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One Career Was Not Enough
Alumni Profile - Chin Pann '01

Lynn Duncan, Assistant Professor of Accounting, recalls Chin Pann '01 with affection and exasperation. “He never studied and still got good grades!”  Chin also remembers Ms. Duncan, “She was the teacher most students feared.” Yet he credits her with instilling in him a work ethic that has helped him in his career as an accountant, as a law student, and now, as an attorney with an international law firm in Washington, DC.

As a high school student in Perry Hall, Chin considered attending Villa Julie because of the reputation of its accounting program. An outstanding presentation by Mark Hergan, now Vice President for Enrollment Management, and a scholarship, led him to choose VJC—a decision he’s never regretted.


An accountant and a lawyer! For Chin Pann ’01,
one career was not enough. He is now an attorney
with an international law firm in Washington, DC.

Chin appreciates the College’s emphasis on gaining experience through co-ops and internships where he learned skills that are difficult to teach in the classroom. Chin’s first co-op was in his sophomore year, and his second, at The Reznick Group, led to full-time employment upon graduation.  Of his accounting degree, Chin states that, “I always understood the theory behind the work the firms were doing,” even if he had to learn their way of doing it.

After two years at Reznick, Chin decided to indulge a personal interest and study law.  He had three specific criteria for selecting a law school: a warm climate, a vibrant campus environment, and big-time sports. Duke’s law school met all of his requirements. At Duke, Chin focused his studies on corporate law, graduating in May 2006.  Upon graduation, he joined the law firm of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP because of the breadth and quality of the firm’s business practice, which included managing the largest American real estate deal and assisting the New York Yankees finance a new stadium.  In such an environment, Chin’s accounting background is an asset—he expects to be reading lots of financial statements.

Chin values his connections with Villa Julie. He served as a panelist during the May 2006 Law Day, sponsored by the Justice Society and looks forward to other opportunities to participate in events and share his experiences with the College.