Daniele C. Struppa, president of Chapman University
ORANGE, Calif., September 15, 2016 –
Chapman University will welcome its new president,
Daniele C. Struppa, Ph.D.
, with all the pomp and pageantry of the academic tradition at an official Inauguration Ceremony, which will be held in Marybelle and Sebastian P. Musco Center for the Arts on Friday, September 30 at 2:30 p.m. But the new leader will also be feted, during the week leading up to the ceremony, with a series of events that reflect his many and varied interests, from science to film and poetry.
Chapman’s Inauguration Week boasts a star-studded line-up that includes many celebrities and academic noteworthies, including actor-singer
Leslie Odom Jr.
(Broadway’s smash “Hamilton”), legendary filmmaker
Werner Herzog
, Google’s “Chief Evangelist”
Gopi Kallayil
, famed physicists
Sir Roger Penrose
,
Paul Davies
and
Yakir Aharonov
, noted literary critic
Marjorie Perloff
and more.
Many of the Inauguration Week events are free and open to the public. The Inauguration Ceremony itself is by invitation only, but it will be live-streamed on the Chapman website and Facebook page and to several venues on the campus.
Details of all Inauguration Week events are below.
ABOUT PRESIDENT DANIELE C. STRUPPA, PH.D.
Dr. Struppa took over leadership as the 13
th
president of Chapman University on September 1 (it is common practice to have an official inauguration some time later) when longtime President James L. Doti, Ph.D. stepped down after 25 years at the helm to return to the Chapman economics faculty. He has served at Chapman University – first as provost and then as chancellor – since 2006. He came to Chapman University from George Mason University, where he served in several academic leadership positions, closing his tenure there as dean of George Mason’s College of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Struppa was born in Milan, Italy and holds his doctorate in mathematics from the University of Maryland, College Park. In recognition of his work, he has been awarded the Bartolozzi Prize from the Italian Mathematical Union and the Matsumae Medal from the Matsumae International Foundation of Tokyo. He has authored more than 150 publications in refereed mathematical and science journals and books, and has edited or co-authored six books.
CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY INAUGURATION WEEK FESTIVITIES – SEPTEMBER 25-30, 2016
ALL EVENTS ARE FREE (most are open to the public, except where otherwise noted).
More information and ticket reservations (for events that require them): www.chapman.edu/inauguration
Sunday, September 25 at 7 p.m.
An Evening with Leslie Odom Jr.
Chapman University Program Board (UPB) launches President Struppa’s Weeklong Inaugural Celebration with the help of Broadway and television superstar
Leslie Odom, Jr.
Odom is an award-winning actor, singer and dancer, with a long list of credits to his name — perhaps none more impressive than his Tony Award-winning role as Aaron Burr in the smash hit “Hamilton.” Mr. Odom will speak to a mostly student crowd about handling his success.
This event is sold out. Media welcome to attend and cover the event (contact us for entry); Mr. Odom will not be meeting the press or giving interviews.
Location: Musco Center for the Arts
Monday, September 26 at 6 p.m.
Lecture by Marjorie Perloff, Ph.D.
“
Language in Exile: Reflections on the Autobiography of Elias Canetti”
Noted literary and poetry critic
Marjorie Perloff
reflects on the autobiography of the Nobel prize-winning author Elias Canetti (1905-94), who wrote of how difficult it is for an exile writer to find his own tongue, a language in which he can be at home.
Open to Chapman faculty, staff, students and their guests only. Media welcome to attend and cover. Location: Lyon Conference Center, Argyros Forum 209
Tuesday, September 27 at 3 p.m.
Community Ice Cream Social
It’s a good old-fashioned Old Towne Ice Cream Social with all the toppings, hosted by the Old Towne Preservation Association. Best of all, everyone from the local Orange community is invited to enjoy the party as we welcome new Chapman President Daniele C. Struppa.
FREE and open to public – no reservation required. Media welcome to attend and cover.
Location: Bush Conference Center, Beckman Hall 404.
Wednesday, September 28 – 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Conference: “The Concept of Holism”
The notion of “causation” is fundamental to what it means to understand. This conference will explore the implications of ways to see causation for many disciplines – psychology, philosophy, education, the arts and more. Some of the most creative thinkers from a variety of disciplines will participate, including
Yakir Aharonov
, Ph.D., recipient of the National Medal of Science and professor in Chapman’s Institute for Quantum Studies and Schmid College of Science and Technology; and
Paul Davies
, Ph.D., physicist, author, professor at Arizona State University and Director of BEYOND: Center for Fundamental Concepts in Science; and many others.
FREE and open to the public; online reservation and free ticket required for entry: available at www.chapman.edu/inauguration. Media welcome to attend and cover.
Location: Fish Interfaith Center
Wednesday, September 28 at 4 p.m.
Capstone Address: Sir Roger Penrose
“Fashion, Faith and Fantasy in the New Physics of the Universe”
Sir Roger Penrose
, who has been called one of the most eminent figures in the world of physics today, continues to espouse ideas that have as many strong detractors as steadfast proponents. In his thought-provoking new book, “
Fashion, Faith, and Fantasy in the New Physics of the Universe
,” Penrose suggests that fashion, faith and fantasy – which may actually be productive, if not essential in physics – could be blindly leading researchers adrift in three of the field’s most important areas — string theory, quantum mechanics and cosmology. Sir Roger’s capstone address promises to be as provocative as it is insightful – clearly, a rare event not to be missed. His
address will be of a general nature and does not require prior expertise.
FREE and open to the public; online reservation and free ticket required for entry: available at www.chapman.edu/inauguration. Media welcome to attend and cover.
Location: Musco Center for the Arts
Wednesday, September 28 at 7:30 p.m.
Panel Discussion: “Through the Window of Consciousness: An Interdisciplinary Conversation”
This provocative, far-ranging discussion brings to the stage high-profile leaders from the worlds of technology, academia and business. Panelists include
Gopi Kallayil
, Google’s Chief Evangelist for Brand Marketing; Chapman alumnus, Yammer co-founder and cannabis entrepreneur
Keith McCarty
;
Najeeba Syeed
, J.D., director of the Center for Global Peacebuilding and professor at the Claremont School of Theology; Pedro Noguera, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of Education in the Graduate School of Education and Information Sciences at UCLA; and
Carolyn Forche
, professor at Georgetown University and author of four books of poetry. They will explore ways in which consciousness illuminates their work – and how it influences our lives and perceptions of the world around us.
FREE and open to the public; online reservation and free ticket required for entry: available at www.chapman.edu/inauguration. Media welcome to attend and cover.
Location: Musco Center for the Arts
Thursday, September 29 at 7:30 p.m.
A Celebration of Creativity in the Arts – Featuring a Conversation with Iconic Filmmaker Werner Herzog
This evening will feature Chapman theatre professor Tamiko Washington holding an onstage conversation with President Struppa’s favorite movie director, the legendary filmmaker Werner Herzog (“Aguirre: The Wrath of God,” “Fitzcarraldo,” “Grizzly Man”), who has been called one of the most daring and dangerous directors of our time. Herzog’s latest movie, just released, is “
Lo and Behold: Reveries of the Connected World,” a meditative exploration of the Internet. This event also will spotlight
artistic collaborations between Chapman faculty in music, dance, theatre and literature, centered on “L’Infinito” (“Infinity”), a magnificent poem by Giacomo Leopardi that is cherished by many Italians, and in a special way by President Struppa.
FREE and open to the public; online reservation and free ticket required for entry: available at www.chapman.edu/inauguration. Media welcome to attend and cover.
Location: Musco Center for the Arts
Friday, September 30 at 10 a.m.
Interfaith Service
The Fish Interfaith Center invites you to join interfaith leaders from throughout the region for an innovative service of blessing upon Daniele C. Struppa, Ph.D., upon his Inauguration as the Thirteenth President of Chapman University. Continental breakfast served at 9 a.m., followed by the service at 10 a.m. Chapman University is a pioneering leader in interfaith relations on university campuses, and we celebrate interfaith partnerships while also following the tradition of holding a religious service to mark the presidency at its Inauguration.
FREE and open to the public; online reservation and free ticket required for entry: available at www.chapman.edu/inauguration. Media welcome to attend and cover.
Location: Fish Interfaith Center
Friday, September 30 at 2:30 p.m.
Inauguration Ceremony
Drawing on the treasured traditions and pageantry of higher education, this event will be the formal
investiture
of the office and responsibilities to the newly inaugurated Thirteenth President of Chapman University, Daniele C. Struppa.
There will be a prosecco toast to the new president immediately following the ceremony. BY INVITATION ONLY. Media welcome to attend and cover. Ceremony will be live-streamed at www.chapman.edu/inauguration, on the Chapman University Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ChapmanUniversity) and at several venues on campus, including Folino Theater in Marion Knott Studios, Beckman Hall 404 and Memorial Hall.
ABOUT CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY
Consistently ranked among the top universities in the West, Chapman University provides a uniquely personalized and interdisciplinary educational experience to highly qualified students. Our programs encourage innovation, creativity and collaboration, and focus on developing global citizen-leaders who are distinctively prepared to improve their community and their world. Visit
www.chapman.edu
.
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