Steve ’85 and Kathy ’84 Ummel didn’t meet as students at Chapman University, though they walked the same campus paths.
Years later, Chapman brought them together.
Years after graduation, Kathy began working in the university’s development office, organizing events for young alumni. Steve attended those events, and before long, the two realized how much Chapman had shaped both their lives.
“I quite simply loved being a student at Chapman,” Steve said. “It was the best of times.”
As a cross-country and track runner and student of business statistics under Professor Emeritus James Doti, Steve found a community that challenged and supported him. But one moment stands out most: a chance encounter that changed everything.
“My mom had told me the college fund had run dry, and I was frantic,” Steve remembered. “Joni Smith, the president’s wife, happened to stop me on campus and asked how I was doing. When I told her my situation, she offered to help. The next day, I received a call from the financial aid office. My aid was adjusted, and it allowed me to stay at Chapman. I owe a lot to Chapman just for that one conversation.”
For Kathy, Chapman was equally transformative. She studied communications, served as a feature editor for The Panther, and found her voice on Radio Chapman. But her favorite memory came during an interterm trip to Europe with the Chapman Concert Choir.
“A scheduled performance in Rome before Pope John Paul II led to a surprise private audience with His Holiness,” Kathy said. “It was a profoundly moving experience I’ll never forget.”
After graduation, Chapman continued to play a central role in their lives. Their son, Jake, carried on the Panther pride, graduating in 2019. The Ummel’s regularly attend Homecoming, volunteer for university events, and most recently helped plan their 40-year reunion.
“It’s important to give back or pay it forward,” Steve said. “Our lives were enriched by being at Chapman. Giving is a way of saying thank you.”
As a former Chapman fundraising professional, Kathy couldn’t agree more.
“I’ve always been aware of the Chapman Fund and its impact,” she said. “It feels good to dedicate yourself to something that truly makes a difference.”
Steve and Kathy have generously contributed not only to the Chapman Fund, but they have also established a legacy gift in their living trust—a lasting tribute to the meaningful influence Chapman has had in their lives. They will be recognized on April 16, 2026, as two of the newest members of the Charles C. Chapman Legacy Society. For them, Chapman is more than just a university; it’s a community that has profoundly influenced their lives, their families, and their future
You can help future students like Steve and Kathy receive the same life-changing generosity by supporting the Chapman Fund today.
