and an endowment of more than $900 million.

“Chapman has had an incredible trajectory over the past 30 years, and yet, with where we stand today, there is still incredible opportunity ahead of us,” Parlow said in a message last week to the university community. “That potential – and my love for this place and our community – is what motivates me to serve, to lead and to deliver the best possible experience for our students.”

As president, Parlow will carry on a legacy of dynamic leadership that took off under former Chapman presidents Jim Doti and Daniele Struppa. Doti became president in 1991 and served for 25 years, doubling the school’s graduation rate while investing in new facilities and programs. Struppa, Doti’s longtime provost, took the reins in 2016, launching the Fowler School of Engineering and moving Chapman from a teaching college with a modest research arm into a nationally ranked research university.

As Struppa’s executive vice president and chief advancement officer, Parlow was a key part of that growth, leading the largest fundraising campaign in the university’s history and raising $420 million to date. After Struppa announced last year that he planned to retire in September 2025, a national search for his replacement led Chapman’s Board of Trustees right back to Parlow.

Chapman University President Matt Parlow, left, with former presidents Jim Doti and Daniele Struppa.

“Matt exemplifies these qualities of transformative leadership, with more than 20 years in higher education and strong roots and achievements at Chapman University,” then-board chairman Parker S. Kennedy said when Parlow’s appointment was announced in December. “(He) has forged strong connections with business, civic and community leaders, creating opportunities that benefit students, faculty and programs.”

Last week, on his first day in office, Parlow called being Chapman’s president “both humbling and the greatest honor of my life and career.”

Charting Chapman’s next chapter

Parlow said his vision for Chapman centers on deepening the university’s mission and elevating its national standing through several priorities, including:

Highlighting students’ talent and success and promoting their academic, creative, and professional depth so they leave ready to shape society and industry.
Building on academic excellence and reaching new academic heights that place Chapman among the most elite institutions in the country.
Supporting interdisciplinary collaborations by bringing faculty from different disciplines together to create new research and innovative, in-demand degree programs.
Fostering community engagement and building bridges that connect Chapman students and faculty with local communities.
Deepening the university’s commitment to free speech and civil discourse on a campus that welcomes all backgrounds and where different perspectives can be shared and challenging conversations can occur respectfully and thoughtfully.

That commitment to free speech and civil discourse is more important than ever in today’s social climate, Parlow said.

“I think you can see so many areas of our society where that has broken down — in our political system or even social media, people are struggling to have the difficult conversations,” he said. “But when one stays resolute to free speech and different views can be heard and discussed, and we can do that in a civil way, that’s when complex problems can be solved.”

Matt Parlow speaks at the 2025 State of the University address in March with then-outgoing President Daniele Struppa.

Parlow said enriching the student experience while elevating academic excellence is what Chapman is all about and it underscores his priorities.

“We’re known for our personalized education — it’s one of the things that really distinguishes us,” he said. “We have nearly 10,000 students but when you’re on campus we still feel like a small school. Our class sizes are about 13 to 1, students get individualized attention and we genuinely care about each other.

“I think that everyone who comes here — whether it be students, faculty, staff, volunteers or donors — feels a part of something bigger than themselves,” Parlow added. “I want us to continue that as we strive to become one of the elite institutions in the country.”

Parlow’s vision also involves strengthening Chapman’s presence beyond campus, deepening partnerships with local school districts, businesses and cultural institutions and reinforcing Chapman’s role as both a university of choice and a vital community partner. The Hilbert Museum of California Art is a great example of that, he said.

“We have this beautiful art museum that’s free to the public and we want it to be something that the community can really utilize — not just to enjoy art, but to really see what Chapman is all about,” Parlow said. “It’s the first thing you see from the train station, so it’s a literal gateway into Orange, a gateway into the arts district.”

Parlow, who grew up in Hollywood and now lives in Orange County, said the area’s vibrant arts scene is a reflection of what makes Southern California one of the most dynamic regions in the world.

“We have people from all over the world, from so many different backgrounds, and there’s a real entrepreneurial spirit here,” he said. “When you’re here, you see the future, you see the opportunity that lies ahead for society. I think it’s amazing and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.”

Matt Parlow speaks with Board of Trustees Chairman Emeritus Doy Henley, right, at a recent event.

Inspired by education’s power to transform

Parlow’s passion for education is deeply personal. His father grew up in an orphanage and his mother in foster care. Both worked their way through night school to become teachers, providing him and his brother with a stable, middle-class upbringing.

“I saw what education did for my parents and my family, and the opportunities it gave me,” he said. “They instilled in us a dedication and reverence for education and how it can be such a force for social mobility. It’s the great equalizer.”

Parlow’s life work has been giving those same opportunities to others through teaching, leadership and mentoring.

“I can look back on my career and my life and see the impact of people who really took an interest in me and opened my eyes to opportunities that I wasn’t thinking of for myself or didn’t have the confidence to believe in for myself,” he said. “And you realize how powerful it can be to get that feedback and support from people who have been down the same path.

“As a professor and a faculty administrator, I have always tried to be that for others, and as president I’ll continue to do that,” Parlow said. “I know the care and concern from people who invested in me has made a huge difference in my life.”

The news and editorial staffs of the Orange County Register had no role in this post’s preparation.