James, L. Doti, Ph.D., has been president of Chapman University since 1991. In that time Chapman has added new buildings (including the award-winning Fish Interfaith Center), world-class faculty and earned a reputation as one of California’s preeminent private universities. 

He earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Illinois, Chicago, and his master’s and doctorate degrees in economics from the University of Chicago.  His articles have appeared in academic journals as well as periodicals such as The Wall Street Journal and The Chronicle of Higher Education.  He is the co-author of two econometrics texts and co-editor of a collection of readings in free enterprise that received the Templeton Honor Award for Scholarly Excellence.

A champion of the liberal arts and sciences, President Doti is the founder of the Chapman University A. Gary Anderson Center for Economic Research, holds the Donald Bren Distinguished Chair in Business and Economics and is an avid reader and cinephile. He is also a children’s book author, mountain climber, marathon runner and passionate Panther.