NOW A S P E C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N O F C H A P M A N M AG A Z I N E â– S U M M E R 2 0 1 7
NOW A S P E C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N O F C H A P M A N M AG A Z I N E ■ S U M M E R 2 0 1 7
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ABOUT THE COVER: When he isn’t shooting photos for Chapman Magazine, Nathan Worden ’13 (M.A. leadership development ’15, MBA ’18) is assisting students as resident director for Glass Hall. So when we asked him to capture images of Cheverton Award winner Taylor Lee Patti ’17, including our cover shot, we didn’t have to fill him in on Patti’s journey. “I met Taylor during Orientation Week her first year at Chapman,” Worden says. “I remember how intelligent her questions were. Over the years, I watched her grow, and I became impressed with her resilience. At the Campus Leadership Awards, I got choked up when she won the Cheverton and I saw her mom tear up. She was so proud. I think that pride is felt throughout the Chapman community when we succeed and achieve together.”
ABOUT THE BACK: Credit for the powerful feline presence bounding across our back cover goes to Chapman senior graphic designer Ryan Tolentino ’02. Tapping into his love of comic books and Kaiju (giant monster) movies, Tolentino depicts Pete the Panther in a classic superhero landing pose. And now the Chapman Family Homecoming Celebration will never be the same. CONTACT US: magazine@chapman.edu FIND US ONLINE: chapman.edu/magazine Chapman Magazine (USPS #007643) is published quarterly by Chapman University. © 2017 Chapman University. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Periodicals postage paid at Orange, Calif., and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Chapman Magazine One University Drive Orange, Calif. 92866-9911 Printed on recycled-content paper.
Desıgns on Discovery rom the colorful packaging on grocery store shelves to the dynamic imagery on movie posters and even the life-saving info on disaster-readiness materials, examples of dynamic graphic design are all around us. And so are practitioners of this thriving art form, including those in the Chapman Family. So we at Chapman Magazine decided to invite several graduates of the University’s Graphic Design Program to showcase their talents for visual expression in this summer issue of Chapman Now. The three graphic design alumnae who have contributed illustrations and designed spreads in this issue highlight the range of opportunities in the graphic design field these days. Deena Edwards ’14 designs user interfaces and generally upgrades the user experience for clients of New York-based WeWork, a booming enterprise that provides shared office space in more than 50 cities. Meanwhile, Diana Goldberg ’14 specializes in creative branding and packaging for the Bay Area firm Enlisted Design. And Alana Michaels ’16 works for Webydo in Tel Aviv, contributing creative insights for contractors to use the startup company’s software as they design websites. The skill sets they built and the contacts they made at Chapman help them every day in the working world, the designers say.
in regenerative medicine and pharmacoengineering; and Wilbur Lam, Ph.D., of Emory University and the Institute for Electronics and Nanotechnology at Georgia Tech. It was over a cup of coffee four years ago that Lyon and Barker
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launched the joint research effort. At the time, they were pursuing a $13 million grant from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for a fieldtrauma application of their research. Although
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Graphic Design Program (Ariel Ximenes ’13), a working graphic designer recognized in the “Understanding the general principles of they didn’t get that grant, industry as an expert in information design. and she always gives me good feedback.” design helps someone with a creative mind The polymer research team at Chapman is led by Schmid College Dean And As they apply their creative talents on the These days she’s working with scientists, develop the best to communicate theways process “made us second left, and features high school students Vivian Yip, left, a pages that follow, our alumna designers help us tech experts from and policymakers to rethink how information,” says Edwards, who first connected think deeply about how tell a diverse set of Chapman stories. Starting emergency-preparedness messages get her own creativity to graphic design in high Tumbarello, as well as research scientist Molla Islam, right. on page 4, Michaels illuminates the recordcommunicated. school, where the she performed in plays but also technology could be breaking long jump of Mitchell Bouldin ’17, Likewise, Chapman’s curriculum provides designed costumes, playbills and posters. successful,” Lyon says. “So when whose feat culminated his college career and “a mix of making and thinking,” Jaenichen says. “The things I learned at Chapman definitely apply to all kinds design.” weofgot in the lab and started building Sure, there are frustra Beyond helping a portfolio, the “Istudents think build of science The program’s connection to critical skills something, we had a good ideaGraphic what asprocess team members try to tra Design Program explores the creative — and professional applications is by design, says asand this constant Eric Chimenti,the associate deanfeatures of the Wilkinson design would be.” research into a reproducibl “a mix of making thinking,” Jaenichen says. College of Arts, Humanities, and Social and then commercialize it, thatbetween of his mentor, Coach Anna Wlodarczyk. of their finished Sciences. Chimenti is also an associate Now Lyon’s team is part ofInaaddition to a portfoliooscillation After that, Goldberg takes us inside thethe Chapman work, students maintain a process folder, in professor of art who has taught graphic design But, oh, rewards on the five-year and journey of Taylor Lee Patti ’17, who overcame which they catalog the waysfascination they navigate at Chapman since 2000. grant from the National side when “you learn some her own doubts to become a scholar of quantum challenges “We want Institutes our classes to of be Health, rigorous, and and the hope is and develop solutions. physicshe and win Chapman’s highestnature student that no one ha “I hated that,” Goldbergfrustration,” says of her process we want our students to integrate with the about that the grant will culminatefolder. with “You team honor. Then Edwards captures the energy and had to talk about the objective, greater professional community,” Chimenti known before,” Lyon says. of research led by Schmid College the aesthetics, – who the demosays. “That’s why our requirements include “Whatexcitement you’re members gearing up afor a clinical trial.the researchsays. Dean Andrew Lyon that could bring breakthroughs graphic is, why the design will reach this group 120-field-hour internship. And that’s why we for trauma and cancer patients. “The exciting thing is th – it’s a lot of work. But I have to admit that have embedded in projects that students work really striving “All the initial studies are positive,” We also get a chance to learn moreto about it really has helped in the long run. Even in job across disciplines, with students in marketing, continue challenge this te their choices in crafting these spreads before interviews, creative directors are looking for law, the performing arts. They’re prepared he says. for is spending now weclass can see the lig we then explore a Chapmanand graphic design these things. And being able to take others’ to present their work to clients and to meet that each year produces the official University critiques is really important.” real-world challenges.” more time on As the project advances, the end of the tunnel,” he ad poster, providing an artful view of the Chapman Without such outside appraisals, As it guides students to develop a robust transforming a broad concept “We can see how this will h experience. “sometimes you can stare at a project for days portfolio of work, the program alsofrom explores the fascination It all adds up to a journey of designimpact on people’s without seeing a way forward,” Michaels says. the creative process, says Claudine Jaenichen, discussed over coffee into a positive discovery. So let’s get started. “I still email work to my best friend from the who chairs the Department of Art and is also
biomedical breakthrough, Lyon
side than on the
takes a moment to reflect on the
frustration side.”
S U M M E R 2 017 | 3
For For For athlete athlete athlete and and and mentor, mentor, mentor, aashared ashared shared journey journey journey culminates culminates culminates ininin aasingular asingular singular propulsive propulsive propulsive moment. moment. moment. Story Story Story byby by Dennis Dennis Dennis Arp Arp Arp Photos Photos Photos byby by Larry Larry Larry Newman Newman Newman Call Call Call it itthe itthe the track track track athlete’s athlete’s athlete’s dichotomy: dichotomy: dichotomy: Doing Doing Doing something something something extraordinary extraordinary extraordinary starts starts starts with with with doing doing doing the the the routine. routine. routine. For For For Chapman Chapman Chapman University University University long long long jumper jumper jumper Mitchell Mitchell Mitchell Bouldin Bouldin Bouldin ’17, ’17, ’17, each each each competitive competitive competitive leap leap leap begins begins begins the the the same same same way way way – –by –by by measuring measuring measuring offoff off 1818 18 full full full strides strides strides from from from the the the takeoff takeoff takeoff board. board. board. Then Then Then hehe he shakes shakes shakes out out out his his his limbs limbs limbs and and and draws draws draws three three three deep deep deep breaths, breaths, breaths, shedding shedding shedding tension tension tension with with with each each each exhale. exhale. exhale. InInhis Inhis his mind, mind, mind, hehe he hears hears hears the the the voice voice voice ofofhis ofhis his Chapman Chapman Chapman coach, coach, coach, former former former Olympic Olympic Olympic long long long jumper jumper jumper Ana Ana Ana Wlodarczyk. Wlodarczyk. Wlodarczyk. “I “Ithink “Ithink think I’ve I’ve I’ve heard heard heard her her her say say say ‘relax’ ‘relax’ ‘relax’ about about about a aa million million million times times times over over over the the the past past past two two two years,” years,” years,” Bouldin Bouldin Bouldin relates. relates. relates. The The The word word word runs runs runs through through through his his his mind mind mind like like like a amantra amantra mantra asasas hehe he narrows narrows narrows his his his focus, focus, focus, controls controls controls his his his pulse pulse pulse and and and visualizes visualizes visualizes the the the longest longest longest jump jump jump ofofhis ofhis his life. life. life. It’s It’s It’s the the the SCIAC SCIAC SCIAC conference conference conference championship championship championship meet, meet, meet, and and and Bouldin Bouldin Bouldin stands stands stands onon on a aspongy aspongy spongy runway, runway, runway, peering peering peering down down down totothe tothe the leveled leveled leveled sand sand sand ininthe inthe the landing landing landing pit. pit. pit. He He He has has has a afeeling afeeling feeling something something something special special special isisafoot. isafoot. afoot. Never Never Never mind mind mind that that that hehe he came came came totoChapman toChapman Chapman asasas a aa baseball baseball baseball player, player, player, that that that hehe he had had had never never never competed competed competed inintrack intrack track before before before meeting meeting meeting Wlodarczyk Wlodarczyk Wlodarczyk one one one day day day when when when hehe he was was was just just just looking looking looking for for for anan an activity activity activity totomaintain tomaintain maintain his his his fitness. fitness. fitness. AsAs As hehe he prepares prepares prepares for for for this this this jump, jump, jump, hehe he isn’t isn’t isn’t even even even thinking thinking thinking about about about the the the stress stress stress fracture fracture fracture ininhis inhis his foot, foot, foot, a aa remnant remnant remnant from from from anan an injury injury injury suffered suffered suffered earlier earlier earlier ininthe inthe the track track track season. season. season. ToTo To his his his surprise, surprise, surprise, the the the moment moment moment seems seems seems free free free ofofany ofany any stress stress stress atatall atallall and and and instead instead instead pulses pulses pulses with with with confidence confidence confidence built built built over over over two two two seasons seasons seasons ofofdrills ofdrills drills and and and coaching coaching coaching reinforcement. reinforcement. reinforcement. Rocking Rocking Rocking back, back, back, Bouldin Bouldin Bouldin begins begins begins his his his run run run with with with one one one long, long, long, purposeful purposeful purposeful stride, stride, stride, and and and ininainaflash aflash flash hehe he reaches reaches reaches full full full speed, speed, speed, his his his final final final step step step landing landing landing squarely squarely squarely onon on the the the board. board. board. InInthe Inthe the thwack thwack thwack ofofof his his his takeoff takeoff takeoff there there there isisaisapower apower power hehe he can can can both both both feel feel feel and and and hear. hear. hear. “It“It“It sounds sounds sounds like like like success,” success,” success,” hehe he says. says. says. His His goal goal isisan arc arc ofof23 23degrees degrees His goal isanan arc angle of 38 (precision (precision isanother anotherwatchword watchword of degreesis(precision is another of watchword Coach Coach Wlodarczyk), Wlodarczyk), and andhe’s he’sinhe’s inthat that range asasthe the apex apex of Coach Wlodarczyk), and inrange that range as the apex ofofhis jump jump turns turns into into descent. descent. His His feet feet land, land, sand sand flies flies and and ofhis his jump turns into descent. His feet land, sand flies and a abuzz ofofrecognition moves moves through through the the crowd. crowd. Bouldin Bouldin abuzz buzz ofrecognition recognition moves through the crowd. Bouldin quickly quickly looks looks totohis coach; coach; the the jump jump isisgood, but but how how good? good? quickly looks tohis his coach; the jump isgood, good, but how good? Wlodarczyk Wlodarczyk cranes cranes her her neck neck totosee over over a ajudge’s shoulder shoulder Wlodarczyk cranes her neck tosee see over ajudge’s judge’s shoulder asasas hehe measures. measures. From From beneath beneath her her floppy floppy hat, hat, she she flashes flashes he measures. From beneath her floppy hat, she flashes Bouldin Bouldin a aknowing smile. smile. Bouldin aknowing knowing smile.
“At that point, Iknew knew Iwas was going win,” he says. “At “At that that point, point, I Iknew I Iwas going going tototo win,” win,” hehe says. says.
Beyond Beyond the the conference conference championship, championship, Bouldin’s Bouldin’s Beyond the conference championship, Bouldin’s jump jump ofof7.20 meters meters (23 (23 feet, feet, 7-1/2 7-1/2 inches) inches) sets sets a aschool jump of7.20 7.20 meters (23 feet, 7-1/2 inches) sets aschool school record record and and earns earns him him recognition recognition asasas SCIAC SCIAC Field Field Athlete Athlete ofofof record and earns him recognition SCIAC Field Athlete the the Year Year – –a–afirst for for Chapman. Chapman. What’s What’s more, more, the the senior’s senior’s jump jump the Year afirst first for Chapman. What’s more, the senior’s jump isisthe longest longest ininthe Western Western Region Region this this year, year, surpassing surpassing the the isthe the longest inthe the Western Region this year, surpassing the second-best second-best Division Division IIIIIIjumper bybymore more than than four four inches. inches. second-best Division IIIjumper jumper by more than four inches. Success Success isisnothing new new totoWlodarczyk, who who was was Success isnothing nothing new toWlodarczyk, Wlodarczyk, who was the the 1980 1980 European European long long jump jump champion champion and and then then won won aa a the 1980 European long jump champion and then won host host ofofmedals asasas a amasters competitor competitor after after she she moved moved toto to host ofmedals medals amasters master’s competitor after she moved the the U.S. U.S. from from Poland. Poland. During During her her 24-year 24-year coaching coaching career career atatat the U.S. from Poland. During her 24-year coaching career Chapman, Chapman, she she has has helped helped 383838 athletes athletes set set school school records. records. Chapman, she has helped athletes set school records. Still, Still, this this achievement achievement stands stands out out because because it itcomes comes ininher herher Still, this achievement stands out because it comes in specialty specialty and and ininthe final final meet meet before before her her retirement retirement asascoach coach specialty and inthe the final meet before her retirement as coach ofofthe Panthers. Panthers. ofthe the Panthers. “The “The other other SCIAC SCIAC coaches coaches asked asked me, me, ‘Did ‘Did you you use use “The other SCIAC coaches asked me, ‘Did you use your your magic?’” magic?’” Wlodarczyk Wlodarczyk says. says. “I “Itold them them no, no, it itwas about about your magic?’” Wlodarczyk says. “Itold told them no, itwas was about Mitchell. Mitchell. He He was was precise precise and and relaxed. relaxed. He He made made history.” history.” Mitchell. He was precise and relaxed. He made history.” Climbing Climbing atop atop the the medal medal stand, stand, Bouldin Bouldin urges urges Climbing atop the medal stand, Bouldin urges Wlodarczyk Wlodarczyk totojoin him. him. Soon, Soon, they they will will begin begin major major new new Wlodarczyk tojoin join him. Soon, they will begin major new chapters chapters inintheir lives. lives. Bouldin, Bouldin, a akinesiology major, major, will will chapters intheir their lives. Bouldin, akinesiology kinesiology major, will graduate graduate and and begin begin work work asasas a asports-performance trainer; trainer; graduate and begin work asports-performance sports-performance trainer; Wlodarczyk Wlodarczyk will will divide divide her her time time between between her her native native Poland Poland Wlodarczyk will divide her time between her native Poland and and the the life life she she has has built built with with her her many many friends friends ininSouthern and the life she has built with her many friends inSouthern Southern California. California. But But ininthis moment moment there there isistriumph – –the California. But inthis this moment there istriumph triumph –the the culmination culmination ofofaofashared journey journey – –so what what better better way way tototo culmination ashared shared journey –so so what better way celebrate celebrate than than for for a achampion totohonor his his mentor? mentor? celebrate than for achampion champion tohonor honor his mentor? “She “She had had anan ear-to-ear ear-to-ear smile,” smile,” Bouldin Bouldin says says ofofof “She had an ear-to-ear smile,” Bouldin says Wlodarczyk. Wlodarczyk. “To “To end end my my career career – –and hers hers – –on the the highest highest Wlodarczyk. “To end my career –and and hers –on on the highest level, level, well well that that was was really really special.” special.” level, well that was really special.” S U M M E R 2 017 | 5
TAY L OR L E E PAT T I 6 | CHAPMAN NOW
Before reaching the peak of success at Chapman, the Cheverton Award winner first had to scale a mountain of self-doubt. By Dennis Arp
I
t’s hard to imagine that Taylor Lee Patti ’17 was ever afraid of anything. After all, this is a scholar who triple-majored her way through Chapman University, recently earning degrees in physics, math and Spanish. Going where few undergrads dare, she gave a talk on her research to the American Physical Society and guest-lectured at the Perimeter Institute, a mecca of foundational physics. What’s more, she co-authored several peer-reviewed research papers, including one on quantum foundations with Chapman Professor Yakir Aharonov, Ph.D., a National Medal of Science winner. One upon another, Patti has faced expansive challenges and invariably made them her own. As a result, she earned the Cecil F. Cheverton Award – Chapman’s highest student honor. “Taylor is OK with herself at some deep level,” says Justin Dressel, Ph.D., an assistant professor of physics at Chapman and a mentor of Patti. “That frees her to a large degree to pursue what she’s interested in without worrying about peer pressure or other pressures some find debilitating.” But it wasn’t always so. When Patti arrived at Chapman from Medford, Ore., four years ago, her academic path was anything but certain. She certainly didn’t see herself pursuing math or – gulp – quantum physics. “I saw myself as incapable of these things, and probably many others,” she says. “People in physics are geniuses, and geniuses don’t look like me.” Patti endured powerful bouts of trepidation as she
fell victim to impostor syndrome – a persistent sense of inadequacy, of being exposed as a fraud. Even as she explored the rigorous discipline of physics, acclimating herself little by little during introductory classes, she assumed that this little experiment ultimately would end in failure. She remembers sitting in the office of Eric Minassian, Ph.D., her professor in Physics 107, and telling him, “Everyone thinks I’m better than I am.” She heard back, “I promise that despite your 19 years of doubt,
“Growing up female and lower-workingclass, I was never encouraged to pursue physics, math or computer science. This all changed when I came to Chapman. Our faculty recognized and fostered my talents, so in turn I now pay their support forward.” Taylor Lee Patti ’17, in her Cheverton Award essay you can do this.” When Patti’s confidence still lagged, Minassian’s response was life-changing, she says. “This is where you belong,” he said. “I’ll have the confidence for both of us.” Later came another turning point during Patti’s inaugural semester as a physics major. She and her classmates in Linear Algebra had heard from their professor, Mohamed Allali, Ph.D., that papers he
S U M M E R 2 017 | 7
was grading so far were missing the mark by a wide margin. So days later, when Patti got her paper back with a “98” and a “Nice job” at the top, along with a note that hers was the highest score in the class, she didn’t know how to react. At the end of the class, she walked silently to her car, where she took a moment to stare at the paper and savor the accomplishment. There, beside her aging Chevy Aveo, she started laughing. Boisterous, hysterical laughter – the sound echoing off Crean Hall like a gleeful and liberating manifestation of belief. “I realized the thoughts that I wasn’t good enough weren’t true,” she says. “That moment and others have been liberating all the way around. When I do well, I can imagine the universe – that math and logic work like this; the proofs and exercises open up, and you just know that this is the most interesting stuff in the world. Surrounded by these classes, these students, these professors, I realize that this is better than anything else I could be doing.” These days, Patti is continuing her research as a Ph.D. candidate at Harvard University, the next stop on her passage into a deep exploration that she now sees as a lifelong pursuit. She could have taken this post-graduation summer to decompress, maybe travel or just relax before starting the next phase of her demanding adventure. But no one was surprised that she decided to dive right into a new research project at Harvard. “These are collaborations that I mesh with, and that’s what
8 | CHAPMAN NOW
it’s all about,” she says. “That’s why I get up in the morning – to work on interesting things. A lot of times things get in the way of that feeling. Like Chapman, this is a place where that feeling can happen.” As Patti heaps praise on her faculty mentors and student peers, especially at Chapman’s Institute for Quantum Studies, she also acknowledges her earliest teacher and role model: her mother. A single parent, Patti’s mom has been her consistent champion. “Growing up, the best thing my mom did was let everything have natural consequences,” Patti says. After middle-school years she describes as “rambunctious,” Patti knuckled down in high school. Her reward was a choice of colleges, including Chapman, which she targeted for its academic rigor and its reputation for generous need- and merit-based aid. But along the pathway to Chapman, Patti developed academic assumptions about herself. “I thought I was bad at math and physics,” she says.
Since then, she has learned about how young learners can be affected by gender stereotypes, social conditioning and microaggressions. These factors probably derailed her development in subjects that turned out to be academic strengths. “There were so many moments that led me away from loving math as a kid,” she says Perhaps that early absence of academic direction is why Patti appreciates so deeply the support she found at Chapman. Now she advocates for opportunity beyond all barriers. “It is the responsibility of all of us graduates to work tirelessly to promote the rights and equality of all people in all circumstances,” she said in her Commencement speech. “The Chapman community saw things in me and encouraged me,” she added. “They taught me about the natural world, and in so doing they freed me to be the scientist I am rather than the quiet little girl I might have been.” Buoyed by the “unshakable faith and infinite patience” she received from Chapman mentors, Patti
“What Chapman has given us is everything. These fantastic classes, this incredible philanthropy, the immense amount of research and, more than anything, our devoted community have given us the greatest gifts anyone can receive: the opportunity to think, the occasion to struggle and an appreciation for the profound.” Patti, in her Commencement speech to fellow graduates
has never hesitated to pay their support forward. She helped lead Chapman’s Women in Science and Technology student organization, and she continues to spearhead STEM outreach to underprivileged youth, holding workshops and speaking to women and girls about growing opportunities in STEM fields. Among the beneficiaries is Amy Lam ’19, a double major in physics and math at Chapman. “I’m quite shy, and as a transfer student I really appreciated it when Taylor reached out to me,” Lam says. “Having Taylor rooting for me, showing me around, laying out steps to getting involved in research, it all has helped so much.” Patti coaxed Lam to stride beyond where she might have gone on her own. “She told me just to stew in how uncomfortable it was in the beginning,” Lam says. “I think part of physics and science is to understand what we don’t know already – to get familiar with the unfamiliar, to ask the questions that need asking. It wouldn’t
happen if people didn’t have ambition or the right coaching to push beyond what’s comfortable.” Patti’s influence is empowering for everyone, Lam says. “She taught me how to be accountable for myself, but also how to insist that others be accountable for their actions,” Lam adds. “It’s about creating an example that emulates how respect should be propagated among all human beings.” Jeff Tollaksen, Ph.D., isn’t sure how, over the years, the general culture of physics skewed so heavily male. But the director of the Institute for Quantum Studies has a pretty good idea how that culture will change, because he’s seeing it happen at Chapman. In a discipline that once regularly featured classes of nothing but men, Chapman’s sophomore class of physics majors is all women. “Taylor has influenced that,” Tollaksen says. “As I talk with prospective students, I often ask Taylor to talk with them as
well. She’s an incredible role model. She can hold herself out as a beacon.” When Patti started at Chapman, “beacon” is one of the last words she would have used to describe herself. Her experience has taken her beyond all of her expectations, and as she looks ahead she also leaves behind some advice for incoming freshmen who might be where she was four years ago. “There is no subject that you are not capable of pursuing. There is no person whose talent or intellect you can never match,” she says. “Push yourself, and the difficult becomes easy; the gaps you perceive will close. Be encouraging to those around you – that includes yourself.”
“The new Center for Science and Technology will allow us to expand the range of different questions we can ask. We already are asking important questions, and doing important research to answer them. But the new Center will allow us to be more expansive in our exploration. I think that’s true of all Chapman researchers.” Andrew Lyon, Ph.D., dean of Chapman’s Schmid College of Science and Technology
The Science of
By Dennis Arp
Andrew Lyon’s research world revolves around
emptive product that safely flows through the bloodstream
stretchy bits of science 10,000 times smaller than a
of soldiers or others headed into harm’s way so if they
human cell. But those nanoparticles hold oversized
sustain a traumatic injury, protection is already in place.
promise as breakthroughs in the lives of everyone from trauma victims to cancer patients. The microgels in Lyon’s lab at Chapman University may ultimately be the building blocks for an IV injection that stems uncontrolled bleeding. Or they may get commercialized as a topical powder that first responders pour into a wound to get blood to clot. Then there’s the science fiction scenario: They become a pre-
Closest to market is a product that aids patients whose blood doesn’t clot properly because they’re undergoing chemotherapy. “If we can use these polymer nanoparticles to commercialize artificial platelets, we can change bleed rates and improve models of survivability,” says Lyon, Ph.D., dean of Chapman’s Schmid College of Science and Technology. “That’s why we’re so excited.”
To see Lyon at the whiteboard in his Hashinger Science Center office is to see him totally in his element. After 18 years of exploring foundational things like condensedmatter physics and how proteins and DNA move inside a cell, the science of polymer nanoparticles pretty much flows through his own genetic makeup. “The artificial platelets and how they work is kind of like taking an Isaac Asimov Fantastic Voyage,” Lyon says. Using an erasable marker, the dean creates interlocking loops, squiggles and arrows as he diagrams the science of his
stretches to allow for multiple
“Going from a gram of polymer
project at the molecular level.
binding sites, mimicking the
to making 50 grams takes a lot of
architecture of natural platelets.
science and engineering,” he says.
The particles at the heart of the research feature a coil-like structure inside a fibrin mesh that elongates and
Lyon uses an analogy: “If you’re
This endeavor is hardly Lyon’s
putting a stack of papers together,
alone. His team at Chapman includes
20 staples are better than one,” the
research scientist Dr. Molla Islam
dean says. “So that’s part of the secret
’ as well as Chapman graduate and
sauce here – a super stretchy polymer
student researchers Sonia Djafri
that we’ve designed as the body of an
‘17, Anne Roffler ‘17, Rachel Nguyen
artificial platelet.”
‘18 and Alyce Baughman ‘18. This
Once the platelets bond to a clot, they pull the fibrin polymer in, “almost like a little muscle,” Lyon says. “That makes the clot more stable so the
summer, the team also features the contributions of high school students Vivian Yip and Maddie Tumbarello. Meanwhile, collaboration crosses
body can step in and regenerate
campuses and time zones, as Lyon
normal tissue.”
is one of four main investigators
These days, Lyon’s team is focusing on scale-up of the project to produce more of the polymer and ensure consistent quality. That will allow for further testing and, ultimately, commercialization.
on the project. The others are Thomas Barker, Ph.D., a professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Virginia; Ashley Brown, Ph.D., a professor at North Carolina State and UNC-Chapel Hill specializing S U M M E R 2 017 | 11
in regenerative in regenerative in medicine regenerative and medicine and medicine and pharmacoengineering; pharmacoengineering; pharmacoengineering; and Wilbur Lam, Ph.D., of and Wilbur Lam, Ph.D., of and Wilbur Lam, Ph.D., Emory University andof the Emory University and the Emory University and the Institute for Electronics Institute for Electronics Institute for Electronics and Nanotechnology and Nanotechnology and at Nanotechnology Georgia Tech. at Georgia Tech. at Georgia Tech. It was over a cup of It was over a cup of It was over a cup of coffee four years ago coffee four years ago coffee four years ago that Lyon and Barker that Lyon and Barker that Lyon and launched theBarker joint launched the joint launched the joint research effort. At the research effort. At the research effort. Atpursuing the time, they were time, they were pursuing time, they weregrant pursuing a $13 million from a $13 million grant from a $13 million grant from the Defense Advanced the Defense Advanced theResearch Defense Projects AdvancedAgency Research Projects Agency Research Agency (DARPA)Projects for a field(DARPA) for a field(DARPA) a field- of traumafor application trauma application of trauma application of their research. Although their research. Although their theyresearch. didn’t getAlthough that grant, they didn’t get that grant, The polymer research team at Chapman is led by Schmid College Dean Andrew Lyon, they didn’t get that grant, the process “made us The polymer research team at Chapman is led by Schmid College Dean Andrew Lyon, the process “made us The polymer research team at Chapman led by Schmid Vivian CollegeYip, Deanleft, Andrew second from left, and features high is school students andLyon, Maddie thethink process “made us second from left, and features high school students Vivian Yip, left, and Maddie deeply about how second from left, and as features high school students Vivian Yip, left, and Maddie think deeply about how Tumbarello, as well research scientist Molla Islam, right. think aboutcould how be Tumbarello, as well as research scientist Molla Islam, right. the deeply technology the technology could be Tumbarello, as well as research scientist Molla Islam, right. thesuccessful,” technology Lyon couldsays. be “So when successful,” Lyon says. “So when successful,” Lyon “So when we got in the labsays. and started building Sure, there are frustrations we got in the lab and started building Sure, there are frustrations “I think of science wesomething, got in the lab and started building Sure, there are frustrations “I think of science we had a good idea what as team members try to translate “I think of science something, we had a good idea what as team members try to translate something, we had a good idea what as team members try to translate as this constant the design features would be.” research into a reproducible product asthis thisconstant constant the design features would be.” research into a reproducible product as the design features would be.” research into a reproducible product and then commercialize it. But, oh, oscillation between and then commercialize it. But, oh, Now Lyon’s team is part of a oscillation between and commercialize it. But, oh, Now Lyon’s team is part of a oscillation between thethen rewards on the fascination side Now Lyon’s part of a the rewards on the fascination side five-year grantteam fromisthe National fascination and the rewards on the fascination side five-year grant from the National fascinationand and when “you learn something new about five-year grant from the National fascination when “you learn something new about Institutes of Health, and the hope is when “you learn something new about Institutes of Health, and the hope is frustration,” he nature that no one has ever known Institutes Health, the hope is team frustration,” he nature that no one has ever known that the of grant will and culminate with frustration,” he nature thatLyon no one has ever known that the grant will culminate with team before,” says. that the grantgearing will culminate team says. “What you’re before,” Lyon says. members up for a with clinical trial. says.“What “Whatyou’re you’re before,” Lyon says. members gearing up for a clinical trial. says. members gearing up for a clinical trial. “The exciting thing is that we really striving “The exciting thing is that we “All the initial studies are positive,” really striving “The exciting thing isthis that we “All the initial studies are positive,” really striving continue to challenge technology, the initial studies are positive,” continue to challenge this technology, he“All says. for is spending continue to we challenge he says. forisisspending spending and now can seethis the technology, light at he says. for and now we can see the light at and now we can see the light at more time on As the project advances, the end of the tunnel,” he adds. more time on As the project advances, the end of the tunnel,” he adds. more time on As the project advances, the“We endcan of the adds. transforming from a broad concept seetunnel,” how thishewill have a the fascination transforming from a broad concept “We can see how this will have a the fascination transforming from a broad concept “We can see how this will have a discussed over coffee into a positive impact on people’s lives.” the fascination discussed over coffee into a positive impact on people’s lives.” side than the discussed over coffee into a Lyon positive impact on people’s lives.” biomedical breakthrough, sidethan thanonon onthe the biomedical breakthrough, Lyon side biomedical breakthrough, Lyon takes a moment to reflect on the frustration side.” To support Dean Lyon’s research takes a moment to reflect on the frustrationside.” side.” takes a moment to reflect on the frustration or to name his laboratory, please ups and downs along the way. ups and downs along the way. contact Lauren Lee at 714-289-2032 ups and downs along the way. or lkenny @chapman.edu.
12 | CHAPMAN NOW
POSTSCRIPT
About the Artists and Their Designs Opening a window to process, we asked our alumna artists to tell us about the pages they created for this issue of Chapman Now and how the experience compares with their other design work. Here are their insights.
Alana Michaels ’16
Diana Goldberg ’14
Deena Edwards ’14
“One Giant Leap,” pages 4 – 5
“Geniuses Don’t Look Like Me,” pages 6–9
“The Science of Breakthrough,” pages 10–12
While a student at Chapman, Michaels envisioned herself running her own magazine someday. “So it was great to get back into print work and to reconnect with what was my passion,” she says. For our story on the record-setting long jump of Mitchell Bouldin ’17, Michaels “wanted to take static pictures and convey a sense of movement, like he was jumping off the page,” she says. After running through a number of ideas, she ultimately used perspective to create a line from Bouldin’s first step through his leap into school history. Michaels says she learned a lot from all of her Chapman graphic design professors, including the value of collaboration, which serves her well in her work for Webydo, providing tools for Web designers. “I work with both developers and clients, so I’m gaining experience on the creative and the business side,” she says. “It’s my goal to launch my own agency, and this gives me a taste of how startups work.”
Before she decided to attend Chapman, Goldberg researched a number of college options. She did the same before she started working as a visual designer for Enlisted Design in Oakland a year ago. So it’s no surprise that when she took on the task of designing our profile of physics student Taylor Lee Patti ’17, she wanted to learn all she could about the Cheverton Award winner. She easily related to how Patti overcame self-doubt, because there was a time when her own course was unclear, Goldberg says. “It meant a lot when a teacher told me, ‘You have more potential than you think you do.’” Goldberg chose to include a handcrafted graphic element “to personalize it,” she says of her design. Her illustration of Patti is joined by an overlay of physics equations and two breakout quotes, which together communicate a message that “hit me pretty hard,” she adds. Like the subject of her storytelling, Goldberg is delighted to have found her professional calling, doing work she finds rewarding. And though she has never met Patti, it’s clear that the designer now feels like their paths intertwine. “It’s been an interesting journey,” she says, “and it’s really just beginning.”
Calling it “a huge challenge,” Edwards pivoted from her daily software-development duties for WeWork to help us interpret the nanoparticle research of Andrew Lyon, Ph.D., and his science team at Chapman. She leaned on tools from her Chapman studies. “My traditional process kicked in,” Edwards says. “I did research about the content and I gathered some inspiration pieces. Illustration became a big part of this. I wanted to represent what goes on within a cell, and I wanted colors that would carry the idea of cells moving through the bloodstream.” The resulting design mixes vibrant hues with “clean white space,” creating a balance that her Chapman professors can appreciate. “I was definitely inspired by the content,” Edwards says. And in the end she met her own fundamental measures of success. “It’s about making things easier for users so they can have a good experience,” she says. “Solving problems in an organized way – that’s what I really like about design.”
S U M M E R 2 017 | 13
Art students embrace a tool of film industry promotion, designing posters that highlight a growing Chapman legacy. By Dennis Arp
he project is inspired by Hollywood, but right from the start it has been all about realizing singular visions of Chapman. Since 2010, students in Art 430 – Advanced Graphic Design – have taken up the challenge of creating an official University poster, in the spirit of those displayed outside theatres to artfully draw us into films. In fact, it was the new event poster Jim Doti saw each year at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, that made the then-president want something similar for Chapman. He took the idea to Professor Eric Chimenti, who made it a project in the Advanced Graphic Design class. The Chapman students embraced the idea as a yearly competition to see who could design the most effective poster. They’ve poured their most creative concepts into the project ever since. “All of our classes are based on training students to be working graphic designers – to produce professional jobs in a professional way,” says Chimenti, now associate dean of Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. “But in this class especially, the curriculum is built to emphasize outside projects that focus on meeting client needs and expectations.” The design industry is highly competitive, “so this project gives students a taste of that real industry experience,” says Clint Woesner, partner at the Los Angeles-based design firm Linespace. Woesner has taught the class for the past five years. 14 | CHAPMAN NOW
Pictured above, Chapman President Daniele Struppa meets with Advanced Graphic Design students, helping them prepare to compete in the Chapman poster project. Posters from far left: 2009–2010 by Jaylin Kauwale; 2010–2011 by Kyle Pidot; 2011–2012 by Kailah Ogawa; 2012–2013 by Emma Deiner; 2013–2014 by Valerie Rustad; 2014–2015 by Annie Unruh; 2015–2016 by Sarah Herzog; 2016–2017 by Gee Suan Yeo.
Each year after the president picks a topic – often inspired by a new program or building on campus – Woesner then turns the students loose on bringing it to life. “I encourage them to explore an original approach to the project,” Woesner says. “Some take an illustration approach, others abstract, and still others more artistic through the use of watercolors or cut paper.” As Daniele Struppa stepped into the role of president at Chapman, he also took over as client for the poster project. The latest theme pretty much came with the job: Students designed to commemorate the inauguration of Struppa. After considering the 20-plus posters created by students, Struppa chose the design of Gee Suan Yeo ’17, a business major with minors in graphic design and psychology. For the first time, the poster is in 3D, so it was accompanied by special glasses as it was handed out to attendees after the annual State of the University Address, per recent tradition. One thing that hasn’t changed over the years is the person tasked with completing the project. Each year, alumnus Ryan Clark ’00 and his Direct Edge Media produce the poster for the Chapman community to enjoy. As the design ideas flow and the posters build upon one another, the project takes on an added significance, Chimenti notes. “They’re historical markers,” he says of the posters. “Together, they help tell the story of Chapman.” S U M M E R 2 017 | 15
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