Casa Captivating
Dr. James Doti has been known as Chapman University’s longest-running and most memorable President. He is a champion of the liberal arts and sciences who transformed the once unexceptional college into a prestigious university.
Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens is honored to have the multi-talented and gregarious Dr. Doti as our #CasaUpClose guest speaker on Thursday, November 10, 2016. Here are 5 reasons that he is exceptional:
He produces a renowned annual Economic Forecast
In 1978, four years after Dr. Doti joined the faculty of Chapman University, he founded the Center for Economic Research to encourage faculty and students to engage in economic and business research of high quality. The center, now called the A. Gary Anderson Center for Economic Research, annually disseminates the results of their research to the business community. Under Dr. Doti’s leadership, the Anderson Center has become nationally recognized, with its annual Economic Forecasts, Forecast Updates and other research results cited in many major publications, including The Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek, USA Today and many others.
He is a seasoned international mountain climber
Dr. Doti began mountain climbing as a hobby to enjoy with his son, Adam Doti. After ascending to the peak of California’s Mt. Whitney, the highest summit in the contiguous United States, the Dotis continued on to place the Chapman pennant at the summits of Mt. Kilimanjaro (Tanzania), Mt. Aconcagua (Argentina), Mt. Elbrus (Russia), Mt.Vinson (Antarctica), Mt. Rainier (Washington state), Mt. Kosciuszko(New South Wales), and the Carstensz Pyramid on the island of New Guinea.
He is a leading force behind Chapman University’s ascent
During Dr. James Doti’s 25-year tenure as president, Chapman University doubled its graduation rate, quadrupled the student body, quintupled the faculty, and boosted assets to $1B. After becoming President in 1991, he redistributed $1.2M in Division I and II athletic scholarships to provide academic scholarships for top students, and legally changed the institution into a university. He also spearheaded ambitious expansion projects, beginning with a law school and a film school. Known for his incredible fundraising abilities, Dr. Doti has guided benefactors to support the creation of 10 schools and colleges, and the university’s endowment stands at over $3M.
He is a children’s book author
In addition to academic journalism and ecomic editorials, Dr. Doti is also the author of three children’s books. The semi-autobiographical stories tell the tale of a young boy growing up in Chicago (Dr. Doti’s hometown) who helps his family prepare for a Little Italy Christmas, overcomes physical challenges and bullying, and learns to work through the passing of loved ones.
His students remember him as ‘awesome’
Few leaders with such a powerful role are as broadly esteemed as Dr. James Doti, yet he is regarded highly by his academic peers, Chapman’s benefactors, the national economic community, the regional philanthropic community, and even the student body of Chapman University. In fact, his legacy among students and alumni is somewhat legendary, with the panther Online (Chapman’s university newspaper) reporting: “On top of being president, Doti has been Chapman’s biggest cheerleader during his time at the university’s helm. Doti’s legacy on this campus is larger than life, and the positive impact that he has had on the Chapman community is immeasurable.” They shared some of their favorite “campus cheerleader” moments with him in this news article.
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Casa Up Close: Dr. James Doti
Thursday, November 10, 2016 | 7:00 PM
$12 general admission | $10 member admission
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