As an academic unit of Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, the Escalette Collection’s core mission is to enhance student learning, both within and outside of the classroom. Students are involved in nearly every aspect of the Escalette Collection’s operations, ranging from curation, social media, collections management, design, and outreach. Each of these students shape the Collection – both its present and future – in direct and meaningful ways. It is our hope that, in turn, the Collection also shapes our students’ experiences while they’re here on campus and for whatever comes next.

In this blog, we are catching up with former student workers and interns to learn more about their post-graduation journeys, and how opportunities at the Escalette Collection guided their career paths.

Cassandra “Cassie” Chan – ’24 Summer Intern & 24/25 Graphic Designer

Graduated in 2025 in Art History and minored in Communication Studies.

Cassie is a Getty Undergraduate Intern with the Getty Conservation Institute. Her summer project is the AATA, a bibliographic database focused on preserving and conserving material culture. Some of her responsibilities include reading and selecting relevant literature for addition to the Alma database, creating catalog records in Alma with MARC 21 format (a method to code bibliographic information), utilizing an automated indexing tool to generate subject terms for the records, and reviewing the documentation and code of a new AI program that the Getty hopes to implement in the future.

Q: How did the Escalette Collection help you with your post-grad journey and current job?

Beginning with my FFC [class], the Escalette was the first bit of exposure I got to the museum world and its practices, having us develop our own exhibit as part of the class curriculum. It got me interested in the field and how I ended up as an Art History major. Then, returning to the Escalette as a summer intern in 2024, I received hands-on experience in the field, cleaning and handling artwork, working with TMS (The Museum System), and conducting more extensive research for works and exhibits. Following the summer internship, I transitioned to the Graphic Designer position, where I experimented with design and fabrication. My Escalette experiences introduced me to a new aspect of museum work and equipped me with many skills that helped me market myself in applications. On a more personal level, the Escalette always uplifted me and my work, championing every success and cheering me on, which ultimately built my confidence so that I believed I could take on competitive opportunities. I say, truly, the museum without walls because it lives in my heart <3

Q: Any piece of advice for future Escalette students or those wanting to work in your field?

Try a little bit of everything and talk to everybody! There are many positions within the museum beyond curator and conservator; you never know what niche you’ll fall into unless you explore. However, outside internships, the minimum expectation of these positions is a master’s degree, so make sure your passion is sustainable because this is what you love!

Natalie Teeter – Collections Assistant

Graduated in 2025 in Strategic and Corporate Communications and a minor in Studio Art.

Natalie recently accepted a position at Fulcrum Arts as a Communication Coordinator, so day-to-day is not set in stone yet. However, she will gather content, create social media posts, update Fulcrum’s website, handle public relations, and assist with events and exhibitions. She is looking forward to using creative approaches to do audience outreach as well.

On the side, Natalie creates her own art, specifically mixed media. She likes to use found objects, acrylic paint, natural pigments, and cyanotype. Her primary source of inspiration is tidepools.

Q: How did the Escalette Collection help you with your post-grad journey and current job?

Working with The Escalette was very educational, fulfilling, and rewarding. It was my first time at a job where I truly felt like part of a team. I didn’t even know what collections management was when I started working with The Escalette – it introduced me to an entire other side of the arts industry I did not know about previously. It was also rewarding because I received valuable mentorship from Jessica Bocinski, with whom I assisted with collections management. I was also given the opportunity to lead the art ambassadors, a group of student docents, which gave me a lot of creative freedom to come up with programming and valuable experience with group and volunteer communication, which helped me at my new job. It allowed me to gain real-world experience in marketing. I loved creating creative ways to reach different audiences (students, faculty, and staff). That included creating strategic messaging for those audiences, planning events, and creating merchandise/printed materials. I couldn’t imagine a better job at Chapman than working with The Escalette. It was one of the highlights of my Chapman Experience.

Q: Any piece of advice for future Escalette students or those wanting to work in your fields?

My advice would be to find your niche! I majored in communication and minored in art, and these are two of my biggest interests. I found a job as a communication coordinator for an arts organization! You have the best chance when you apply to jobs that are a really good fit for your skills and interests. Additionally, apply to companies that align with your values. Companies don’t just look for a person-job fit, but also a person-organization fit. If your values and interests align with the organization’s, that gives you a better chance. This is also difficult, especially if you are more introverted, but make connections! Everyone says it, but it’s true: “weak ties” are your best bet at finding a job.

Also, if you don’t have experience but need it, especially in communication and marketing, you can offer your services to an organization that needs it. For example, if there is a local organization, say, a community center, that doesn’t have anyone doing social media or marketing. In that case, you can offer your services for free and gain experience. Remember first to acquire data on how many people the organization is reaching before beginning your work, so that you can provide tangible results by the end to put on your resume. Additionally, it is volunteering and giving back to your community!

Arianna Patterson – Graphic Designer

Graduated in 2024 in Graphic Design and a minor in Studio Art.

As of the publication of this blog, Arianna works as Gallery Manager at SCAPE Gallery. However, we are so proud to say that she will start a new job at Craig Krull Gallery as Gallery Director later this August. Congratulations Arianna!

At SCAPE, she manages the day-to-day operations of the gallery, such as client and artist relations, social media posting, inventory management, preparing for new exhibitions, deinstalling past exhibitions, organizing, and designing presentation decks and graphics.

Outside of work, Arianna works with illustration, screen printing, and cyanotypes! “My main goal for my artistic practice is to start selling a series of illustrations I’m currently working on!” So exciting!

Q: How did the Escalette Collection help you with your post-grad journey and current job?

I couldn’t have gone in the direction I did without the Escalette! They gave me the skills and connections to the art world that I needed to start my career. Right after I graduated, they put me in contact with Jeannie Denholm, my current employer and the owner of SCAPE, who is a wonderful person and deeply committed to what she does. I’m so thankful for my experience working with Jeannie and the Escalette!

Q: Any piece of advice for future Escalette students or those wanting to work in your fields?

Connections are everything! Making a good impression with your art professors, fellow students, and employers is one of the most important things you can do. The art world is smaller than you think, and word travels fast! Chapman has amazing resources for people wanting to work in the arts. The art department has great people working there, and they really care about their students (and they also know a lot of cool people in the arts). Take advantage of art classes and make work that challenges you and the assignment. Don’t think of it as just another assignment, but as building your portfolio. Take the assignments seriously. Show your professors you care about your education and career. I would also take advantage of the available on-campus jobs (especially with the Escalette)! Working on campus is something I highly recommend. You meet great people and learn a lot more than you would just by taking classes.

Bella Marinos – ‘24 Summer Intern

Graduated in 2023 in Psychology and Studio Art, and minored in Philosophy.

Bella is a Curatorial Associate/Public Programs Coordinator at CSUF’s Grand Central Art Center (GCAC). On a day-to-day basis, she checks emails, conducts studio visits, brainstorms, and researches future exhibitions and public programs, updates the calendar for local exhibitions and events, answers phone calls, interacts with museum guests, and attends Santa Ana’s monthly art walk.

Outside of work, Bella is a practicing ceramic artist! Website: bellamarinos.com Instagram: @bellamarinos

Bella and another Escalette alum, Henry Littleworth, co-founded the magazine colt’s tooth, which “strives to publish comprehensive and accessible material about social justice, music, alt. cinema, and the arts.” Go check them out!

Q: How did the Escalette Collection help you with your post-grad journey and current job?

The Escalette Collection was pivotal in helping me find and secure two internships (Gallery Assistant at Craig Krull Gallery and Intern at Tanya Bonakdar Gallery) and my current position at GCAC. Working with the Escalette helped make me a more competitive candidate for the above mentioned opportunities by giving me the space to work on and develop my curatorial and social media/pr skills.

Q: Any piece of advice for future Escalette students or those wanting to work in your fields?

I would advise current students or interns to do the following:

  • Get involved with local organizations, art groups, collectives, etc. Build your resume!
  • Ask questions even if they feel stupid. Working in art can be weird, stressful, and nuanced. It’s much better to ask about something you don’t know than to pretend to understand.
  • Don’t get discouraged when rejections roll in. I’ve been rejected from jobs, shows, internships, residences, etc, more times than I would like to admit. It stings, but you can’t let it stop you from improving and applying to new things.
  • Try to stay connected with what is going on in OC and LA. Go see current exhibitions. Attend opening receptions at museums and galleries. Read what is being written about (CARLA, Artillery, Diva Corp). This will help you see what styles, movements, artists, etc., are currently popular. It will also help inform your art or curatorial practice and writing.

The Escalette Collection frequently has student positions. If you’re interested in working for an art collection, check out the Chapman job page or email our Collections Manager, Jessica Bocinski (bocinski@chapman.edu)

We invite you to explore all the works in the Escalette Collection by visiting our eMuseum. 

Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences is the proud home of the Phyllis and Ross Escalette Permanent Collection of Art. The Escalette Collection exists to inspire critical thinking, foster interdisciplinary discovery, and strengthen bonds with the community. Beyond its role in curating art in public spaces, the Escalette is a learning laboratory that offers diverse opportunities for student and engagement and research, and involvement with the wider community. The collection is free and open to the public to view.