Donald Loppnow earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Work and Psychology from the University of Wisconsin in 1967. He earned a Master of Social Work degree from Washington University in 1970. He earned his Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration at the University of Michigan in 1989.

Loppnow was a social worker at the Wisconsin School for Girls in Oregon, WI from 1967 to 1968. He served as Unit Director for Wel Met, Inc. – Child Guidance in New York, NY from 1969 to 1970. He was Supervisor of Adult Services and Child Protective Services for the Manitowoc County Department of Social Services in Manitowoc, WI from 1970 to 1974. He was also Executive Director of Big Brothers of Manitowoc County in Manitowoc, WI between 1972 and 1974.

Loppnow joined Eastern Michigan University (EMU) as a full-time lecturer for the Social Work Program in 1974. He served as Coordinator of the Social Work Program from August 1978 to June 1981. In 1981, the Social Work Program moved to the College of Human Services, where it became an academic department. Loppnow was the first Department Head for the new Department of Social Work. Loppnow also served as Associate Director for the Institute for the Study of Children and Family between 1979 to June 1981.

In 1987, Michigan State University and EMU partnered together to develop a Geriatric Center of Michigan. Loppnow served as co-director of the project. From 1983 to 1988, Loppnow served as both the Director of the Gerontology Program, and the Department Head of the Department of Social Work. In February 1985, he was promoted to Acting Director of the Office of Research Development. November 1985, he was named Interim President of the Office of Research Development. He served in this role until August 1986.

In June 1990, it was announced that Loppnow had been named among the 31 Fellows chosen as part of the American Council of Education (ACE) Fellows of 1990-1991. After various interviews, he served his fellowship as Special Assistant to the President of Western Michigan University.

Loppnow served as the Interim Assistant Vice President for Programs from September 1996 to August 1997. In September 1997, he was named Assistant Vice President of Extended Programs, aposition he held until October 2002. Between 2000 and 2002, he also served as Assistant to the President for Strategic Planning. From 2002-2004, Loppnow served as Senior Executive for Strategic and Continuous Improvement.

August 4, 2004, Loppnow was appointed Acting President of EMU, holding the position until August 15, 2004, when Dr. Craig Willis was able to take over the position. Effective September 17, 2004, Loppnow was appointed to Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. He held the position until April 2006, when he was appointed to the position permanently. He held this position until July 2007.

In July 2007, Loppnow was rapidly assigned two administrative positions. The shorter held position was the announcement that he would serve as Interim President, following the firing of President John Fallon, due to EMU being charged with having violated the Cleary Act. The longer-held position was as Provost and Executive Vice President, which he held until May 2010. He stepped down in May 2010, wishing to serve out the last of his time at EMU in the classroom. After an Administrative Sabbatical from May to December 2010. He returned as a Professor at the School of Social Work in January 2011 and held that position until he retired in August 2014. He was granted the status of Professor Emeritus in October 2014. Loppnow came out of retirement in January 2016, to serve another stint as Interim President, while a search for a replacement for Susan Martin was conducted.

Amongst the numerous students to have passed through Loppnow’s classrooms, Robert Wollack credited Loppnow as one of the mentors that helped him turn his life around and to pursue his calling in social work. This can be found in Wollack's book,They Will Be Victors.

Loppnow was awarded the John D. Dingell Distinguished Service Award in 2015 from the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Regional Chamber of Commerce. During his time at EMU, Loppnow helped accumulate over $3.6 million in grants in support of the school’s mission.

Loppnow’s compassion did not end with his teaching and commitment to EMU. He was involved with several community organizations: Dawn Farm, the Ypsilanti Area Community Fund, the Ann Arbor Hands on Museum, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Washtenaw County, the Twenty Club, the Ypsilanti Historical Society, and the Riverside Arts Center.