Mark Avery ’82 began his Chapman journey in 1978 as an economics major, an exciting choice during a transformative period for the U.S. economy. He recalls the energy of small classes with professors like Jim and Lynne Doti, where he worked on Dr. Doti’s then-pet project, the Economic Forecast.
Fast forward 40 years, and Mark found himself back on campus—this time with his daughter, a prospective student—listening to Dr. Doti deliver the latest Economic Forecast.
“My favorite part of attending Chapman was the high-quality education and the professors’ personal attention in small classes,” Mark said.
A 35-year career in human resources unfolded in the years between. Landing his first job during the 1982 recession by responding to a note on the business school’s job board, Mark immediately used the predictive analytics skills he learned at Chapman. A self-described “math geek,” he never envisioned a career building analytical software or consulting across the country.
“My corporate career took me everywhere before I started my own web services company and settled in Denver,” he shared.
With more time in Denver, Mark began reconnecting with Chapman, often visiting when he was in town. Reflecting on the impact Chapman had on his life, he started giving back as a way to say thank you.
“I’d read about the students benefitting from financial aid and wanted to be part of giving them the same opportunities I had,” Mark said.
A campus tour with his daughter rekindled his Chapman pride as he reunited with Dr. Doti at an Economic Forecast presentation at Musco Center for the Arts.
“Dr. Doti was just as engaging as ever, and I loved every minute of it,” Mark reflected.
Inspired, he decided to increase his contributions to the Chapman Fund. Mark hopes his support helps students build their lives and kickstart their careers.
“Philanthropy is simply a way to pay it forward,” he shared. “Someone did that for me, and I hope to do the same for today’s students so they can carry it forward to the next generation.”
Now a Panther parent, Mark is excited to see his daughter start her journey at Chapman.
“I hope she has the inspiring and fulfilling experiences that I had, both in and out of the classroom,” Mark said.
If you’d like to support the next generation of Chapman students, join Mark in giving to the Chapman Fund.
