Chapman University has made its newest addition to the Argyros College of Business and Economics.
Chapman last month announced a gift from Chairman Emeritus Doy Henley to establish the Doy B. Henley School of Management within the newly elevated business college.
The amount of the gift was undisclosed.
“The new dedicated School of Management will train future leaders to succeed by providing the academic and hands-on training required of good managers in any field,” Henley told the Business Journal.
The study of business management generally covers business strategy and policy, human resource management and organizational theory, according to Argyros College of Business and Economics Dean Henrik Cronqvist.
“With his great success in the business community and as a board leader, it’s fitting that the school of management will bear his name,” Chapman University’s President Daniele Struppa said in a statement.
The gift was announced during the university’s 2024 State of the University address on Feb. 9.
Henley Legacy
There are already several buildings, chairs and scholarships named after Henley on the Orange-based university’s campus, including student housing center Henley Hall and the Doy and Dee Henley Reading Room in Leatherby Libraries, dedicated to Henley and his late wife, Dee Henley.
Henley grew up in “modest circumstances” and moved from Southern Illinois to California with his wife Dee in the mid-1950s after seeing job ads in the newspaper.
He went on to own and operate several manufacturing companies such as Aeromil Aircraft Engineering, which was among the first to use computer-aided tools to machine special surfaces in aerospace products.
He also owned Cox Hobbies, a manufacturer of radio-controlled planes, trains and other products in the toy industry. It is known as one of the earliest companies to use electronic data for supply chain management.
Henley first became involved with the university through his friendship with real estate developer and prominent local businessman George Argyros.
Henley joined Chapman’s board of trustees in 1986 before serving as chairman from 2013 to 2015.
Now, as chairman emeritus, he is still making an impact on the school as an active donor.
Last November, Henley donated a $1 million gift to establish an endowed fund supporting innovative research at Argyros College.
Henley was awarded the Presidential Medal, Chapman’s highest honor, that same month for his leadership and philanthropy.
Record Year
Last year was a record fundraising year for Chapman, according to Matt Parlow, executive vice president and chief advancement officer.
The school raised more than $72 million for the 2022-2023 academic year and publicly kicked off its Inspire campaign last February.
Struppa said that the school has raised $380 million to date toward its $500 million goal that it aims to raise by 2028.
Struppa also gave updates on several campus projects like the student housing complex Chapman Court, which is set to open next fall for incoming undergraduate and transfer students.
Rising in Rankings
Chapman’s business college has been steadily improving its national ranking.
It ranked No. 60 in the business schools category by U.S. News & World Report, jumping up 12 spots from the year prior, and has a long-term goal of reaching the top 50.
A $10 million gift from Julia and George Argyros, announced last September, elevated the Argyros school to a college.
The university said the shift to a college will allow for more focused schools in different areas of business study such as the Burra School of Accounting and Finance that was established last year.
