Chapman University Receives $2.5 million Donation from Kay Family Foundation

Chapman University has received a $2.5 million gift from the Kay Family Foundation, which will fund faculty, student and potentially alumni research, projects, and other activities in the field of “Data Analytics” (often broadly referred to as “Big Data”).

The fund will be administered by the Argyros School of Business and Economics, and will develop and establish an “idea incubator” for ideas emerging from across Chapman University that have the potential for near term impact in the business world or scientific community.

“This generous donation will drive innovation in the critical area of Data Analytics, which is causing enormous shifts in both the business world and society at large,” said Argyros School dean Reggie Gilyard.  “It will provide faculty, students and potentially alumni with resources that enable discovery and impact through the analysis of sizeable data sets.”

The Kay Family Foundation has an extensive history of investment in the mission of Chapman University through a partnership that extends beyond the Argyros School.

“We envision the Kay Data Analytics Fund as a means to strategically supplement critical existing research and talent across many different disciplines at Chapman,” said Elim Kay, President and Board Member of Kay Family Foundation. “This is an opportunity to identify niche areas around which clusters of excellence can be built to have real world impact.”

Kay is on the university’s Board of Governors, Board of Counselors, and the Leatherby Center for Entrepreneurship and Business Ethics’ Board of Challengers.

The mission of the Kay Family Foundation is to promote new models and systems that produce 21st century global leaders primarily in Orange County, CA.

About Chapman University

As an academically distinguished center of learning, Chapman University attracts extraordinary students and faculty from around the globe. Its ten schools and colleges foster a vibrant intellectual community, and provide extensive opportunities for students to learn, grow and discover alongside remarkable faculty. The University is home to some 8,000 students pursuing bachelor, master and doctoral degrees, and is alma mater to more than 40,000 alumni found throughout the United States and the world. Now celebrating its 155th year, Chapman is known for its distinguishing strengths in leadership and civic engagement, in the arts and entertainment disciplines, and in specialized sectors of technology and science. The University is comprised of its main campus in Orange, California, and the Rinker Health Science campus for graduate health science programs in Irvine, California. Visit us at www.chapman.edu.

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