Stephanie HouseMore than 500 Chapman University alumni proved that networking can be fun and functional as they gathered at the twinkle-lit outdoor patios of the entertainment industry leader Lionsgate in Santa Monica to share drinks, stories and appetizers. Oh, and business cards, of course.
Hosted by Career and Professional Development, this annual springtime event has become a must-attend for Chapman Family members. Each year, the mixer boasts record-breaking numbers of alumni and students, who come to reconnect with old friends, meet new ones, and network.
“The alumni mixer is a staple. It’s great to see what other people are doing, and it has opened up opportunities for me too,” says William Schoenfeld ’13. “This event says a lot about the Chapman Family. Every year this gets bigger and bigger. Everyone is so excited not just to network but to share their experience. It’s an extraordinarily positive amalgamation of so many people from so many different walks of life, yet Chapman unites them all.”
In addition to alumni, the mixer attracts Chapman undergraduates seeking professional opportunities.
“It was great to connect with people and see if I can get involved in their projects,” says Arianna Ngnomire ’19. “Seeing my peers and people I look up to doing amazing things was awesome.”
The event offers a window to “what a Chapman education can get me,” she adds. “This is a reminder of what you can create yourself and be a part of.”
