Town and Gown is pleased to spotlight new member Valerie Smith and to welcome her to the T&G family.  She has shared her Chapman story and dedication with us below:

My story about Chapman is one of oranges to apples to oranges! I came to Chapman on a piano scholarship in 1977. I started as a music major but graduated in 1981 with a Bachelors in Business and a minor in music. I got married in 1982, at the Chapman Chapel on Grand and Maple, to a man I met at Chapman my freshman year. We both went back to Chapman to get our master’s degrees. We moved away from Orange to Apple Valley, for 30 years, raised 3 children and now have 4 grandsons. Our lives have now brought us back to Orange. We bought a home, just down the street from Chapman in Old Towne Orange, 2 ½ years ago with one of our sons and a daughter-in-law. They live in the historic front home, and my husband and I built a cottage at the back of the property, where we live. Intergenerational living is the best! Our goal in moving to Orange was to not only downsize, but to live in a walkable community. I’ve always loved the City of Orange. In addition to enjoying lots of time with my grandsons and family, my days are filled with other activities ranging from teaching online for a community college and ushering at Musco Center, to involvement on both the Chapman Alumni Board and Town & Gown Board. Living in Orange has afforded me the opportunity to be able to be local and give back to Chapman. My hobbies include reading (I always have a book in cue) and podcasts (cannot get enough of them!), exercising (primarily spinning, yoga, and walking), and thrift store shopping (always on the lookout for treasure). I love being an active ager in a vibrant community!

 Welcome, Valerie – the Chapman family is delighted to have you “return home”!