Dear Chapman Family,
At the end of this academic year, we will bid farewell to one of Chapman University’s most trusted, beloved, and enduring leaders. After 18 years of extraordinary service, Dr. Jerry Price will retire as Senior Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students.
Since joining Chapman in 2008, Jerry has shaped the student experience with a rare blend of wisdom, compassion, good humor, and steadfast commitment to our community. Under his leadership, the division of Student Affairs has become a national model for how universities can care for students not just as scholars, but also as individuals with unique stories, challenges, and dreams.
Jerry has dedicated nearly two decades to ensuring that our students are supported, challenged, and inspired. His influence is visible in every corner of our campus culture through the connections our students build and the sense of belonging that defines the Chapman experience.
Throughout his tenure, Jerry has guided countless initiatives that have strengthened the student experience, from enhancing well-being and student support programs to fostering community engagement and leadership development. He has mentored and supported the professional growth of numerous student affairs professionals, building a talented team of dedicated colleagues who ground their work with students in both compassion and theory. Yet for those who know him best, it is the small, everyday moments that define his legacy: a kind word in passing, an open door, and the genuine attention he gives to every student, family, and colleague. Jerry fundamentally understands – and demonstrates through his words and actions – the benefits of a personalized education. Jerry’s impact can literally be seen as he sits in the heart of campus – in a fishbowl-style office in Argyros Forum – and can be heard as our students often chant “Jerry” with fondness when his name is announced at Commencement.
“Jerry is one of the most caring and committed leaders and student affairs professionals I’ve had the pleasure of working with,” noted President Matt Parlow. “He consistently puts our students and families first and embodies the personalization that makes Chapman special. Whether he is helping students with advice and guidance or personally wishing students happy birthday on move-in day, he lives our mission every day. He is one of a kind.”
When asked to reflect on his time here, Jerry shared that what he will miss most are the daily interactions with students, including the spontaneous sidewalk hellos, the laughter and learning that fill our halls, and the joy of watching young people grow into confident, compassionate adults. “If I had to summarize how I feel about the last 18 years,” he said, “it would be ‘grateful.’”
As a university community, we share that gratitude deeply. Chapman is stronger, more caring, and more student-centered because of Jerry’s vision and his unwavering belief in the transformative power of education.
Please join me in celebrating Senior Vice President and Dean Jerry Price for his many years of dedicated service and his lasting impact on generations of Panthers. Details for a campus celebration in his honor will be shared later this academic year. In the coming weeks, I will also share information about a national search for his successor.
Sincerely,
Amy Rogan-Mehta
EVP and Chief of Staff