Potential candidate Jennifer West for Chapman president advocated for community and transparency

Photo Collage by Emily Paris, Photo Editor

Chapman met Jennifer West on Nov. 12 in a town hall format where West spoke about her credentials, experience and what she would like to implement at Chapman. 

West started her career as a professor in biomedical engineering when it was a completely new department at Rice University. She said this was an influential experience that gave her an advantage in navigating uncharted territory.

“It was great to build something from nothing,” she said. 

West also emphasized that she has a background in universities of similar size to Chapman with her positions as a professor at Rice and professor and associate dean of engineering at Duke University. 

Outside of her roles at other colleges, West is the founder of two biomedical device companies and was elected to the National Academy of Engineering, National Academy of Medicine and National Academy of Inventors. 

West is currently the dean of the engineering and applied science school at the University of Virginia where her research focuses on biomedical engineering to fight against cancer. West’s primary focus as the dean is on student success and the growing enrollment at the University of Virginia. 

“I am very proud of the personalized attention that our students get that leads to personal successes,” West said. “We have one of the highest percentage(s) of female engineering students in the country.” 

West took time to mention the bus and school shooting that took place in 2022 at the University of Virginia. She said the university's response to the shooting was pivotal in shaping these students’ lives and it was an opportunity to demonstrate leadership and build up the community and West herself offered to be a comforting face and aid students walking to the memorial. 

When it comes to Chapman and the future she envisions for the university, West said the focus should be on how administrators, faculty, and the board can cultivate student success. 

“The mission should be in the support of the faculty and making great things happen for the students,” said West. 

West believes professors play a significant role in students’ lives and that fostering a strong community is essential to the growth and success of an institution. One of her suggestions to help foster this community is implementing dinners and lunches between faculty and students as a resource for freshmen to build relationships. 

“The first thing to think about is community,” she said. “Community is a really important base that you have to grow everything from.” 

West also touched on the budget crisis that Chapman is facing. She said she would make decisions based on data that would be shared with the public, but noted that budgets are restricting. West reflected on her position as department chair during the 2008 financial crisis and she has experience managing budgets in challenging circumstances. 

“It is impossible to do everything everyone wants with budget constraints,” she said. 

West said that to avoid confusion and frustration, it is important to have open conversations and said she would hold office hours for students, faculty and staff. 

“The university president should be very open to engaging with students and faculty,” she said. “I firmly believe when setting future directions for an institution there should be input from the community.”

Stephan Galloway, dean of Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, wanted to know what West would do to create a new brand image for Chapman in years to come. 

West’s suggestion was to implement targeted social media campaigns to make sure students all over the globe know about things like the beautiful location and facilities.  

“Being able to seed programs with really exceptional students who are from diverse geographical regions will help spread the word,” said West

West also said she would work to place every student in an internship program or experimental learning experience. 

Her last suggestion highlighted the defining difference of merit-based scholarships as they provide opportunities for exceptional students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds to choose Chapman. 

West ended her presentation by looking into the future of higher education and discussed the need to prepare for the future, especially if the Department of Federal Education goes away.

“We need to have a plan for getting through some turbulent times in the next few years,” West said. 

The presidential candidate search will continue with Matt Parlow, executive vice president, chief advancement officer and Parker S. Kennedy chair in law at Chapman University on Nov. 19.