Chico State Announces 2024 Lantis Endowed Chairs Recipients
Chico State has named three distinguished faculty members as recipients of its annual Lantis Endowed University Chairs, a program funded by generous private giving to strengthen teaching, research, and community impact. The awards, ranging from $20,000 to $40,000 for release time, travel, stipends, and related project costs, recognize outstanding scholarship and promise to widen the university’s reach—from local North State communities to global audiences.
President Steve Perez highlighted the program as a living testament to the university’s commitment to connection, excellence, inspiration, and innovation. “The Lantis Endowed University Chairs reflect our dedication to improving our students’ lives, our region, and our world,” he said. The 2024 honorees continue the legacy of Professor David Lantis and his wife, Helen, whose $2 million donation established the chairs to support transformative work across disciplines.
The recipients are International Relations expert Angela Gapa, Criminal Justice scholar Amy Magnus, and Marketing professor Matthew Stone. Each will advance distinct projects that blend scholarly inquiry with student mentorship and community impact.
Angela Gapa: Decentering Western Narratives in Botswana
Angela Gapa’s project centers on Botswana’s resource-driven development, a story she has long explored through research, teaching, and publication. Her plan includes a feature-length documentary, Beyond the Diamond Glow: Botswana Through the Eyes of Its People, and a companion museum exhibit at the Valene L. Smith Museum of Anthropology. Collaborating with award-winning Botswana filmmaker Mmakgosi Anita Tau, Gapa seeks to foreground Botswanans’ voices—perspectives often underrepresented in traditional international relations scholarship.
The project emphasizes hands-on learning for Chico State students and University of Botswana collaborators. Students will participate in research, production, and curation, gaining practical experience in storytelling, ethnography, and cross-cultural collaboration. Gapa holds a PhD in international relations and has earned a master’s in international studies, with a background in environmental science and health, underscoring her interdisciplinary approach to global issues.
Amy Magnus: Building Rural Reproductive Health Access Through Action Research
Amy Magnus’ work focuses on rural communities in the North State, examining how residents navigate reproductive health and healthcare access amid political and infrastructural challenges. Her initiative seeks to deliver data-driven insights to policymakers and community leaders aiming to create more equitable rural health systems.
Magnus outlines a plan for collaboration with First 5 Tehama, regional health providers, and Chico State student researchers. She also intends to establish the Rural Justice Alliance, a network dedicated to research, advocacy, and stronger University-community partnerships across the North State. Her scholarly path includes advanced degrees in psychology and criminology, highlighting her commitment to bridging research, advocacy, and practical outcomes for underserved communities.
Matthew Stone: Expanding Global Understanding of Food Tourism
Matthew Stone is a leading voice in food tourism research, a field that links culinary experience with travel behavior and destination storytelling. Building on his previous World Food Travel Association surveys, he plans a global benchmark study to examine contemporary attitudes and behaviors of culinary travelers. He notes that food tourism can account for a significant share of travelers’ budgets and plays a crucial role in shaping destination image and local economies.
In addition to the research, Stone will develop a teaching guide for food and beverage tourism, helping educators design courses that reflect real-world industry dynamics. His work, spanning a PhD in recreation, park, and tourism sciences, a master’s in hospitality management, and a business degree, positions him to connect classroom learning with industry practice.
<h2 The Impact of Lantis Endowments
Endowed faculty positions like these are designed to expand opportunities for students while providing stability for the scholars who drive discovery. The Lantis chairs exemplify Chico State’s ethos: invest in people, ideas, and partnerships that ripple outward—from campus classrooms to global communities.
These chairs also embody a broader mission to inspire the next generation of leaders who will address global, rural, and cultural challenges with creativity and rigor. As Chico State advances these initiatives, students and communities alike can anticipate meaningful collaborations, experiential learning opportunities, and research that informs policy, practice, and public understanding.
