Robert and Meredith Chapman Professorship in Water Supply and Reclamation

In 2021, Robert Chapman, ’65, ’67, and Meredith Chapman made arrangements in their estate plans to create an endowed professorship in the College of Engineering. Future Robert and Meredith Chapman Professors in Water Supply and Reclamation will focus on surface water supply, including water quality enhancement, water supply and treatment, and wastewater reclamation and reuse.

After earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering, Robert Chapman spent his entire 45-year career at CH2M HILL, the employee-owned worldwide engineering company started by his former professor, Fred Merryfield, with three former students. Robert eventually served as senior vice president of the company’s water business group and was a member of its board of directors.

Meredith Chapman is a lifelong volunteer and homemaker. She began her career as a word processor and has supported Robert throughout his academic and professional career. Meredith’s volunteer leadership and fundraising has focused on helping children in need, family health and education. She’s earned numerous distinctions for her efforts and served for over 35 years with the Assistance League in chapters around the country.

In addition to their professorship, the Chapmans have established a professional development fund to support student engineers pursuing leadership and career opportunities at OSU. 

Robert Chapman appears in the second row, furthest from the left, in this photo from the 1969 Stater of the Corvallis office of CH2M Hill, the worldwide engineering company started by Chapman's former professor, Fred Merryfield, with three former students, and where Chapman spent his entire career.