From Dean Jerry Price, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs "It is with great sadness I report tragic news for our Chapman family. Hayley Taitz, a graduate student from Irvine, passed away earlier this week due to complications related to gallbladder surgery. Hayley was enrolled in the school psychology program in the College of Educational Studies and was the recipient of the Fariborz Maseeh Endowed Graduate Award in Autism and Developmental Disorders. Hayley’s friends describe her as a pure, genuine person – extremely bright, driven, and passionate, with a unique way of leaving a lasting impression. She inspired fellow students through her hard work, optimism, dedication, and deep compassion for others. Her professors recall Hayley as a caring student, mentor, and friend, stating that her unwavering enthusiasm and commitment to families and children with special needs will continue to inspire others for years to come. Hayley’s family already has held a private service for family and friends; should there be a campus memorial service, we will announce the details once they are available. In the meantime, I know that you all join me in extending our deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathy to Hayley’s family, friends, and classmates in this time of grief."

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Congratulations to Schmid College students who've been selected to receive OURCA Creative/Scholarly Grants: Jessica Rush, Fernando Silva, Paul Titterton, Nilsha Khurana, and Elizabeth Iantosca! #ChapmanSciences #PantherPride See below for their project titles, majors and faculty mentors: Jessica Rush Major(s): Biological Sciences and Spanish Faculty mentor (s): Cassandra Medvedeff and Jason Keller Title of Project: Direct Effect of Temperature on Humic Substance Reduction in a Minnesota Peatland Fernando Silva Major(s): Environmental Science and Policy Faculty Mentor (s): Chris Kim Title of Project: Study of the Effects of Drying on Iron nanoparticle Aggregate Size and Metal Absorption Paul Titterton Major(s): Physics and Computational Science Faculty Mentor (s): Justin Dressel Title of Project: Analog simulation of a quantum computing circuit Nilsha Khurana Major(s): Biological Sciences Faculty Mentor (s): Jennifer Funk Title of Project: Utilizing next generation DNA sequencing technologies to study plant response to climate change Elizabeth Iantosca Major(s): Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Mentor (s): Sun Yang Title of Project: Effects of curcumin on iron-induced toxicity in cardiomyocytes

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Another exciting edition of Director's Cut for you! #winformation Employer: Brandify Industry: Marketing Services Location: Anaheim, CA Summary: I had a great conversation with the Talent Acquisition Manager at Brandify last week. They are a digital marketing company that helps its customers better understand their customers by capturing location-based data. They are looking for a Project Manager, Product Marketing Specialist, Marketing Analyst, as well as a few sales positions. If you’re interested in a company that’s at the intersection of marketing and technology, this is a great opportunity! Next Steps: Log into Argyros Connect and do a search for Brandify. You’ll find postings there! ---------------------------------------- Employer: Tangram Interiors Industry: Interior Design Consultancy Location: Santa Fe Springs, CA Summary: I had a phone call with Tangram’s Director of Business Development last week. He’s parent of a current Panther. The call focused on two things: 1. He wants to hire Panthers for some upcoming positions. 2. He wants to get a group of students to visit their offices in the coming months. It’s so awesome to have companies wanting to engage with us in this way! Are you interested? Next Steps: Keep an eye out in Argyros Connect for Tangram job postings and a visit to their corporate offices. Stop by Beckman 305 if you want to hear more! ---------------------------------------- Employer: Kaiser Permanente Industry: Healthcare Location: Santa Ana, CA Summary: I spoke with a Chapman alum who is the Senior Director of Public Affairs for KP in Orange County. He manages external affairs, media relations, internal communications, government relations and community partnerships. Basically, he manages the KP brand in OC. If you’re interested in healthcare you might want to see when we’re planning a visit to KP offices! Next Steps: In process now to plan a visit to KP offices. Stay tuned to Argyros Connect! ---------------------------------------- Employer: Zuvich Corporate Advisors Industry: Real Estate Location: Irvine, CA Summary: I had a phone call with the President of the company along with a Chapman alum who is now an Associate with the firm. They will be ramping up hiring in the next 6 months so if you’re thinking of real estate as the first stop in your career, I suggest you come talk to us about how you can get your foot in the door with this successful commercial real estate firm. “Zuvich Corporate Advisors, Inc. (ZCA, Inc.) specializes in real estate solutions and minimizing the risks associated with any real estate transaction. As South Orange County market experts, ZCA, Inc. provides a variety of business solutions for clients with unique business planning goals. ZCA, Inc. has a successful track record with tenant representation, as well as owner representation, demonstrating a passionate commitment to the needs of clients at every level. A few of ZCA, Inc.’s notable clients include, Rancho Mission Viejo Company, Nike, Masimo Corporation, Alacer Corporation, and Oakley. ZCA, Inc. was founded in 2001 by Mark Zuvich and his team, who opened Cushman & Wakefield’s Orange County office two years earlier. Prior to opening Cushman & Wakefield’s Orange County office, Mark and his team went on to become the top producing team in all of CB Commercial Real Estate Group’s (currently CBRE) Western Regional offices.” Next Steps: Networking brings you so much benefit. If you don’t believe me or you don’t know how to do it, please stop by our drop in hours, M-F, 10a-12p. Zuvich has one posting up now. It may not be the one you’re looking for, but it may springboard you into something bigger in 6 months’ time. Let’s talk about how this benefits you!

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Meet Suzanne Benko, MS, LMFT, Clinical Supervisor in the Frances Smith Center at Chapman University and read about her thoughts and vision about being a supervisor and the supervision process itself . . . "Recently, my mentor in the field announced his retirement after over 45 years as a practicing clinician. In his announcement, he talked about “the privilege of serving and intimately getting to know” countless people through providing therapy, supervision, and teaching. His statements encapsulated so well how I, too, feel about the work I do; it’s truly an honor and a privilege to be invited into people’s lives in this unique way. I also found myself reflecting on why this professional, in particular, has had an impact on who I am as a therapist. I thought about how well-read and intelligent he is, how experienced and respected, and how many different roles he undertook over the course of his 45 years in the field. I hope I can accomplish even half of all that. But what has always struck me the most profoundly, and what I strive to bring to my work as well, is the truly genuine and heartfelt interest in every single person’s experience, be it client, trainee, or student, with whom he worked, and the joy and privilege of being part of that person’s journey. Meaningful growth, I believe, occurs in the context of the safe, unconditional, non-judgmental, caring collaboration of the therapeutic relationship. I think that’s the single most important factor that impacts the success of whatever kind of treatment model or interventions we choose to work with. So I look back on my 25 years in this field with great gratitude, and I look forward to, hopefully, another 20 years with great anticipation."

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Meet MFT Students/MFT Trainees, Brett Furst and Justin Huft (Class of 2016) and here about their work and experiences in the MFT Program and Frances Smith Center . . . Brett: Working at the Francis Smith Center has given me the opportunity to expand my horizons and approach therapy in ways that allow me to express myself and build a therapeutic presence that is true to my roots while also being based in solid theory. After over a decade of working with children, I find myself constantly going back to my experiences and using them to shape my take on therapy. I believe that we all have an inner child that encapsulates our vulnerabilities, goals and happiest moments that each of us strive to nurture and protect. Chapman has allowed me to be authentic in my pursuit of self-expression in therapy, and has encouraged me to always push myself as a therapist. With our poetry therapy group, Justin and I have been able to construct something new for both us and the Francis Smith Center, and explore new ways for clients to express themselves in a healthy manner. Justin: Throughout my almost three years working at a youth crisis shelter, as well as working on a suicide hotline, I have come to appreciate the healing power of art, music, and poetry. I consider myself a feminist experiential therapist. My areas of interest involve couples sex therapy, gender and sexuality, and LGBT-affirmative psychotherapy (which I am certified through CA-AAMFT). I am a firm believer in including in therapy the "elements of humanity," which I consider to include: art, music, poetry, hobbies, play therapy, and clowning. One of my favorite experiences at the Francis Smith Center is the poetry therapy group. Brett and I created this out of a belief that we could be doing more to foster client's wellness, and it has been an incredibly successful group so far. It's a constant learning process, but I'm absolutely loving it.

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Lovely written story by Marisol Rexach: What do you do when your mind envisions possibilities that your hands cannot create; when the daily routines of shoe tying and turning pages becomes a chore? That is my mom dealing with the daily realities of Parkinson's. Her vivacious spirit and mind never stop creating beautiful poems that she struggles to capture in text. About two years ago, my 85 year-old mother left her beautiful Puerto Rico and came to stay with us. She brought with her a binder of poems- more like scraps really, collections of ideas and memories. I urged her to type them one letter at a time (This must have been frustrating for a woman who prided herself on an impressive word-per-minute typing ability.) She started to type her poems. My husband, seeing her efforts said, "Elba, if you type the poems, I will create the book." The two conspired to secretly assemble the book in order to honor my graduation for my Doctorate from Chapman on May 24. So, it is with a thankful heart and much admiration that we look forward to her poetry reading at Liberia Martinez this Saturday, May 23, 2014 at 11 am. She will share poems from her book entitled, "Retazos," which loosely translates as, "scraps." Elba Estrella, with her graciously written prose, understands how to create imagery. Her poem "Cerebro Magico" communicates the story of her Puerto Rican father who would spin great tales of places and people he had never known. Her sensitivity in the poem expresses a tender admiration and leads the reader to imagine a humble man who used his mind to travel a world he never experienced outside of his small, rural mountain existence. The poems dedicated to Puerto Rico communicates an admiration for the beauty of her lovely, native Puerto Rico. Elba Estrella's book speaks to all of us who have challenges to overcome. It is a testament to the human spirit and how we can make something magical out of a lifetime of retazos.

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Meet Christine Zes (Class of 2015) who is incorporating mindfulness into her clinical practice at the Chapman University - Frances Smith Center . . . "I became interested in mindfulness through a yoga instructor who introduced me to the power of breath to bring one into full contact with the present moment. When I began to notice my stress decrease simply by incorporating the mindful breathing into my day, I became more curious about mindfulness, and embarked on a journey of personal discovery. I have come to realize that mindfulness gives me access to the pause button, which allows me the opportunity to become an observer of my thoughts, feelings, and sensations as opposed to being consumed my them. When I attune to the here and now, I can fully experience my true essence and the beauty of my surroundings, which is usually independent of my ruminating thoughts, distressful feelings, and uncomfortable bodily sensations. Most importantly, I can invite my heart to accept myself and what is (which may be pain or distress), in that moment. Upon further study I wasn’t surprised to learn that current empirical research validates mindfulness’ numerous benefits, which made it logical to integrate it into client sessions. I work with clients delicately, creating an expansive and accepting environment to gently, and lovingly “lean into” the practice. Breath work and guided meditations are introduced, followed by subsequent psychoeducation and further reading if the client shows interest. I encourage a curiosity and openness of discovery with the absence of judgment. Asking questions such as, “How can you be gentle with yourself during this process?” gives clients the space to develop a supportive relationship with mindfulness. I enjoy witnessing a client’s own discovery of their mindfulness as they become more intimate and accepting of the parts of themselves. Whether it is anchoring themselves with the breath, relaxing in a guided meditation, noticing the wonders of nature while on a walk, feeling the texture of sudsy soap when washing their hands, or really seeing their beloved when they are interacting. Mindfulness can become a personalized and precious resource for opening up the capacity for a client to tap into and experience the joy that is within and all around them. As Tara Brach, Ph.D. states, “The pause gives us space to come into a fresh and creative relationship with our life.”

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Meet Lorianne Twill (Class of 2016) a current student in the Frances Smith Center and read about her work, research and interest in working in public mental health . . . "I’m Lori, a grad student in my final year of Chapman’s MFT program. I have worked in the public mental health system as an MFT Trainee since the summer of 2013, working with adults in California’s severely mentally ill population. Although California has made huge strides in incorporating MFTs and systems work to clients in the public mental health system, particularly in programs serving children and families, adult programs still often make symptom management the focus of treatment. In my work through the College Community Services program, I have become involved in a client-centered speaker’s panel that gives clients the opportunity to speak to the community, talk about their mental illness symptoms, and advocate for improved mental health services. Through facilitating this panel and providing group and individual therapy with clients, I have come to understand that many identify shame and isolation as the biggest barriers to recovery. As an MFT trainee trained in systems work, I often find myself wondering why this is not more widely utilized or promoted in adult programs. As MFTs, we understand the connection between a client’s feelings of stigma and isolation and functioning within a larger familial and social system that provides feedback that often perpetuates negative feelings and reinforces barriers. I believe recovery does not happen in isolation. Many clients I see are juggling multiple layers of difficulty, from complex trauma, substance abuse issues, and severe mental illness symptoms, to isolation, stigma, and lack of support. Many of these layers are held in place by the very family system that created them. I have been able to conduct preliminary qualitative research through my work with the speaker’s panel and providing therapy to clients to advance the use of systems work in public mental health. I recently presented some of this work at the AAMFT-CA division conference, talking with participants about ways to broaden the scope of work with adults in the public mental health system to better match the more systemically-focused children and family programs. By looking at the context in which a problem is embedded, we can provide multiple pathways to create a wider system of support with more potential for positive change. Through this advocacy work, I hope to inspire conversation around the current adult treatment model, ultimately leading to further research that can affect policy and treatment changes in our public health system."

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We've got a new edition of our Director's Cut series to get your week off to a great start! Read below to see what ASCS Director Gene Rhee has been up to in the business community: Employer: Lieberman Research Worldwide (LRW) Industry: Marketing Consultancy Location: Huntington Beach, CA Summary: This company is incredible. Nike, Gap, MTV, Starbucks think so. So do many more. They help companies solve marketing problems by looking at data and giving actionable intelligence. I spoke with the Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist who gave me some more details on a few jobs they are looking to fill. Take a look on Argyros Connect if you are interested. There is lots of room to grow at this company. They look for strong analytical skills – people with strong math backgrounds. At the same time, they are looking for candidates with social skills – people who can tell a story. Ideally, they are looking for someone who can look at numbers, and then help tell the story – make sense? They have a young and fun culture, and want to add you to their ranks! Next Steps: I’m working with them to hopefully get them on campus so you can hear more about them. Stay tuned..! Employer: Ossola Wealth Management Industry: Financial Services Location: Aliso Viejo, CA Summary: I spoke with the Managing Director just now and he’s looking to hire a senior as a part-time intern during the school year. They’ve had 3-4 Chapman interns in the past and want to hire again. The difference is that now they have full intentions on flipping that intern to a full time hire as we get closer to graduation in 2016. The key things you need to know about this opportunity is that they need someone who is comfortable with numbers. “They can’t be afraid of numbers. I don’t need advanced Excel skills, but they have to be very comfortable with intermediate functions.” No, you don’t need to know pivot tables – I asked! Other things you should know is that communication is key. You have to feel comfortable speaking on the phone. Lastly, you must be detailed. The position should be posted already so check it out on Argyros Connect. Next Steps: Ossola Wealth Management will be here soon to meet with you. Details are being hammered out now regarding event format and date. If there is enough interest, he is more than happy to interview on campus. Is your resume ready to be submitted? Are you ready to interview? If not, stop by Beckman 305. We can help you with that! Employer: Ally Financial Industry: Financial Services Location: Costa Mesa; HQ in Detroit, MI Summary: I had a great conversation with an Ally Financial corporate recruiter last week. They are looking for interns and the deadline is coming up very soon! Their internship program is solid. You will have the opportunity to interact with Ally’s leadership and experience the following components: • Market competitive compensation • Formal company orientation and training • Executive speaking series • Experienced mentors • Hands on experience • Project based work • Leadership and career development • Networking opportunities Next Steps: Apply via Argyros Connect today! They don’t have an exact deadline date, but I was told that it is coming very soon!

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