Christopher P. Chapman
Christopher P. Chapman
President and Chief Executive Officer, Helix Bar Review and AccessLex Institute
President and Chief Executive Officer, Helix Bar Review and AccessLex Institute
Christopher P. Chapman has served as president and chief executive officer of AccessLex Institute since January 2008 and joined its Board of Directors in 2012.
Immediately prior to joining AccessLex, Chris was the president and chief executive officer of ALL Student Loan, a California-based nonprofit student loan provider, from 2001 to 2007. Earlier, he served as vice president of Student Loan Funding Resources, a student loan originator and secondary market, and as director of its joint venture loan servicing company. From 1999–2000, Chris practiced law as a senior attorney with Calfee, Halter & Griswold, LLP, working in its corporate, public finance and higher education practice areas. His early career was spent in the policy arena, including acting as special assistant and policy counsel for two members of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Chris has served on numerous nonprofit boards, committees and task forces throughout his career, and regularly presents on matters relating to the financing of higher education, the state of legal education, and public policy matters.
Chris earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Xavier University, his post-baccalaureate Certificate in finance and accounting from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business, and his Juris Doctor from the University of Cincinnati College of Law. Chris is licensed to practice law in the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Cynthia Cassity
Cynthia Cassity
Chief Operating Officer—Helix Bar Review
Senior Vice President—Strategic Engagement, AccessLex Institute
Chief Operating Officer—Helix Bar Review
Senior Vice President—Strategic Engagement, AccessLex Institute
Cynthia is responsible for overall operations, product development, and stakeholder engagement for Helix Bar Review by AccessLex℠. She also provides leadership and oversight for the AccessLex Center for Education and Financial Capability®, ensuring the highest quality resources, service, events, and experience.
Before joining AccessLex Institute in 2005, Cynthia held positions with Grey Advertising, the American College of Physicians, the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), and was principal of her own successful marketing and event planning company. Her 25-year career spans the association, corporate and international markets.
Cynthia earned her bachelor’s degree in communications with emphases in journalism and speech from Ithaca College, receiving a Scripps Howard Foundation scholarship for academic excellence and professional promise in the field of journalism. Throughout her career, Cynthia also achieved the Certified Meeting Professional designation and a certification in nonprofit board management.
Lyssa L. Thaden
Lyssa L. Thaden
Vice President—Product
Vice President—Product
Lyssa L. Thaden joined AccessLex Institute in 2016 and is currently the VP–Product for Helix Bar Review.
Lyssa’s career in higher education includes work as a faculty member, administrator, consultant, and sales executive. She loves connecting the dots between research and application, especially as it relates to product development, instructional design, platform design and delivery, and audience engagement. Lyssa continues to utilize her research background to create and conduct Helix focus groups and surveys.
Lyssa has a BS in mathematics education and computer science (Rocky Mountain College), an MA in organizational leadership (Gonzaga University), a Ph.D. in sociology (Washington State University), and she recently achieved her Sales Growth Certificate from Cornell University. She is also an Accredited Financial Counselor®.
Kimberly Welling
Kimberly Welling
Managing Director—Bar Review Engagement
Managing Director—Bar Review Engagement
Prior to joining AccessLex in 2020, Kimberly held positions with two national bar review companies, serving as the Midwest Director for Themis Bar Review and a Director of Legal Education with BARBRI. Kimberly also has an extensive background teaching legal research from her time with Thomson Reuters where she held various roles, including law school Academic Account Manager and Research Specialist with large law firms. She has nearly 20 years of experience working with law students from across the country in the areas of legal research and writing, law school success, and MPRE and bar exam preparation.
Sue Kung
Sue Kung
Managing Director—Helix Content
Managing Director—Helix Content
Sue Kung is currently the Managing Director of Helix Content. She joined AccessLex in June 2020 after working in the Academic Skills Program at the University of California, Irvine School of Law since 2013 and serving as its director since 2018. Prior to working at UC Irvine, Sue taught courses — including Legal Writing, Defenses in the Law, and bar preparation — for over 13 years at Southwestern University School of Law.
As a practicing attorney for 20 years, Sue worked for the U.S. Department of Justice in the Office of the U.S. Trustee, served as a law clerk to The Honorable Ernest M. Robles in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Central District of California, and served as general counsel at an international sporting goods distributor.