Ferrucci Family’s $1.5 Million Gift Fuels Chapman University Students’ Continued Studies in Italy The second major gift announced by Chapman in as many months puts the interdisciplinary studies curriculum focus on filmmaking, food culture and music, and brings the campaign total to nearly $318 million

March 14, 2023

Chapman University announced Saturday, March 11 that a $1.5 million gift from the Ferrucci family will create the Ferrucci Institute for Italian Experience and Research within Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Science. The cross-disciplinary program will support Italy-based research and coursework for faculty and students.

Federico Pacchioni, who holds the Sebastian P. (Paul) and Marybelle Musco Chair in Italian Studies at Chapman, helped announce the gift as a surprise at the department’s 7th annual Italian Perspectives Event.

“This program enables us to create such a strong connection with another country and to leverage their intellectual and cultural treasures to advance knowledge and research,” said Pacchioni. “The institute will serve as a bridge between Chapman and Italy.”