Building Character Articles

49 - Jan / Feb 12

Kris Eric Olsen When Kris Olsen traveled to Norway in 2006 to trace his roots, Chapman University’s Vice President of Campus Planning & Operations discovered a surprising parallel. As he walked the streets of Kristiansand with his Norwegian cousin, his relative pointed out prominent buildings and residences... Read More →

Kris Eric Olsen When Kris Olsen traveled to Norway in 2006 to trace his roots, Chapman University’s Vice President of Campus Planning & Operations discovered a surprising parallel. As he walked the streets of Kristiansand with his... Read More →

48 - Nov / Dec 11

Dr. Gail Stearns

Dr. Gail Stearns When Gail Stearns recalls a visit her mother made to her kindergarten classroom, Chapman University’s Dean of the Wallace All Faiths Chapel and Associate Professor of Religious Studies can see a connection between the state of her desk as a 5–year–old and her resulting... Read More →

Dr. Gail Stearns When Gail Stearns recalls a visit her mother made to her kindergarten classroom, Chapman University’s Dean of the Wallace All Faiths Chapel and Associate Professor of Religious Studies can see a connection between the... Read More →

47 - Sep / Oct 11

David Currey

David Currey When David Currey joined Chapman University as the school’s Director of Athletics in 1990, the former football coach had officially retired from coaching. After 20 satisfying years coaching the football teams at Stanford University, Long Beach State, the University of Cincinnati and UCLA, Currey decided... Read More →

David Currey When David Currey joined Chapman University as the school’s Director of Athletics in 1990, the former football coach had officially retired from coaching. After 20 satisfying years coaching the football teams at Stanford University, Long... Read More →

46 - Jul / Aug 11

Dr. Marilyn Harran

Director, Rodgers Center for Holocaust Education

Dr. Marilyn Harran In 1976, during her first year teaching at Barnard College, Columbia University, Marilyn Harran spent many hours in her office writing her dissertation. As she worked late into the night, the school’s custodian, a quiet, Polish man with a heavy accent, checked... Read More →

Dr. Marilyn Harran In 1976, during her first year teaching at Barnard College, Columbia University, Marilyn Harran spent many hours in her office writing her dissertation. As she worked late into the night, the school’s... Read More →

45 - May / Jun 11

Dr. Paul Apodaca

Dr. Paul Apodaca In the mid–1950s, when Paul Apodaca opened up his history book at Tustin Elementary school and read that California Indians were extinct, the Native American Indian felt understandably puzzled. Thinking about the Indian reservations he regularly visited with his family throughout California and... Read More →

Dr. Paul Apodaca In the mid–1950s, when Paul Apodaca opened up his history book at Tustin Elementary school and read that California Indians were extinct, the Native American Indian felt understandably puzzled. Thinking about the Indian... Read More →

44 - Mar / Apr 11

Chef Jim Douglas

Chef Jim Douglas In the mid–1960s when Jim Douglas stood on tiptoe at the kitchen counter and pinched perogies for his Grandma Helen, she thought she was simply keeping the five–year–old busy making the dumplings from her homeland in Poland. Little did she know that her... Read More →

Chef Jim Douglas In the mid–1960s when Jim Douglas stood on tiptoe at the kitchen counter and pinched perogies for his Grandma Helen, she thought she was simply keeping the five–year–old busy making the dumplings from... Read More →

43 - Dec 10 / Jan 11

Dr. William Hall

Dr. William Hall At the age of 3, Dr. William Hall, Dean of Chapman University's College of Performing Arts, decided that he wanted to be a concert pianist. With that goal in mind, he practiced for hours a day until he auditioned with the famed Fanchon... Read More →

Dr. William Hall At the age of 3, Dr. William Hall, Dean of Chapman University's College of Performing Arts, decided that he wanted to be a concert pianist. With that goal in mind, he practiced for... Read More →

42 - Sept / Oct 10

Drs. Smith & Rassenti

Dr. Vernon Smith & Dr. Stephen Rassenti One of Vernon Smith’s earliest memories involves fixing a broken clock. “I was under the age of six at the time, and I vividly remember the thrill of taking apart the clock, putting it back together and seeing it work... Read More →

Dr. Vernon Smith & Dr. Stephen Rassenti One of Vernon Smith’s earliest memories involves fixing a broken clock. “I was under the age of six at the time, and I vividly remember the thrill of taking apart... Read More →

41 - Jun / Jul 10

Dr. Esmael Adibi

Dr. Esmael Adibi In the early 1970s, when Esmael Adibi took a college entrance exam in his native Iran and the results determined he would major in economics, Chapman’s Director of the A. Gary Anderson Center for Economic Research had only a vague notion of what his... Read More →

Dr. Esmael Adibi In the early 1970s, when Esmael Adibi took a college entrance exam in his native Iran and the results determined he would major in economics, Chapman’s Director of the A. Gary Anderson Center for... Read More →

40 - Apr / May 10

Dean Bob Bassett

Dean Bob Bassett Today if Bob Bassett were to grade the first film he created, the professor and dean of Chapman University’s renowned Dodge College of Film and Media Arts would have probably given himself a poor mark. “Though at the time I thought the movie was the... Read More →

Dean Bob Bassett Today if Bob Bassett were to grade the first film he created, the professor and dean of Chapman University’s renowned Dodge College of Film and Media Arts would have probably given himself a poor mark.... Read More →