{"id":2173,"date":"2013-09-09T16:41:10","date_gmt":"2013-09-09T23:41:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogschapman.wpenginepowered.com\/alumni\/2013\/09\/09\/alumni-spotlight-chiara-colicino-13\/"},"modified":"2026-07-20T06:43:22","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T06:43:22","slug":"alumni-spotlight-chiara-colicino-13","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/alumni\/2013\/09\/09\/alumni-spotlight-chiara-colicino-13\/","title":{"rendered":"Alumni Spotlight: Chiara Colicino '13"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chiara Colicino, B.A. screenwriting and psychology ’13, credits networking as the key factor in helping her land a great job right after graduation. \u00a0In this Alumni Spotlight, Chiara encourages current Chapman students to expand their horizons and reflects on some of her favorite professors.<\/p>\n

Tell us<\/strong>\u00a0about your career- what do you do on a day to day basis?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I am the catering manager for Which Wich Superior Sandwiches with locations in\u00a0Orange and Tustin, CA. My responsibilities include marketing, community\u00a0outreach and managing catering orders and deliveries. Under the guidance of\u00a0owner-operator (and Chapman alumnus) Edison Cook III \u201908, I distribute promotional materials to local\u00a0businesses, schools and homes, write marketing materials, get involved in\u00a0community events and help out in store. What I enjoy most about my job is that\u00a0it\u2019s different every day.<\/p>\n

What insight would you give to current students and alumni who are searching\u00a0<\/strong>for employment?<\/strong>
\nNetworking is a word that\u2019s thrown around a lot. Campuses are constantly\u00a0offering networking events, your parents are on you about making lasting\u00a0relationships with your employers. But, I can say from firsthand experience that it\u00a0was the strong rapport I had already built with Edison Cook III that landed me a\u00a0job offer. So to any current student looking for employment I would say always\u00a0do your best at any job you have, you never know what opportunities will arise or\u00a0what recommendations may come of it. Don\u2019t be afraid to discuss these prospects\u00a0with your employer once graduation is approaching. Basically, your parents, friends and professors are right \u2013 network, network, network.<\/p>\n

What advice do you have for current students who want to make the most out<\/strong>
\nof their time at Chapman?<\/strong>
\nDon\u2019t be afraid to try new things. When I was a freshman I joined Chapman\u2019s\u00a0rowing team and stayed for all 4 years. Something I barely knew about when I\u00a0stepped on campus was one of the things that defined my experience. It\u2019s likely\u00a0there won\u2019t be another time like this in your life. Your life will never be filled\u00a0with as much free time and as few bills. If you\u2019re lucky like I was, my tuition was\u00a0paid for and I was financially supported. I took the most advantage of this by\u00a0doing as many unpaid internships and extra curricular activities I could. Chapman\u00a0is constantly growing with the free activities, events and offers they have for\u00a0students. Does something sound interesting? Give it a try!<\/p>\n

From your time at Chapman, which faculty member(s) made the greatest\u00a0<\/strong>impact on you and why?<\/strong>
\nThere are a few professors that stand out in my mind as shaping my Chapman\u00a0experiences \u2013 Dr. Shari Young Kuchenbecker<\/strong>, Dr. William L. Cumiford<\/strong> and Ross\u00a0Brown<\/strong>. In my brief stint as a history major, Dr. Cumiford had some of the most\u00a0engaging, hilarious and informative lectures I\u2019ve ever heard. He also took me\u00a0under his wing as a freshman, helping shape my future at Chapman. Ross Brown\u00a0did the same for me in the screenwriting department. I looked up to his talent,\u00a0success, good humor and wonderfully critical eye. Dr. Kuchenbecker is well\u00a0loved and known by most students in the psychology department. Her creative,
\ninsightful lectures floored me. She is the most intelligent, most challenging\u00a0professor I\u2019ve had at Chapman and by far the most nurturing. Her encouragement\u00a0and guidance is still part of my daily life and future decisions.<\/p>\n

How has the Chapman University network helped you in your professional and\u00a0<\/strong>personal life?<\/strong>
\nAs I stated before, networking was how I got a lot of recommendations, jobs and\u00a0internships. At my Which Wich interview, Edison told me he was a Chapman\u00a0alumnus, instantly putting me at ease. The network him and I have with Chapman\u00a0continues to help his business thrive and my position gain success. Additionally,\u00a0the professors I became close with are still a part of my big career and educational\u00a0decisions. I treasure their advice.<\/p>\n

How were you involved on campus during your time as a Chapman student?<\/strong>
\nIn my sophomore year, I was a resident advisor of Glass Hall and took a big\u00a0involvement in the residence life community. I was a coxswain for the men\u2019s\u00a0rowing team for 4 years.<\/p>\n

What is your favorite Chapman memory?<\/strong>
\nMany of my favorite Chapman memories took place at our boathouse in Newport\u00a0during practices and regattas, like our 2012 victory over our rival Orange Coast\u00a0College at the Newport Regatta.<\/p>\n

What was your favorite spot on campus as a student?<\/strong>
\nAtallah Piazza was my favorite spot to spend time with friends between\u00a0classes and enjoy the beautiful weather.<\/p>\n

Have you been involved with Chapman since graduating?
\n<\/strong>I haven\u2019t been involved with Chapman since graduation this past May, but I\u2019m\u00a0sure once rowing season starts up again I will be on campus and at events to\u00a0support my former teammates.<\/p>\n

Is there anything else you\u2019d like to share with the Chapman Family?<\/strong>
\nWhich Wich in Orange, CA offers a free 22 oz. drink to Chapman faculty, staff\u00a0and alumni \u2013 Edison\u2019s gift to his Chapman Family! Come by and say hi!<\/p>\n

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