Graduating a semester ahead of schedule in December 2017, Kennedie Habermehl studied Business Administration with an Emphasis in Finance and earned her minor in Educational Studies at Chapman University. While attending Chapman she was an active member of Kappa Alpha Theta, the first women-only fraternity. For three semesters, Kennedie taught Orange High School students on the financial basics of life—how to get a loan, how to pay for school, start a checking account—as part of the Nation’s most successful chapter of the Moneythink Mentor club.  On top of a full school load and volunteering with the Me-One Foundation, Kennedie also worked part-time at Growl Juice Pub in the Circle.

As a senior student in two of Fadel Lawandy’s financial management courses during the fall of 2017, Kennedie built a rapport with Professor Lawandy. As her December graduation date neared, Professor Lawandy encouraged her to apply for the position as the Financial Center Specialist at the Janes Financial Center at the Argyros School. Prior to graduating, Kennedie accepted the position and after returning from a month long trip to Thailand, she began working at the Center in February 2018. Kennedie’s role at the Argyros School of Business includes managing the training workshops for our 12 Bloomberg Terminals and the day-to-day operations of the Janes Center.

Kennedie grew up in Sacramento and dreamed of being a math teacher. While she was a sophomore in high school, Kennedie came to visit Chapman and knew one day she’d have to attend. She worked hard to build her portfolio and academic reputation so she could attend Chapman University one day. After her first few months at Chapman University, she realized teaching math could be interesting, but pursing a business finance major with an education minor would help her fulfill her dream of teaching others to fall in love with numbers. Now helping students with the Bloomberg Terminals she’s using her education to do what she loves, help others learn about finance! Over the last several months Kennedie has brought a new energy to the Janes Financial Center and the Business School—if you are ever in the building, be sure to stop in and say hi to her on the second floor!

Q&A with Kennedie

1. What are three words you’d use to describe yourself?

Outgoing, Caring, Supportive

2. If you had 1 superpower, what would it be?

It would be to fly so that I can travel all over the world!

3. What is your favorite food?

100% SUSHI!!

4. If you could jump on a plane right now to anywhere in the world, what would your destination be?

I would want to travel to Iceland and stay in a glass snow globe to fall asleep to the stars and the northern lights, and to get out of the constant summer weather here in Orange County

5. What is your favorite holiday and/or holiday tradition?

Favorite holiday is for sure Christmas! Being able to spend time with so many friends and family members, and seeing everyone light up with smiles knowing that everyone is together again.