Former School of the Coast & Environment Dean Russ
Chapman left LSU August 1 to take the position of executive
director of the Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation
(CMBC) at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University
of California, San Diego.
Chapman became the first dean of SC&E in 2001 when the
Center for Coastal, Energy, and Environmental Resources
(CCEER) became an academic school and changed its name to
SC&E. Chapman was executive director of CCEER for six
years beginning in 1995 as the interim director, and he
stepped down as dean of SC&E this past December after
ten years of service to SC&E and CCEER.
At CMBC Chapman will administer the research and graduate
teaching efforts of an innovative campus-wide, interdisciplinary
program focused on more effective research and training
based on a multifaceted approach that includes science,
economics, and policy studies. Chapman will also directly
participate in major private sector funding initiatives
in support of CMBC.
In 32 years at LSU, Chapman has been a professor in the
Department of Oceanography & Coastal Sciences and in
the Department of Biological Sciences. He served as chairman
of the Department of Plant Biology, associate dean of both
the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Basic
Sciences, and associate vice chancellor of research and
economic development. He received the Amoco Foundation Award
for undergraduate teaching as well as the LSU Alumni Distinguished
Faculty Award. As a member and past president of the Patrons
of LSU Opera, Chapman was instrumental in raising funds
for the LSU Opera Program and was honored with an LSU Opera
Hall of Fame plaque at a recent farewell gathering hosted
by the Patrons of LSU Opera.
Chapman said in a farewell message to faculty and staff
of SC&E, “My more than nine years with what is
now LSU's School of the Coast and Environment have been
not only interesting and challenging (to say the least),
but also fascinating, enjoyable (most of the time), and
quite fulfilling. Just to see the Energy, Coast and Environment
Building on the LSU campus rather than on Jefferson Highway
next to CAMD in the Research Park is a bit miraculous and
very satisfying!”
In a farewell letter to Chapman, LSU System President William
Jenkins wrote, “…I am saddened that you will
be leaving Louisiana State University after 32 years of
dedicated service. I would like to thank you for the numerous
contributions you have made. Without your Herculean efforts,
we would not have a School of the Coast and Environment.
I deeply appreciate your friendship and support.”
The CMBC Web site is www.cmbc.ucsd.edu, and Chapman’s
new e-mail address is rchapman@ucsd.edu.
