"Working in the Student Life department was something I had always thought about doing, and I had to jump at the chance. The opportunity to help students have as great of an experience as I had at Southwestern was not one I could pass up." After a one-year absence from Southwestern University following graduation, Jason Chapman returned as a student activities coordinator in the Student Life Department.

Chapman came to Southwestern as an undergraduate in the fall of 1999. "I decided to attend Southwestern because of the small size and the individual attention from professors and staff members," recalls Chapman. An avid athlete throughout his high school years, Chapman also wanted to be able to participate in both soccer and swimming--which Southwestern allowed him to do.

A political science and English double major, Chapman appreciated the liberal arts education that he received. He notes, "The Perspectives on Knowledge (POK) courses that I took really helped me become a more rounded student and person." Southwestern also gave Chapman the opportunity to grow outside of the classroom. Throughout his four years, he joined Kappa Upsilon Chi, the University Programming Council, was a Resident Assistant and an Intramural Supervisor. "I was able to join several student organizations during my student tenure at Southwestern which helped complete my education and gave me the skills I needed to be a Student Activities Coordinator."

Working for Student Activities, Chapman has many different tasks. He works with various student organizations and helps them with any issues they might be having--i.e. budget, programming, membership recruitment and retention--and helps students start new organizations. He states, "In working with student organizations, my most important responsibility is to be a resource for the students, whether it be about an organization or a personal issue." Chapman also is the staff advisor for two student organizations that he was a part of while a Southwestern student--the University Programming Council and Kappa Upsilon Chi.

Additionally, Chapman plans and implements many Student Life programs including the Cove Concert Series, Peanut Butter Jelly Time and Late Night Breakfast. He also helps plan First-Year Orientation Events, the Organization Fair and MallBall. Perhaps the biggest event Chapman helped with was the large act concert, headlined by New Found Glory, which took place this past April. "Southwestern had not had a concert of this size on our campus since 2001, and it was fun to be behind the scenes of this one," says Chapman. "It was so exciting to see something as big as this finally come together. With it being a UPC event, the members of that organization really stepped up and did a great job working the event, and it is a memory that they will never forget."

Having a job that allows him to interact with so many different people is something that Chapman cherishes. He comments, "Most people would say they think that my favorite part of my job would be meeting entertainers, and that is really cool, but that's not it. My favorite part is watching students grow throughout their four years here and feeling that I had a part in that."

Enjoying his time at Southwestern, Chapman feels that it is only natural to give back as much as he can. "As an alumnus and current staff member, I feel that it is my responsibility to support Southwestern. I also feel that what Southwestern is doing, the plans for the future and all that it stands for is worth supporting," he states.

Essentially for Chapman, it boils down to one goal: to help students enjoy and take as much from Southwestern as Chapman did as a student. "The most rewarding part of my job is knowing that in some way, I helped make Southwestern a better place and helped make the students' experience here a little bit better."