Dear Faculty and Staff,
I am writing to share the bittersweet news that Mike Pelly, our vice president and dean of enrollment, is announcing his retirement, effective Oct. 1. Given the reputational and financial importance of this role, I will launch a national search for Mike’s successor in the coming months.
An integral part of the Chapman Family, Mike has spent nearly 40 years of his career at Chapman, all in the Office of Admission. He began—like many do in the admissions profession—as an admissions counselor and then worked his way up to director of undergraduate admission before eventually becoming the division’s leader.
As VP of enrollment, Mike manages the offices of Admission, Financial Aid and Registrar, as well as International Student Services and the Veterans Resource Center. He serves on three committees of Chapman University’s Board of Trustees including Finance and Budget, Academic and Student Life. In his early years at Chapman, after founding the men’s lacrosse team, he served as head coach for five years. He was named WCLL coach of the year and was ultimately inducted into the LA Chapter of the US Lacrosse Hall of Fame.
“Mike is the consummate enrollment leader,” noted Norma Bouchard, EVP, Provost, and Chief Academic Officer. “He has been instrumental in increasing not only our enrollment numbers but, more importantly, the quality of our applicant pools and student body. He has built a seasoned team of professionals who will continue to build on Mike’s foundation. He will be greatly missed.
“Beyond his professional achievements,” she added, “Mike has been a tremendous colleague—one of the very best enrollment leaders I have had the privilege to work with in decades. Always ahead of the curve, he brings a keen strategic mind to every challenge, coupled with an unwavering commitment to students and the institution. He is not only brilliant and insightful but also genuinely kind, loyal and a true pleasure to work with. His quick wit and sense of humor have brightened countless meetings and made even the toughest decisions easier to navigate. Mike’s leadership, wisdom and camaraderie will be deeply missed, but his impact will endure for years to come.”
Among Mike’s many stellar accomplishments, he is most proud of:
- Helping to grow Chapman from a small regional liberal arts college to a mid-sized nationally ranked university
- Increasing our regional rank from No. 96 to No. 4 in the West prior to our national ranking
- Enhancing our overall reputation and the academic quality of our students
- Founding the men’s lacrosse program and creating an endowment for the team, as well as contributing to the women’s lacrosse program
- Creating the Veterans Resource Center
Looking back on his career at Chapman, he told me that he loves “the people and the atmosphere on campus.” He also feels gratified that we were able to retain what makes Chapman so special despite all of our growth.
“Mike is Chapman incarnate,” said Matt Parlow, EVP/chief advancement officer and president-elect. “He cares deeply about each and every student and family member and goes out of his way to ensure that they are cared for—and ultimately choose Chapman. Whether it’s hosting students at his home for Thanksgiving or personally meeting with families interested in Chapman, he is a big part of what makes this place so special.”
As an admissions professional, Mike was elected and served on the Board of Directors for the National Association for College Admission Counseling, a membership organization with more than 16,000 members dedicated to supporting student access to postsecondary education. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Community Foundation of Orange, a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the communities of Orange and Villa Park. And as a former faculty member for the College Board Summer Institute at UC Santa Cruz, he taught new admission personnel about the profession and ethical standards of college admissions.
He received his B.A. in political science at Whittier College and his M.S. in human resource management at Chapman University.
Mike resides in Villa Park with his wife Sara and their chocolate lab, Orvis. In their spare time, they enjoy fly fishing and, individually, he enjoys restoring classic cars while she enjoys driving them. After October, they will have plenty of time to hit the open road and take advantage of the great outdoors.
Please join me in thanking and congratulating Mike and look for more opportunities to celebrate him this year.
Daniele C. Struppa
President