Dear Colleagues,
After a highly competitive national search, I am pleased to share that Rick Bischoff has been selected as Chapman’s next senior vice president of enrollment management. With more than 35 years of experience in enrollment management at top private institutions across the country including California, Rick brings deep, transformational expertise and results to Chapman.
Rick joins us most recently from Case Western Reserve University, where he transformed the breadth, depth, and selectivity of its applicant pool. Over a 16-year period, he moved Case Western Reserve’s admissions strategy and operations from regional to national, significantly increasing applications, enrollment, and net tuition revenue while driving down the acceptance rate from 73% to 35%. During his tenure, Rick established close relationships and collaborations across campus and with school districts, private foundations, and organizations to achieve admissions and university objectives and to expand access, increasing the number of Pell-eligible students during his tenure.
Rick previously held roles at the California Institute of Technology, where he served as the chief admissions officer and modernized day-to-day recruitment practices, and the University of Chicago, where he developed and implemented an effective long-range recruitment plan. Like many admissions professionals, he started his career at his alma mater, Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minn., quickly rising through the ranks from counselor to associate director of admissions. He also holds an MBA from University of Minnesota.
He is active in enrollment management societies including American Association of Universities Chief Enrollment Officers, National Council for Education Policy and Planning, Enrollment Planning Network, NACAC, College Board, and the Council of International Schools.
During the search, Rick expressed his fondness for and admiration of Chapman, which he has continued to follow since his days at Caltech. Among many other factors for joining Chapman, Rick is excited by the university’s distinctive programs, impressive location and campuses, our ideal size, and our family feel. Rick also noted our mission and values, as he shares our drive to make an impact on our students’ lives.
As we successfully close this search, I want to thank the search committee, who provided essential feedback and counsel during the process, as well as the enrollment management team, campus leaders, faculty, and staff who participated in listening sessions and finalist campus visits.
Please join me in welcoming Rick when he arrives on January 12, 2026. Later this academic year, we will also celebrate Mike Pelly’s impressive career at Chapman, as he plans his retirement.
As we look ahead, Rick’s leadership strengthens our terrific optimism about Chapman’s future. I look forward to seeing how we will build on the success that Mike and his team have achieved to create even greater momentum ahead.
Best,
Amy Rogan-Mehta
EVP and Chief of Staff