Jeff and Kim Chapman

Jeff Chapman (79BBA), of Dallas, Texas, is consistently regarded as one of the top mergers and acquisitions lawyers in the country.

As co-chair of the Global Mergers and Acquisitions Practice Group at Gibson, Dunn, and Crutcher, he represents private equity firms and public and private companies in diverse cross-border and domestic transactions in a broad range of industries. For Jeff, his success as a corporate attorney is directly linked to his time as an undergraduate student at the University of Iowa.

“At Iowa I learned to be open minded about different points of view—being exposed to both liberal perspectives as reflected in the work of economists like John Maynard Keynes and conservative perspectives in the writings of monetarists like Milton Friedman,” says Jeff, who is a native of West Des Moines, Iowa. “That classical approach to education served me well where success—the ability to strike deals—turns not just on the ability to advocate your client’s position but also understand your counterparty’s perspective.”

Jeff—who received a UI Distinguished Alumni Award for Achievement in 2020—credits UI Henry B. Tippie College of Business professors Nancy Hauserman (76JD), Gerry Nordquist (56MA, 60PhD), and Andy Policano for providing a strong foundation. His experience within the UI Tippie College of Business is one of the reasons why Jeff and his wife, Kim Engman Cain Chapman, support Iowa.

“We talk a lot about giving back, and we want to put our money where our hearts are,” says Jeff, whose father, Gordon Chapman (52BSC), was the first in his family to go to college. “A big part of our hearts is in Iowa City—and always will be.”

Kim, who is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and Drake University in Des Moines, is also passionate about supporting Iowa. Her father, Stanley Engman (55BA), is an Iowa graduate, and through her current work as a philanthropist and volunteer, Kim understands the importance of supporting higher education.

“Even though I didn’t attend college there, I love Iowa,” says Kim, who is a native of Windsor Heights, Iowa, and retired in 2013 after a successful career as a nurse and nurse practitioner. “It’s a great university, and I’m delighted to join with Jeff in contributing to the school.”

Recently, the Chapmans made arrangements to support Iowa through a bequest in their estate plan. Their gift commitment will provide unrestricted support for the UI Henry B. Tippie College of Business, Hawkeye athletics, and the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. The Chapmans view providing unrestricted support as a way to help university programs address their most pressing needs.

“Money is a lifeblood of a major university,” says Jeff. “Given all the university gave to me, I wanted to return it.”

Because of their giving to the UI Henry B. Tippie College of Business, the Chapmans became members of The Tippie Society, which recognizes donors who have followed the example set by visionary alumnus and benefactor Henry B. Tippie (49BSC) by making a significant contribution to the college.

In addition to establishing their bequest, the couple is planning to kickstart their support now, which will allow them to see the impact of their giving during their lives while providing generous support far into the future. It’s all to help current and future Hawkeyes.

“Every dollar that gets there sooner, rather than later, benefits the university a lot more than if you wait until we leave this earth,” says Jeff.

To learn more about how you can make a difference for the University of Iowa, please contact Susan Hagan, JD at 319-335-3305 or susan.hagan@foriowa.org. You may also explore other options on our planned giving website.