Behind every successful student experience, campus event, and university milestone are staff members whose work often happens behind the scenes. The 2026 Chapman Family Honors Staff Appreciation and Years of Service Celebration brought those contributions into the spotlight, recognizing 67 employees whose leadership, collaboration, innovation, and dedication help make Chapman a stronger community. These honors are just one of the many celebrations that Chapman hosts throughout the year designed for community building and employee recognition.
Held June 17 at the Marybelle and Sebastian P. Musco Center for the Arts, the full-house, festive celebration honored employees whose work advances the university every day. This year’s recipients support students, strengthen academic programs, enhance university operations, and foster collaboration across Chapman. Associate Professor Nick Gabriel, director of the BFA Theatre Performance program, emceed the celebration. His energy and humor set the tone for a program that highlighted the contributions of staff from across the university.
“Chapman’s greatest strength lives in this room,” noted President Matt Parlow, who was joined on stage by the executive vice presidents who lead key areas of the university. “It is the people who show up, day after day, and give this place its heart.”
The university’s highest staff honor, the President’s Award, was presented to Rachael Samimi, assistant vice president of Special Events, for her significant and lasting contributions to the university through exceptional leadership, innovation and service.
Over more than 18 years at Chapman, Samimi has overseen more than 50 university events each year, helping showcase Chapman, its students, and its mission. From commencement and inauguration to board meetings and campus celebrations, colleagues praised her professionalism, collaborative spirit, and unwavering commitment to excellence.
The Spirit of Chapman Award recognized Aulton Kohn, assistant dean of operations at the Argyros College of Business and Economics, for exemplifying the university’s collaborative culture and unwavering commitment to supporting students, colleagues, and the broader Chapman community.
Kohn has served Chapman in multiple roles over nearly a decade, earning a reputation for bringing people together and fostering meaningful relationships across campus. After leaving the university for a brief time, he returned to help lead Argyros College during a period of significant growth and achievement.
Joey Anderson, media services manager of Information Systems and Technology, received the Excellence in Service Award, which honors a longtime employee whose sustained dedication and leadership have made a lasting impact on the university and its mission.
Known as the colleague others call when technology must perform flawlessly, Anderson has supported countless university events with calm expertise. His technical leadership helped make possible one of the most widely covered events in Argyros College history, broadcast live to 26 news outlets and Bloomberg terminals worldwide.
The Emerging Leader Award was presented to Elizabeth Sproule, director of Annual Giving of University Advancement, recognizing her early success as a leader and her commitment to advancing initiatives that benefit the university community.
Since stepping into a leadership role, Sproule has energized fundraising initiatives, strengthened donor engagement, and built a reputation as a colleague whose creativity and enthusiasm advance Chapman University’s philanthropic mission.
Molly Kinghorn, director of accounting of Financial Services, received the Rising Star Award, honoring employees early in their Chapman careers who demonstrate exceptional initiative, leadership potential, and meaningful contributions to the university.
In just two years at Chapman, Kinghorn has modernized financial processes through automation, developed tools adopted across multiple departments, and emerged as a campus resource whose expertise is sought by colleagues.
The university also recognized four recipients with an Excellence in Division Award for their outstanding service and impact within their respective divisions:
Allison Kelley, director of real estate, property management,
and sustainability of Facilities Management
Sarah Buckley, associate director of Alumni Engagement
Robert Pankey, assistant director of Institutional Research and Decision Support
Cathy Greenberg, director of operations in Admissions
In addition to the individual award recipients, Chapman celebrated 58 employees reaching milestone years of service. Employees celebrating 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 years with Chapman were recognized during the ceremony for their lasting contributions across academic and administrative units.
“Every department I have visited, every team I have met, I have been struck by the same thing: a real and genuine care for students, and for one another,” said Amy Rogan-Mehta, executive vice president and chief of staff. “To our honorees, on behalf of the entire leadership team, we see your contributions — on days like today and in the everyday work that does not always get acknowledged. It matters. And we are deeply grateful.”
Following the ceremony, award recipients, milestone honorees, and colleagues gathered on Aitken Arts Plaza for a celebratory luncheon and raffle, continuing the day’s festivities and celebrating the people whose work helps make Chapman a vibrant and welcoming community.
2026 Years-of-Service Honorees
Celebrating 5 Years of Service
- Miguel Calderon, Dean of Students Office
- Veronica Clanton-Higgins, Student Psychological Counseling Services
- Tomas Dominik, Psychology
- Gabrielle Leveratto, Athletics
- Kimberly Muth, Office of Research
- Jill Perez, Attallah College of Educational Studies
- Diana Rios, Wellness Center
- Albert Su, Office of General Counsel
- Albert Vasquez, Risk Management
- Andrew Weinberg, Event Operations
- Catherine Woodward, Admission
Celebrating 10 Years of Service
- Emily Belote, Residence Life
- Erin Berthon, Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
- Gabriela Castañeda, First-Generation and Promising Futures
- Kimlan Choi, Budget Office
- Arturo Covert-Ortiz, Student Financial Aid Office
- Justin Cruz, Fowler School of Law Admission
- Alex Hart, Residence Life
- David Hernandez, Information Systems & Programming
- Kendra Leak, Psychology
- Bryan Mateik, University Services
- Karla Monterrey, Student Engagement
- Kayla Richardson, Fowler School of Engineering
- Helen Sahli, School of Pharmacy
- Fiona Lindsay Shen, Art Collections
- Sabrina Simmons, Fowler School of Law Library
- Phillip Stella, Information Systems & Programming
- Seiyua Tang, Musco Center Central Production
- Dominic Trinh, Attallah College of Educational Studies
- Kimberly Whitlock, Information Systems and Technology
- Barron Williams, Client Services
- Nashaunda Williams, Human Resources
Celebrating 15 Years of Service
- Yesenia Castillo, Human Resources
- Allison DeVries, Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
- Bao Ngo, Human Resources
- Philip Oliva, Client Services
- Justin Ringor, Faculty Affairs Administration
- Richard Turner, Facilities Management
- John Van Buren, Finance
- James Wayne, Facilities Management
- James Whitaker, Student Financial Aid Office
Celebrating 20 Years of Service
- Ponh King, Networking
- Justin Koppelman, Student Engagement
- Christina Marshall, President’s Office
- Vincent Medina, Facilities Management
- Susilo Nugroho, Client Services
- Michelle Sypinero, Information Security
Celebrating 25 Years of Service
- Crystal Barney, Budget Office
- Gregory Fisher, Computing Services
- Daniel Hoyte, Leatherby Libraries
- Kevin Ross, Leatherby Libraries
- Andrew Valbuena, Leatherby Libraries
Celebrating 30 Years of Service
- Briana Bohn, Leatherby Libraries
- Kathleen Clark, Graduate Financial Aid
- Suk Bae Kim, University Services
- Patrick Rausch, Purchasing
- Jennifer Swindell, Student Financial Aid Office
Celebrating 35 Years of Service
- Gloria Orozco, Admission
Chapman Family Honors honorees are recognized during the university's annual Chapman Family Honors Staff Appreciation and Years of Service Celebration.
Chapman Family Honors award recipients are recognized for excellence in leadership, service and community during the annual Chapman Family Honors Staff Appreciation and Years of Service Celebration.
One lucky Chapman employee celebrates a raffle win during the Chapman Family Honors celebration.
Colleagues cheer and raise phones to record as honorees are recognized on stage during the ceremony at Musco Center for the Arts.
Colleagues gather on Aitken Arts Plaza for the celebratory luncheon following the Chapman Family Honors ceremony.
