Mr. David Henley.

To mark the 30th anniversary of the Ludie and David C. Henley Social Sciences Research Lab (Henley Lab), Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Science would like to thank the Henleys for their steadfast commitment to enhancing our students’ educational experiences.

The broad reach of the Henleys’ philanthropy at Chapman University includes Henley Lab Fellows, Phi Alpha Theta (the History Honors Society), the Henley Social Sciences Travel Fund, and so much more.

Mr. Henley and his wife, Ludie, sponsor the Annual Wilkinson College Henley Social Sciences Awards Ceremony every May and provide yearly funding for the Henley Lab.

The Henley Lab supports undergraduate and faculty research through a variety of programs. Research Fellows staff the lab five days a week and assist faculty with data collection and analysis. They also provide tutoring in SPSS, R, and quantitative methods, all of which would not be possible without the support of the Henleys.

“The Henley Lab was key in preparing me for a career in public service. The Lab gave me the ability to take data and move beyond the numbers to understand what it means for people,” said Emily Kinney (’25 Political Science and Communications), who is now a management analyst for the city of Aspen, Colorado. “I use this analysis daily in an attempt to serve my community and am so thankful to the Henley Lab for making my time at Chapman so impactful.”

Henley Lab Fellows engage in significant research projects with real-world impact. For example, disaster preparedness insights have been utilized by local emergency managers. Work on wildfire watches and warning designs has been implemented by the National Weather Service. Students work with faculty on research ranging from human rights to disaster preparedness, homelessness, and the Chapman Survey of American Fears. Students often co-author with faculty, leading to conference presentations and publications, and they undertake their own original research with faculty mentors, delivering on Chapman’s promise of a personalized education.

Henley Lab students on a field trip to the Nixon Library.

“I am now an associate professor of Diplomacy at Seton Hall University’s School of Diplomacy. I founded something called the DiploLab. In part, I was inspired by my experience in the Henley Lab and working there helped me get my start in academic research. I am forever grateful to the Henleys for supporting a student-centered research space and the start they gave me,” said Joey Huddleston (’11 Peace Studies and Sociology).

Sarah LeMay (’18 Political Science and Peace Studies), a Program Manager at the Center for Creative Leadership, says of the three years she spent as a Research Fellow in the Henley Lab, “…it was one of the most rewarding experiences during my time at Chapman. It gave me the opportunity to work as a Research Assistant for multiple professors, where I was able to support a project for the United Nations World Food Programme, as well as the Chapman University Survey on American Fears. During my time as a fellow, I gained valuable skills in deductive reasoning and in communicating complex situations. These skills have greatly helped me during my time as a working professional, including in my current role as a Program Manager for the Center for Creative Leadership. Thank you, David and Ludie, for making this experience possible for me!”

Henley Lab Student Research Fellows, 2025.

Over the years, Henley Lab Fellows have become known for gaining admission to prestigious graduate and law schools, including NYU, USC, Chapman’s own Fowler School of Law, UCLA, Duke, and the London School of Economics (to name a few). They have also gone on to careers at the State Department, local government, law, academia, non-profits, and the private sector.

“We are grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Henley for their vision that created the Lab, and their generosity that sustains it. Their support has had a transformational impact on students for three decades. The alumni themselves credit the Henley Lab with giving them the skills they need to succeed,” said Dr. Ann Gordon, Director of the Henley Lab.

(Pictured in header: Henley Lab Research Student Emma Boyd (’24 Political Science) Presents at the 2024 Southern California Conference for Undergraduate Research. All photos in this blog are courtesy of Dr. Ann Gordon.)