Chapman University Is Considering Launching a Walt Disney Think Tank

Chapman University in Orange County, California, is considering launching a scholarly think tank dedicated to studying the impact of Walt Disney and Disneyland on the world.

Disney historian Jeff Kurtti and Chapman University professor Brian Alters have begun examining the feasibility of developing a Walt Disney Think Tank.

Jeff Kurtti (left) and Brian Alter (right). Photo: Courtesy of Chapman University

According to SiliconValley.com, the think tank would study Walt Disney’s “life, legacy and global impact” on “art, music, culture, business, economic development, transportation, urban planning, themed environments, placemaking, science, technology and innovation.”

Jeff Kurtti’s Disney Career

According to Kurtti, Walt Disney’s impact is still being felt around the world. Throughout his career, he has worked at Walt Disney Imagineering and served as the creative director for the Walt Disney Family Museum.

“A think tank about Walt Disney is such an interesting and deep area of pursuit,” Kurtti said.

Photo: Disney

“Even today, almost 60 years after his passing, the things that he envisioned still have relevance. People keep coming back to them. Our intent is to examine that aspect of Walt Disney’s persona — biographically, creatively and professionally.”

Alter’s Credentials

Alters, meanwhile, has taught at Chapman University, Harvard, and McGill University. According to SiliconValley, his most popular class at Chapman has been The Pursuit of Happiness and Knowledge: Charles Darwin & Walt Disney.

“As a visionary whose career transected numerous industries and continues to shape everyday life around the world, Walt Disney remains woefully understudied from an academic perspective,” Alters said in a statement.

Photo: D23

Alters and Kurtti are expected to finish their feasibility report next year, and Chapman University will make their decision.