David Dixon, California State University, Dominguez Hills professor of political science, has been named the university’s L.G. Chaffee Endowed Chair of Global and Comparative Politics. The first endowed chair position in university history was made possible by a $1.5 million bequest from Emeritus Professor of Political Science Lyman Chaffee, who passed away in 2018.
“We are pleased that the first chair of the Lyman Chaffee endowment will be filled by a person that has worked with Lyman in the past and pursues the same field of study that Lyman did,” said David Chaffee, Lyman’s brother.
A scholar of international politics, Chaffee taught political science at CSUDH for more than 35 years. He was an avid proponent of the benefits of study abroad as part of a student’s educational journey, and also served as director of CSUDH international programs and resident director of the CSU system’s international programs in Spain.
As the first L.G. Chaffee Endowed Chair, Dixon will work to promote student engagement in the study of international and comparative politics, and study abroad opportunities.
“It was an honor to eulogize Dr. Chaffee at his passing in 2018, and I look forward to my continued role in preserving his memory by training CSUDH students in global and comparative politics,” Dixon said.
Dixon joined the CSUDH Department of Political Science in 2015 as professor and chair. He previously was a faculty member and chair of political science at St. Joseph College in Indiana; academic dean and research professor of social theory at Antioch University in Los Angeles; and assistant professor at Whittier College. While at St. Joseph’s College, Dixon served as director of the study abroad program. His research and teaching focus on comparative politics, with an emphasis on religion, Latin America, and the Civil Rights Movement.
“I congratulate Dr. Dixon on his appointment as L.G. Chaffee Endowed Chair of Global and Comparative Politics, and look forward to working with him to broaden student participation in international and comparative politics,” said CSUDH Provost Michael Spagna. “As our world becomes increasingly interconnected, it is essential that we all work to broaden our horizons and understanding of how other people live.”
In addition to the endowment for the chair position, Chaffee’s legacy gift included $225,000 in support of scholarships for students interested in studying abroad.
