As summer concludes, we take this opportunity to welcome the newest members of our faculty to Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. We asked each to share their reasons for choosing Chapman University as well as their thoughts on what it means to be part of a college often regarded as the heart and soul of the University. In addition, we posed a few light-hearted questions to offer a more personal glimpse into their interests and personalities.

Jaime Campbell

Jaime Campbell
Writing Center Director and NTT Instructional Assistant Professor, English

Voice of Wilkinson: Wilkinson is the heart and soul of Chapman University. What does being the heart and soul of this amazing university mean to you?

Jaime Campbell: I am proud and grateful to be a part of Wilkinson. In addition to teaching both creative writing and composition and rhetoric, running the Writing Center allows me to enrich the student experience across disciplines and in various settings.

VoW: What would the personal section of your Wikipedia page say?

JC: The personal section of my Wikipedia page would likely highlight that I am a mother of four and a longtime resident of Orange County’s little-known rural canyon country.

VoW: What’s your favorite movie?

JC: Favorite movie…The Matrix (just the first one!), tied with Practical Magic (can’t wait for the sequel!).

VoW: Tell us the most interesting place you have traveled to. Where do you hope to travel one day?

JC: I’m going to go with the most surreal place I’ve travelled….A road trip from Moab, Utah, to the Grand Canyon took me through seemingly endless terrain of red rocks and rust-colored dust that made me feel as if I might be on Mars. Where would I like to travel? I’ve always found Argentina to be fascinating. At one end, you have sub-tropical rainforests, and at the other, you’re almost at the bottom tip of the polar world, penguins and all.

VoW: What’s your favorite book?  What did you read over the summer?

JC: My favorite book is Long, Bright River by Liz Moore, a surprising and fascinating psychological thriller (the recent TV adaptation doesn’t do it justice!). A favorite from this summer would have to be The Center Cannot Hold by Elyn R. Saks, a memoir about a woman who, despite struggles with schizophrenia, becomes a Professor of Law at USC.

VoW: Share a fun fact with us.

JC: I am good at impersonations but rarely share them with anyone other than my children.

VoW: Why Chapman?

JC: After attending graduate school here and working at the Writing Center as a tutor myself, and after teaching at Chapman part-time while my children were babies, it feels like home.

Alessandro Del Ponte

Alessandro Del Ponte
Visiting NTT Assistant Professor, Smith Institute for Political Economy and Philosophy, and Political Science Department

Voice of Wilkinson: Wilkinson is the heart and soul of Chapman University. What does being the heart and soul of this amazing university mean to you?

Alessandro Del Ponte: It means being in the position to make a difference at Chapman, which is a great privilege! I particularly enjoy working on research with undergraduate students, so being at Wilkinson is a great opportunity.

VoW: What would the personal section of your Wikipedia page say?

AD: Born in Genoa, Italy. Married to Shouling, one son (Leonardo). Avid mountaineer and kayaker. Lived in Italy, Malaysia, Singapore, and the United States.

VoW: What’s your favorite movie?

AD: The Gladiator.

VoW: Tell us the most interesting place you have traveled to. Where do you hope to travel one day?

AD: Twelve years ago, I climbed Mount Kinabalu, Borneo, the highest mountain in Malaysia. There are giant carnivorous plants and an incredible view. One day, I would love to climb the Carstensz Pyramid (Puncak Jaya) in Papua New Guinea.

VoW: What’s your favorite book?  What did you read over the summer?

AD: Any adventure book. Over the summer, I read The Grapes of Wrath.

VoW: Share a fun fact with us

AD: Before attending graduate school, I served as the executive assistant to Italy’s former Prime Minister, Mario Monti, at the Italian Senate.

VoW: Why Chapman?

AD: I am excited about the unique interdisciplinary intellectual environment that Chapman offers. Interdisciplinarity is my brand, so Chapman is a perfect fit for me. For example, I will teach a Humanomics course that is cross-listed in Economics, Philosophy, and English. This is so unique and cutting-edge. Chapman’s gorgeous location in Orange County is also definitely a plus!

Kyle Harp-Rushing

Kyle Harp-Rushing
NTT Instructional Assistant Professor, Environmental Policy and Anthropology

Voice of Wilkinson: Wilkinson is the heart and soul of Chapman University. What does being the heart and soul of this amazing university mean to you?

Kyle Harp-Rushing: I feel so privileged to be a part of the heart and soul of Chapman. My sense of what this means has been shaped by my experience teaching in Wilkinson as an adjunct for the past 5 years, and seeing what it means to our incredible faculty, staff, and students. It means that we work together to explore big questions about what it means to be human. To me, the most profound research and teaching, what really represents the heart and soul of Chapman, is that which explores existence and new ways that we humans can work together to leave this world better than we found it.

VoW: What would the personal section of your Wikipedia page say?

KHR: Kyle Harp-Rushing grew up in the southern part of the San Joaquin Valley in Central California, in the ancestral and present-day homelands and territory of the Yokut and Kitanemuk people of the Tejon Tribe. Known by some as the agricultural “Food Basket of the World” and for its massive oil reserves, the ecopolitics in the region would later have a tremendous influence on Kyle’s teaching and research as an assistant professor of environmental policy at Chapman University. The first in his family to attend college, Kyle didn’t have much of a plan at first. When he took an anthropology class on a whim, he was hooked!

VoW: What’s your favorite movie?

KHR: The Young Karl Marx (2017, directed by Raoul Peck) because not only does it tell the story of Marx’s early thought (richly depicting intense conflicts and struggles with rivals like Proudhon and the Young Hegelians), but also of the love and affection that forms out of a shared hatred of oppression between Marx and his lifelong friend and co-author, Friedrich Engels. It’s great if you like a bit of bromance in your biopic.

VoW: Tell us the most interesting place you have traveled to. Where do you hope to travel one day?

KHR: I really love Barcelona, Spain. Incredible food, captivating architecture, and beautiful beaches. There’s also such a rich, palpable, and inspiring history of anarchist resistance. I love going anywhere with great food! I read Peter Mayle’s A Year in Provence (1989) a few summers ago and have wanted to visit the Provence region of France ever since.

VoW: What’s your favorite movie and/or book?  What did you read over the summer?

KHR: My favorite book is Walkaway by Cory Doctorow (2017). It’s kind of a utopian SF set in the not-too-distant future North America when billionaires have mutated into trillionaires, causing rampant inequality, environmental devastation, and fascist violence to become even more widespread. A group of radicals decide to walk away, forming an alternative community built on mutual aid, reciprocity, and care. As you can imagine, the trillionaire class doesn’t like this too much.

Over the summer, I read Kim Stanley Robinson’s (2020) The Ministry for the Future. I loved this book for similar reasons (imagining a global society built on collective care, solidarity, and mutual flourishing instead of greed, avarice, violence, and destruction). But unlike Walkaway, or maybe to a greater extent, this one engages with a bunch of radical (but actually pretty achievable) strategies for how to save humanity and the biosphere, before it’s too late.

VoW: Share a fun fact with us

KHR: I’m always up for singing karaoke

VoW: Why Chapman?

KHR: One of the things I love most about Chapman is the collaborative spirit across campus! I’m an anthropologist, so my teaching and research stretches across multiple disciplines. Whether I’m attending an event in Schmid, Crean, Wilkinson, or one of our other 11 colleges, the students and faculty are always eager to talk to and debate one another, even across programs, departments, and colleges. I also think we have the best staff of any university. From administrative assistants to IS&T, librarians, maintenance, and custodians, everyone is always so generous, patient, and just amazing!

Angelina Hicks

Angelina Hicks
NTT Instructional Assistant Professor, Journalism

Voice of Wilkinson: Wilkinson is the heart and soul of Chapman University. What does being the heart and soul of this amazing university mean to you?

Angelina Hicks: Being part of Wilkinson is incredibly exciting. It’s wonderful to be part of a college and department that values a commitment to critical thinking and ensuring students are prepared to make a positive impact on the world.

VoW: What would the personal section of your Wikipedia page say?

AH: The personal section of my Wikipedia page would probably talk about some of my favorite hobbies and passions outside journalism like music, concerts, scrapbooking and journaling. I love live music and catching my favorite artists when they visit Southern California on tour. I love going on long walks and listening to new artists and discovering new albums. I’ve also kept an ongoing personal journal since I was 12 years old — I’ve filled up about 20 notebooks chronicling my life and experiences as I grew up in San Diego and eventually moved to Orange County to attend Chapman.

VoW: What’s your favorite movie?

AH: I’ve never been a huge movie person, but if I had to choose, I’d probably have to go with “Back to the Future.” I saw it as a kid and was immediately obsessed.

VoW: Tell us the most interesting place you have traveled to. Where do you hope to travel one day?

AH: I haven’t had many chances to travel throughout my life, but in June, I went on a solo trip to New York City for the first time. I spent the first half of my trip exploring the city and seeing Broadway shows, and I spent the second half of my trip at The Governor’s Ball Music Festival for three days. I had the best time experiencing the city I’ve always wanted to visit!

I’ve never been out of the country, so I have many places I hope to travel to one day. London is a big one on my list, and I’d love to visit Sicily one day to connect with my Italian roots.

VoW: What’s your favorite book?  What did you read over the summer?

AH: My favorite book is I’ll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson. I read it as a teenager initially, and I’ve read it many times since then. Over the summer, I picked up a signed copy of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s new book “Atmosphere,” and I’m excited to start that one! I got it from The Strand Bookstore in New York City while I was on my trip. It was an awesome store and a must-see destination for book lovers in NYC!

VoW: Share a fun fact with us

AH: When I was Editor-in-Chief of The Panther, I redesigned and brought back the print edition of the newspaper after the pandemic forced The Panther to cease printing for a few years. It was a huge personal project of mine to bring that tradition back to campus, and it makes me so happy to see that they are still printing now. A lot of the design is still the same as the way I created it a few years back, but I also love to see all the ways current students are changing it up!

VoW: Why Chapman?

AH: I was a student at Chapman, where I was very involved with The Panther — Chapman’s student newspaper — and eventually became editor-in-chief. I was also an RA in Chapman’s apartment communities for two years. Being familiar with Chapman and Orange County has encouraged me to return as faculty and help shape students as journalists, an opportunity I was also lucky to have so recently.

Kristen Moore Sheeley

Kirsten Moore-Sheeley
TT Assistant Professor, Health Humanities and Environmental Studies

Voice of Wilkinson: Wilkinson is the heart and soul of Chapman University. What does being the heart and soul of this amazing university mean to you?

Kirsten Moore-Sheeley: To me, being the heart and soul of the university means that the education and training we offer are central to the rest of life at Chapman. The arts, humanities, and social sciences provide invaluable tools for understanding the human experience in and outside of the classroom. By giving students these tools, we can equip them to better appreciate the complexity and diversity of the human experience and engage with individuals and society with a greater sense of compassion and empathy.

VoW: What would the personal section of your Wikipedia page say?

KMS: The personal section of my Wikipedia page would say that I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area with my parents and two older brothers. I’ve lived in California my entire life except for my seven-ish years of graduate school, when I lived in Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Kisumu (Kenya) for varying lengths of time. I married my college sweetheart, who I met at Chapman. We have two kids, a five year old and a one and a half year old, with whom I spend much of my free time. When I am not playing with them, I enjoy hiking, reading, watching movies, running, or (mainly) trying to catch up on sleep.

VoW: What’s your favorite movie?

KMS: One of my favorite recent movies is The Wild Robot. It is such a funny and moving film about parenthood that captured many of my own anxieties, annoyances, and joys as a parent. Fortunately, it is also a favorite of my five year old, so I have gotten to watch it a lot this past year!

VoW: Tell us the most interesting place you have traveled to. Where do you hope to travel one day?

KMS: One of the most amazing trips I’ve ever taken was to Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Angkor Wat is a temple complex in the middle of the Cambodian forest that dates back nearly one thousand years ago. The temple was engraved with incredibly detailed religious and historical iconography, including a mix of Hindu and Buddhist symbols that capture the transition of the temple from a Hindu to Buddhist site. The architecture is beautiful and awe inspiring, but it also captures this fascinating history, which I didn’t know much about before I visited Cambodia. There are many other places I would like to visit, but I am particularly interested in Greece. I love Greek food and have heard that the country is beautiful, but I would also love to see some of the ancient architectural sites as well.

VoW: What’s your favorite movie and/or book?  What did you read over the summer?

KMS: I don’t know that I could pick one favorite book, but one of my favorite authors is John Irving. The first book I read of his was The World According to Garp, which I found funny and full of rich, interesting characters. I like the way his novels trace characters’ life stories and show how, through many crazy twists and turns, their childhood experiences shape their adult lives. I also love David Sedaris’ work, which explores the comedy, tragedy, and mundanity of life in a tremendously funny way. This summer I read The God of the Woods by Liz Moore. I enjoyed how she mixes mystery and family drama and the way she jumps around chronologically to unravel the mystery in a compelling way. I found the book captivating, and the setting of a summer camp was well suited to the season.

VoW: Share a fun fact with us

KMS: When I was in kindergarten, I said I wanted to be a cowgirl when I grew up. (The next year, I changed my mind and said teacher, which ultimately panned out!)

VoW: Why Chapman?

KMS: I actually attended Chapman as an undergraduate. I felt like I thrived here, and I really enjoyed my experience. The history department faculty in particular inspired me to get a PhD in the history of medicine and develop the career that I did. I would love to provide that kind of inspiration for other students at an institution that has been such an important part of my life.

Skye Niles

Skye Niles
TT Assistant Professor, Environmental Science and Policy

Voice of Wilkinson: Wilkinson is the heart and soul of Chapman University. What does being the heart and soul of this amazing university mean to you?

Skye Niles: To me, being the heart and soul recognizes that learning is not just an intellectual process, it’s also an embodied, emotional experience. And so, I believe we do our best learning when we are able to bring our full selves into the picture – our complex identities, our histories, our dreams. It’s also about recognizing that whatever field of study we may find ourselves particularly drawn to, we can be curious about how we might learn from a diversity of ideas and perspectives, and to apply these in our lives to improve our relationships with ourselves, others, and the world.

VoW: What would the personal section of your Wikipedia page say?

SN: I was born in Oakland, CA. Most importantly, I have a ridiculous amount of love for my dog Artie. You can often find me riding my bike with her down the beach bike path and playing at the dog beach.

VoW: What’s your favorite movie?

SN: That’s a tough question, as this changes depending on my mood and where I am in my life. I love the movie Past Lives because it is about the messy and complicated ways that we experience human connection.

VoW: Tell us the most interesting place you have traveled to. Where do you hope to travel one day?

SN: One of my favorite trips was to Patagonia. I was absolutely blown away by the beauty of the lakes and mountains, and how humbling it is to be this small human being who is lucky enough to get to experience such a vast world.

For my next trip, I would love to take a camping trip to explore more of the California coast. California is such a special place, and I am really excited to be back here at Chapman.

VoW: What’s your favorite movie and/or book?  What did you read over the summer?

SN: I have so many books that I love, and each one I like for different reasons. One of my favorite books is Oranges are Not the Only Fruit, by Jeanette Winterson. It’s a coming-of-age story about a queer girl growing up in Scotland. There is so much in the book that I think many people can relate to about overcoming challenges, being yourself and pursuing your desires in a world where many of us are socialized into repressing parts of ourselves.

This summer I also returned to some of Andrea Gibson’s poetry. I love their work because it invites me to stretch my capacity for how much joy, love, and appreciation I can find in everyday life.

VoW: Share a fun fact with us

SN: One of my favorite ways to get out stress and have fun is to go to the boxing gym.

VoW: Why Chapman?

SN: I am really thrilled to be a part of Chapman where there is an emphasis on forming meaningful connections with students, to be able to learn together, and to engage with curiosity and care towards the world.