When he first visited Penn in high school through Leadership Enterprise for a Diverse America (LEDA), Chancelor learned that Penn was a place where he would be pushed to grow. He arrived on campus from Atlanta, Georgia the following fall, and was enthusiastic about taking classes that coincided with his wide interests, including science, math, public health, arts, and music. Building on these multidisciplinary passions, Chancelor declared the Health & Societies (HSOC) major, which he pursues alongside pre-dental coursework.

In one of his first HSOC classes, Comparative Medicine, Chancelor learned about healthcare from a historical and sociological perspective, and gained an appreciation for how cultural and community practices can coexist with biomedicine. Meanwhile, in the Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP) at UCLA, Chancelor expanded his understanding of health disparities across diverse communities. Approaching healthcare from this comprehensive perspective, Chancelor plans to expand access to dentistry by practicing in under-resourced communities.

Chancelor enjoyed biology, chemistry, and math in high school and knew he wanted to continue studying science and math at Penn. Chancelor’s favorite Penn professors are brilliant scientists and mathematicians as well as supportive mentors who are committed to their students’ success. As Chancelor navigated the transition from high school to the rigors of college, he frequently went to office hours where he got to know his professors outside the classroom. Chancelor’s mentors include his Math 103 professor, Nakia Rimmer, who provides his students with extra resources and lengthy office hours. Similarly, Professor Donald Berry, Chancelor’s Chemistry 102 instructor, took time to understand his strengths and challenges, and worked with him throughout the semester. And while Chancelor now informally tutors his peers in chemistry and math, he continues to meet with his mentors to share his progress and stay connected.

Chancelor traces his involvement in performing arts to his first-year Theatre Arts class, THAR 076: Theatre in Philadelphia with Professors Rosemary Malague and James Schlatter. Every Thursday night, Chancelor and his classmates went to a play in Philadelphia, in venues large, small, and out of the ordinary, including the Woodlands Cemetery a few blocks from campus. During their three-hour seminar, the class would engage in discussion about each performance and the role of theatre in Philadelphia. Chancelor joined the African American Arts Alliance (4A) to continue his immersion in theatre. He loves the energy at 4A meetings and rehearsals. As an Assistant Producer, he makes sure that everything runs smoothly and that the cast feels supported. As a team, 4A put on a great performance and sold out tickets for their Spring 2019 production, Long Time Since Yesterday, which was followed by another successful season performing Milk Like Sugar in the fall.

Chancelor’s interest in the arts not only includes theatre but also extends to music and visual arts. Chancelor is part of SPEC-Trum, the University of Pennsylvania’s Social Planning and Events Committee to Represent Undergraduate Minorities. SPEC-Trum plans concert sand events featuring artists like Tierra Whack and Rico Nasty. This past fall, the Committee hosted their inaugural TRUM Tiny Desk in the Rodin College House rooftop lounge. With the city as a glittering backdrop, local artists, including Penn students, played for a sold-out crowd. Chancelor is also the Director of Marketing for the student-led photography agency Oh Snap. Starting as a photographer at Oh Snap, Chancelor now leads branding and outreach initiatives to share the agency’s work and connect to an even wider clientele across campus.