As a former self-proclaimed “quintessential townie,” John Chrin ’85 ’86 P’10 knew from an early age that Lehigh was where he’d go to college. He grew up in the area, attended Broughal Middle School, and dreamed of majoring in industrial engineering and finance. The Missimer family, longtime Lehigh supporters, also encouraged him to consider the university. He jokes that, all things considered, Lehigh was the only real option.
During his time at Lehigh, he was fortunate enough to have several summer jobs that gave him experience at Merck & Procter and Gamble. Chrin went on to Columbia Business School and then joined JPMorgan Chase as co‐head and managing director of financial institutions mergers & acquisitions and depository investment banking, benefiting from the reputation of a Lehigh education.
After several years in the industry, Chrin returned to Lehigh to share his wealth of knowledge.
“I wanted to help students get an understanding and perspective of what goes on in board rooms or in a CEO’s office,” he says.
Chrin taught at Lehigh for three years. He eventually joined his wife, Maria L. Chrin ’87 P’10, at Circle Wealth Management, where he remains a partner today. But even as his career evolved, his connection to Lehigh, and especially its students, never wavered.
“I love mentoring students,” he says. “It’s remarkable to see them grow. I look back at people I had in the classroom for three years, and it gives you a sense of pride to play a role in their development. Even when I was teaching, I would probably spend 30 to 40 percent of my time mentoring students. It’s rewarding.”
For Chrin, mentorship is about more than offering advice. It’s about recognizing potential, opening doors, and giving students the same opportunities and encouragement that helped shape his own path. He has never been one to turn away a student looking for guidance, and over the course of his career, he has mentored countless students.
One of those students is Calan Armitage ’28, a Soaring Together scholar whom Chrin helped secure two summer internships. Through Chrin’s connections, Armitage spent this summer working at PL Advisors in New York City. Next summer, he will join Deutsche Bank.
“John helped me narrow down what I wanted to focus on within finance,” Armitage says. “He was one of the first people I reached out to, and he taught me how to better leverage my resources and the Lehigh community.”
After a few conversations with Chrin, Armitage realized investment banking was where his interests lay.
“It was helpful hearing John’s experience, and he was great at putting himself in my shoes as well,” Armitage says. “He really took the time to understand where I was at, and the genuine care and thought he put into our conversations meant a lot to me.”
That ability to meet students where they are is at the heart of Chrin’s approach to mentorship, and one of the reasons he feels so strongly about Soaring Together.
“Soaring Together is an opportunity to pay it forward,” Chrin says. “You have these incredible, smart students that are driven, want to do well, and need a chance.”
His mentorship extends well beyond campus. Wherever he goes, he looks for that same spark of drive and ambition. When he sees it, he is willing to lend a hand, share his experience, or simply listen. Whether the guidance is personal or professional, he believes in showing up, helping students see what is possible, and giving them a little lift along the way.
“Don’t be afraid to dream big,” he says. “The only thing worse than trying and failing is not trying at all.”
