University of the Pacific awarded esteemed alumnus and former Regent Tony Chan, retiring music professor Keith Hatschek and Phil Oppenheimer, former dean of the Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy, with the Order of Pacific – the university’s highest honor.

Established in 1952, the Order of Pacific recognizes faculty, staff and special contributors who have provided distinguished service and made outstanding contributions to the university over a significant number of years. It is an expression of the university's esteem and appreciation for their steadfast dedication to Pacific.

Tony Chan

The 1977 graduate becomes one of only five former regents to receive the Order of Pacific. A self-made entrepreneur, Chan earned his doctorate in pharmacy from Pacific, where he met his wife, Virginia Chan, in line during commencement ceremonies. Together, they own and operate numerous private practice pharmacies in Southern California, serving thousands of people each year.

"It is an incredible honor to be presented the Order of Pacific and I am humbled to join such elite company," said Chan. "I have learned firsthand the life-changing power that a Pacific education has on the lives of students and I am forever grateful to the university for the life that my education has made possible."

For the past 40 years, Tony and Virginia Chan have made substantial gifts to Pacific, resulting in a transformative impact on the university. Their contributions have benefited Pacific and its community across the full spectrum: from scholarships to building renovations; from program enhancements to faculty innovation funds; from classrooms to clinics and beyond. Their generosity has enhanced university facilities, student success and program offerings.

“Tony Chan sets an inspiring example of service and philanthropy,” said Norman Allen, chair of Pacific’s Board of Regents. “We are deeply grateful for his devotion and generosity to the university, which will help strengthen and secure the excellence of Pacific for decades to come."

The Chans were inducted into Pacific's Gallery of Benefactors in 2007 and are part of the 1851 Society, which acknowledges the university's highest-level donors.

“Pacific is a very special place to us,” said Virginia Chan, who is a current Regent. “It’s where Tony and I met and it’s where our children went to school. Our hope is that by giving back to the university, we afford future students the opportunity to attend Pacific and pursue their educational dreams.”

Tony Chan's tremendous generosity has also been demonstrated through his personal service to Pacific. He served as a Pacific regent from 2005–2014, held a position on the Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy Dean's Leadership Council and is currently co-chair with Virginia Chan on the university's Leading with Purpose Capital Campaign.

"Few people in the world express their gratitude through philanthropy the way Tony Chan does," said U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Connie Callahan, '75, also a former Pacific regent. "Tony was born in Burma into a life of poverty and adversity, and he truly believes that his success in life is a direct result of his Pacific education.  He is committed to ensuring that others have this same opportunity.  Tony sees the importance of each person and lives his life humbly, giving the most he can give and at the same time truly valuing the contributions of others. I can think of no one more worthy of receiving the Order of Pacific. He is a shining example of a life lived in the Pacific way."

His commitment was demonstrated at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic when the university needed to quickly find personal protective equipment for students and members of the community.

"Tony and Virginia stepped up with a generous gift that helped the university address any barriers caused by the global pandemic and also provided two U-HAUL moving vans worth of personal protective equipment," said Burnie Atterbury, vice president for development. “Their generosity is far reaching and has continually enriched the life of the broader university."

The family’s legacy at Pacific includes son Jonathan, who earned his degree from the Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy in 2009, and daughter Megan in 2013. The family, of which 12 members have attended Pacific, received the Distinguished Alumni Award for Outstanding Family from the university in 2016.

“Our family has been privileged to realize the American Dream through our Pacific education," said Tony Chan. "This affords us the opportunity to give something back and ensure that future generations have the same chance to realize their dreams.”

Keith Hatschek

The professor and former music management program director joined the Conservatory of Music in 2001 after a long career in the music industry. For the last 20 years, he has served students and colleagues with dedication and a passion for teaching while sharing his vast knowledge of the music business.

"Students always speak admiringly of Keith Hatschek's capacity to get them to think clearly about issues, of his dedication to their work and of his ability to blend traditional teaching and experiential learning to get them ready for a career," said Conservatory of Music Dean Peter Witte. "The Order of Pacific is Pacific’s highest honor and it is right that it be awarded to Keith, who embodies and models Pacific’s highest ideals."

Prior to Pacific, Hatschek spent the first 14 years of his musical career performing, recording and songwriting. He then built his own San Francisco Bay Area commercial recording studio, Bayshore Studios, and later joined one of the leading recording studios in the United States, Music Annex Inc. During his 12 years with Music Annex, he worked as recording engineer, producer, project manager, director of client services and vice president of sales and marketing. He also headed Keith Hatschek & Associates, a Bay Area marketing and public relations firm serving the entertainment and media technology industries.

As a professor, Hatschek has been a proponent of experiential learning and used his connections to provide Conservatory of Music students with once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to work with industry professionals.

"Before becoming a college professor, I wore many hats in the music business, so I knew the value of building connections," Hatschek said. "When I came to Pacific, I realized there needed to be a stronger connection between the academic program and the music industry because you cannot stay competitive in music business higher education without fresh input from the front lines."

Hatschek spearheaded the creation of Pacific's Music Management Advisory Board, which is made up of prominent music and entertainment industry professionals who provide students with expertise, resources and mentorship. He also served as an adviser for the conservatory's student-run recording label, Pac Ave Records, that gives students hands-on experience in music management.

Hatschek also incorporated alumni into the classroom to talk about current industry trends and what both the faculty and students should be paying attention to.

"Pacific alumni are changing the music industry," Hatschek said. "Their input gives students the tools to succeed in this fast-paced environment."

As a mentor, Hatschek has worked tirelessly advising and supporting students in their efforts to find success in the music industry. Among his champions is Samantha Juneman ’11, who serves as vice president of commercial partnerships at Universal Music Group and was recently recognized in Billboard Magazine's prestigious "40 Under 40."

"When I came to Pacific, I was a creative-minded young violinist interested in everything and anything," Juneman said. "With kind and careful guidance from Keith Hatschek and the staff of the music management program, I became a focused, analytical and innovative academic. And now I proudly carry those traits as an executive doing what I love."

During his Pacific tenure, Hatschek has been awarded the Podesto Award for Excellence in Student Life, the Pacific Alumni Association's "Golden Apple" Faculty Mentor Award and the Eberhardt Teacher-Scholar Award.

"I’m humbled and honored to be chosen to receive the Order of Pacific," Hatschek said. "I still feel like a student in some ways, because I’ve learned so much during my two decades here from my fellow faculty and my students. Their contributions to my approaches to teaching have been significant. I’m looking forward to enjoying retirement with my wife, Laura, traveling, wine tasting, finishing a few book projects and keeping in touch with my Pacific family."

Phillip R. Oppenheimer

Oppenheimer joined Pacific in 1997 as dean of the Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and served in that role for 23 years until his retirement in 2020. Apart from Arthur A. Dugoni’s 28-year tenure as dean of the dental school, he is the second-longest serving dean since the university moved to Stockton nearly 100 years ago.

"Phil is widely respected for his vision and innovation in pharmacy education, and for preparing pharmacists who will give back to their communities," said Provost Maria Pallavicini. "He has left an indelible mark on Pacific and the pharmacy profession, which will live on through those he mentored and influenced over his remarkable career."

Under his leadership, the School of Pharmacy has transformed to offer a robust set of fully accredited academic programs and become one of the leading pharmacy schools in the nation. Oppenheimer helped raise $65 million for programs, scholarships, facilities, research and strategic initiatives, including the Biological Sciences Center, the Chan Family Hall and the Chan Family Health Sciences Learning Center and Clinics building. 

"Phil is a leader among leaders and his impact on our Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Pacific will be felt and recognized for years to come," said former Pacific President Don DeRosa.

A strong and dedicated student-centered dean, Oppenheimer led the School of Pharmacy to create innovative curricula by giving faculty a platform to implement novel teaching methods. By doing so, he gave students a top-rated learning experience that supported scholarly and research activities, including a research-based graduate program to ensure the school remained a significant player in pharmaceutical research.

"Phil was always committed to developing students into leaders. The number of alumni who are leaders in the pharmaceutical profession is a hallmark of the Pacific brand nationally," said Elizabeth Johnson '87, former president of the Pacific Alumni Association. "He has worked tirelessly to enhance the experience of all those involved with the university and the School of Pharmacy, with a passion that far exceeds the expectations of a dean."

Recognized by colleagues and peers throughout the industry, Oppenheimer was named California Pharmacists Association Pharmacist of the Year in 2004, American College of Apothecaries Dean of the Year in 2005, and American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists Most Outstanding Dean of the Year in 2014. In 2017, he was inducted into the California Pharmacists Association Hall of Fame.

"Phil Oppenheimer has served the academy, the health professions and the university eminently," said Nancy DeGuire, clinical professor of pharmacy practice. "He is enthusiastically admired by students, faculty, administrators, alumni, donors, corporate partners and friends of Pacific for his visionary leadership, pioneering spirit, tireless work ethic and sense of purpose. He is most deserving of the university’s highest honor."

Oppenheimer also served as president of the California Pharmacists Association and was chair of the California Pharmacy Leadership Council, whose makeup includes the deans of all pharmacy schools in the state as well as the CEOs of major pharmacy associations.

"I am thrilled and honored to receive the Order of Pacific. As I reflect on the 23 years of watching past award recipients being called forward, I recall truly remarkable, creative and dedicated individuals. It is truly humbling to be included amongst Pacific’s most esteemed family members," said Oppenheimer.

"It is important to note, the positive outcomes and achievements attributed to me are really the efforts of a marvelous team of faculty, staff, administrators, students, alumni and donors. They have been the engine which helped the Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and the university soar. I have been a part of this team and will be forever grateful for their efforts in constantly working to achieve greatness. Thank you to my wife, Teri, and my son, Danny, for supporting me as I served the Pacific family."