Introduction

President James (Jim) L. Doti's announcement that he was stepping down from his position - in combination with the retirement of his wife, longtime Professor Lynne P Doti - was a momentous event in the recent history of Chapman University. Lynne joined Chapman in 1971 and a few years later, in 1974, Jim joined the university as a young assistant professor. Interestingly, it was a search committee composed of Lynne and Professor Don Booth that recruited Jim Doti from Chicago. Only a few years later, in 1977, Jim and Lynne were married. This academic love story would be interesting by itself, but the rapid ascent of Jim to Dean of the Argyros School of Business and Economics and later to President of Chapman, transformed this academic couple into the powerful team that, in different ways, enriched the university for years to come.

Jim, the Donald Bren Distinguished Chair in Business and Economics was Dean of the Argyros School from 1985 to 1988, when, after the long and successful presidency of Dr. G.T. Smith, he was selected as Interim President. The university, in keeping with traditional best practices, entered into a national search that led to the appointment of Dr. Allen Koenig as the 11th President of Chapman University. Two years later, the Board called again on Jim, and he became the new President, a position he has now held for 25 years, and will hold until September 1st, 2016. This is not the place for a description of his many accomplishments, but it should suffice to say that these have been transformational years for Chapman University, which moved - as an example - from 61st to 7th in the U.S. News and World Report rankings during that period.

Lynne, on the other hand, established herself quickly as a major presence in the Argyros School. She received tenure in 1980, was promoted to full professorship in 1990, was appointed the David and Sandra Stone Professor of Economics, and served...