Welcome to the Team!

Join me in welcoming the newest members of our UA team! If you started recently and we didn’t interview you for this edition,
please email Hallie Nicholson
(manager, development communications)
so we can be sure to include you next month.

Chris Pagel

Director of Institutional Support

cpagel@chapman.edu
(714) 516-4511

 

Hometown:
 Fountain Valley, CA

Current City: 
Anaheim Hills, CA

Alma Mater: 
Chapman University, B.S. business administration ’04 and MBA ’06

What interested you about working at Chapman?

I always want to say “yes” to the school that gave me so much. I have two sisters that also graduated from here, so suffice to say, we are a Chapman family! After working with Disney for almost 10 years and in nonprofits for six, I am excited to continue my career in development at Chapman.  Our University is such a vibrant and caring community of higher education, so I am so honored to be back serving in UA.

What’s something people might be surprised or interested to learn about you?

I love to teach wine tasting! I am a Certified Sommelier with the International Court of Master Sommeliers.

What are your hobbies?

In my free time, I enjoy bike riding, wine tasting, teaching Bible study at church and time with my wife Ashley and our daughters, Grace (3) and Clare (4 weeks, born on October 9).

Kali Baker-Johnson
Editor, Panther Productions
bakerjoh@chapman.edu

Hometown: 
South Orange, NJ

Current City: 
Orange, CA

Alma Mater: 
Temple University, B.A.; Chapman University, MFA

What interested you about working at Chapman?

I worked here while I was a student and wanted to continue my career here because I found the environment to be very pleasant and creatively exciting.

What’s something people might be surprised or interested to learn about you?

I was an avid comic book collector as a child and I still have a collection of a few thousand comics in my parents’ house in New Jersey.

What are your hobbies?

I enjoy playing basketball, writing and directing short films, and I’m a big hip hop nerd.

Judith Chimits

Hometown: 
Lancaster, CA

Current City: 
Irvine, CA

Alma Mater: 
Vanguard University

What interested you about working at Chapman?

My husband of 21 years Bob and I spend a lot of time in Orange because he works just minutes away. We’ve driven by Chapman for years and I always loved looking at the gorgeous campus. When I left my last position (at a private school), I took time off to travel. After more than 80,000 miles of flying in 11 months, I was ready to make a change. I have two daughters, Aspen (19) and Tessa (16.5). Aspen is finishing a two-year internship program in Las Vegas, while Tessa is a high school senior. I realized that what I really wanted to do was be home to spend time with my youngest before she graduates and goes out into the big, wide world. Chapman again came to mind and I applied. Before I knew it, I was hired and a part of the amazing Chapman family! I must admit that the Chapman I envisioned and the Chapman that I work at are different – it’s a lot larger than my mind is able to comprehend. But, the values, culture, and the people are just great and I’m so excited to be here.

What’s something people might be surprised or interested to learn about you?
I’m positively TERRIFIED of Ferris wheels. But, my new mantra is “Do it Afraid!” so when I visited Olympic Park in Atlanta earlier this year I went on the Ferris wheel all by myself. The photographers liked my photo so much they named it “best of the day” and gave me a complimentary copy.

What are your hobbies?

Cycling, trying interesting recipes, reading, and spending time with my husband, daughters, and friends.

Victor Lee

Hometown:
 Honolulu, O’ahu

Current City: 
Brea, California

Alma Mater: 
Chapman University, Dodge College ’10

What interested you about working at Chapman?

I had an amazing experience attending Chapman University. The memories, my classmates, and faculty truly made my time here unique. As a videographer, I hope to capture that experience with current students, alumni, and future Chapman Panthers!

What’s something people might be surprised or interested to learn about you?

I once had an amazing opportunity to be a resident athlete at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. I competed in sport Tae Kwon Do for 11 years, and I am a second degree black belt.

What are your hobbies?

I love to travel with my wife and family to new and exciting places.

Marissa Maynor

Hometown: 
Upland, CA

Current City: 
Glendora, CA

Alma Mater: 
Chapman University

What interested you about working at Chapman?

As a student at Chapman, I worked with multiple offices on campus, but I really loved working for Dodge College. When I realized that there was a full-time position open at Dodge College, I was excited to think I could be at a school that I feel connected to. The people that I interacted with as a student were so caring and passionate, and I am happy to be joining such an amazing team!

What’s something people might be surprised or interested to learn about you?
I went backpacking through Europe for six weeks after I graduated. I am still surprised that I ate blood sausage (although the tour guide didn’t tell me what it was until after I tried it. Surprisingly, it doesn’t taste that bad!)

What are your hobbies?

I love watching sports and going to the farmers market on the weekend. I also am addicted to fall television shows on Hulu.