VOLUME 17 | ISSUE 2 | 2018
School of Public Policy
CELEBRATES 2018 COMMENCEMENT
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n April 20, 2018, the Pepperdine School of Public Policy (SPP) held its commencement ceremony for the graduating class of 2018 on the lawn of Alumni Park. Pepperdine University president Andrew K. Benton, provost Rick Marrs, chancellor Michael Adams, and the dean of SPP, Pete Peterson, were all in attendance to officiate the ceremony. As is customary, a student of the graduating class was selected to deliver an address. This year’s student speaker, Joshua Arnold (MPP ’18), challenged his classmates to “go forward and be excellent,” and to build a community together using skills taught at SPP. Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters recipient Sally Pipes
Each year SPP honors an alumnus for exemplary achievements in his or her career. Lance Ray Christensen (MPP ’04) was presented with the Distinguished Alumnus Award for his outstanding achievements including Commencement continued on page 5
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n June the School of Public Policy hosted a conference as part of its “The American Project: On the Future of Conservatism” initiative. Entitled “Toward a Conservatism of Connection,” the conference
featured a unique mix of academics and activists examining a variety of policy questions from religious liberty and domestic policy to viewpoint diversity in higher education and foreign policy.
The conference began with a presentation by social psychologist Dr. Francie Broghammer from the University of California, Irvine, who surveyed the growing body of research into the subject of loneliness and American Project continued on page 4
DEAN’S MESSAGE Thus the 20th year of the School of Public Policy draws to a close . . . but not quietly! A busy spring semester was marked by terrific events here in Malibu and in Washington, DC, in which leading scholars discussed topics ranging from the future of religious liberty and American foreign policy to the future of the American conservative movement and the impact of environmental issues on local government finances. Our Davenport Institute continued its excellent work in training and consulting with local government officials who seek to better involve their residents in tough public policy decisions. Our 2018 commencement at Alumni Park was another for the picture books, as we sent the next class of SPP graduates, or as I call them, Wavemakers, out into the world’s public squares where they will no doubt assume positions of importance and influence. We were delighted to welcome Sally Pipes, healthcare policy expert and president of the Pacific Research Institute to provide remarks and receive her honorary doctorate. In her excellent talk, Pipes reminded students of the real-life impacts of policy decisions and that those policies
made without a sense of history and quantitative rigor can have terrible consequences. While our Malibu campus quieted in the summer, our first DC Policy Scholars seminar engaged nearly two dozen students at the Pepperdine DC building in a new class entitled, “American Gospel: The Role of Religion in US Domestic and Foreign Policy.” Taught by two topflight DC-based scholars, the class offered these non-degree seeking students (many of them college juniors and seniors), the opportunity to “see public policy differently” in the nation’s capital. In an era when thoughtful conservative voices are under attack on American college campuses, SPP remains committed to promoting viewpoint diversity—both inside and outside the classroom. We were honored to host renowned social scientist, Dr. Charles Murray, for our 2018 Patricia Tagliaferri Dean’s Distinguished Lecture in the spring, as we also welcomed Bill Burton, formerly President Obama’s deputy press secretary, to speak with students about life in the White House.
While this program continues to grow, so do our relationships with like-minded institutions. Launched last October, our Pepperdine Policy Partners Program (or P4), has added a number of new members in the last few months—each sharing our commitment to preparing the well-rounded public leaders our communities, states, nation, and world so desperately need. Now we step into our third decade . . . with confidence and excitement, welcoming a new class of future Wavemakers, a new visiting professor who brings terrific policy experience to Malibu, and a new curriculum adding course work in dispute resolution from America’s leading academic program in that field. It’s a great time to be in Malibu, and I remain grateful for your encouragement and support!
PETE PETERSON
Dean, School of Public Policy
ADVANCEMENT MESSAGE On college campuses across the country, discussion and debate are being shut down. Conservative viewpoints are shunned in the classroom, and right-of-center speakers are hackled, protested, and often prevented from speaking altogether. The notion of viewpoint diversity has been abandoned in favor of a left-wing domination of the discussion. The media encourages this behavior and routinely slants coverage to further the agenda of the left. Here in California, we have one-party domination of state government. There is no real debate taking place regarding such fundamental issues as taxation, the role of government in our lives, and the alarming rate of middle-class citizens leaving the state. In essence, we again see a complete lack of viewpoint diversity as critical decisions are made in Sacramento. In this environment, the mission of the Pepperdine School of Public Policy has never been more important. As the only right-of-center graduate policy school in America, we are training leaders who are uniquely prepared to impact our state, nation, and world. We believe in free markets. We believe that government is not the answer to every problem. We believe that future leaders must understand America’s founding principles.
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PEPPERDINE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY PARTNERS WITH #1 RANKED DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROGRAM TO OFFER NEW SPECIALIZATION
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epperdine University School of Public Policy has announced a partnership with America’s top-ranked mediation and dispute resolution program—the Pepperdine Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution—to create a new dispute resolution specialization within its master of public policy (MPP) degree. This new program was opened to student enrollment in the fall of 2018. The new specialization within the MPP degree rounds out a dispute resolution certificate program and joint degree with the Straus Institute and makes Pepperdine one of America’s only graduate policy programs to offer such a concentration within its MPP and the country’s only joint MPP/MDR degree program. While unique, Pete Peterson, dean of SPP, sees the new program as being consistent with the school’s broader curriculum. “We often say that we’re a school committed to ‘bringing the public back into public policy,’” said Peterson. “This new specialization—
with its focus on how we can solve our public challenges in more collaborative ways—is a logical extension of this mission.” He added that the creation of this new specialization is particularly timely, as “we’re living in an era known for its polarization—especially in the public square. Through this course work, we intend to prepare leaders with both policy expertise and the skills to work across differences—whatever they may be.”
relationship with the School of Public Policy provides a comprehensive approach to educating leaders across the public, private, and civic sectors.” For more information about pursuing an MPP with a dispute resolution specialization, please contact Carson Bruno at carson.bruno@pepperdine. edu or 310.506.7492.
In partnering with the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, SPP joins America’s top-ranked mediation and dispute resolution program (per U.S. News & World Report), while SPP is ranked in the top 10 MPP programs in the western United States. The Straus Institute is excited about this new collaboration, seeing it as a natural extension of its highly regarded educational programs. Executive director Thomas Stipanowich observed, “For years we’ve been training policy makers to be better at resolving conflicts. This new
Our friends and donors make this important work possible. Your generosity makes it possible for some of the best students in the country to attend SPP. You make it possible for us to host world-class speakers and events. Your gifts allow us to impact the important policy debates taking place in our country. And you can continue to help in so many different ways, including:
• Naming and endowing a scholarship at SPP for $10,000 (which can be paid over 5 years)
• Considering a gift to assist in our effort to raise $200,000 to partner with PragerU on an exciting series of videos focused on key California policy issues
• Becoming a Public Policy Associate for an annual gift of
$1,000 or $2,500. These annual gifts go directly to helping students enrolled in the program
• Serving as a mentor and/or assisting students in finding meaningful internships and jobs
Thank you for your support. To learn more about the School of Public Policy and opportunities to become involved, please feel free to contact me anytime at matt.cutler@pepperdine.edu or 310.506.6513.
MATT CUTLER
Director of Development
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School of Public Policy Moves Up Four Spots Nationally, Remains
Top Ten MPP Program in the West in U.S. News & World Report Rankings
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he Pepperdine School of Public Policy remains in the top 10 master of public policy (MPP) degree programs west of the Rockies, and top five in California in the latest edition of Best Graduate Schools for Public Affairs by U.S. News & World Report. Since the rankings in 2017, Pepperdine moved up four spots, improving its ranking among the 272 policy programs evaluated in the United States. “The momentum and direction shown in the latest rankings are positive—and added up to a climb of 20 spots in just a few years,” noted Pete Peterson, dean of SPP. “We solidified our position as one of the top MPP programs in the West while we retained our unique identity as a ‘liberal arts professional school.’ We still have strides to make, but the
changes we have made in this past year have led to our recognition as more of a ‘national program.’” We believe that SPP is so highly regarded because it offers a two-year, full-time MPP degree program with its comprehensive James Q. Wilson Core curriculum grounded in both policy analysis and an exceptional understanding of the many factors—cultural, historical, and constitutional—that affect the implementation of public policy. It also offers joint degree programs in partnership with Pepperdine's top-ranked graduate schools for business, law, and dispute resolution. In addition, it provides a bicoastal reach, facilitating a 3-credit summer policy scholars program in Washington, DC, focusing on a new topic each year.
American Project from page 1
interpersonal disconnection. The societal results of the growing levels of detachment from civic and personal institutions (from relationships and churches to work and volunteer organizations) range from a number of physical health problems to mental health issues such as depression and suicide.
with a particular focus on alienation and loneliness. From this foundation, the argument of the American Project is that a conservatism emphasizing the central importance of institutions as “points of connection” is the best defense against growing movements toward radical individualism, which have appeared on the left and right.
While this was an unconventional beginning to a conference about politics and policy, the agenda was organized around the tenets of “A Way Forward,” which was developed through a smaller gathering hosted by the American Project on the Malibu campus last year. “A Way Forward” frames the challenges before the American conservative movement as not simply political, but societal as well,
In describing the impact of the conference, dean Pete Peterson said, “while many question the seriousness with which American conservatism is treated on most college campuses, I’m excited to see SPP take a leading role in exploring these important themes of community building and institution defense, and how they relate to actual policy development. We are living in such polarized times,” Peterson added,
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“but I believe the concepts we’re discussing can and will appeal across the political spectrum.” Now in the second year of this multiyear effort, the American Project has brought together dozens of scholars and political activists, such as Victor Davis Hanson and Heather MacDonald to Steve Hayward and Danielle Pletka and many more, to both discuss and write about these themes. Next steps for the American Project include planning a number of smaller panel discussions around the country, and supporting writing and research about a conservatism of connection. Learn more: publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu/academics/ research/the-american-project
POLITICAL SCIENTIST CHARLES MURRAY LED THE TAGLIAFERRI DEAN’S DISTINGUISHED LECTURE On March 13, 2018, the School of Public Policy hosted Dr. Charles Murray for the annual Patricia Tagliaferri Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Series. Murray candidly spoke about the volatile state of the American creed and how it has been impacted by the Trump presidency. Absent of current administration, he argued that the trajectory of American happiness was already downgrading; this was illustrated by declining marriage rates, lower life expectancy for certain Americans, and the higher proportion of children born out of wedlock. Murray outlined that incentive
structures in both welfare programs and social norms exacerbated a declining work ethic and the fulfillment achieved from employment. Laying blame on both major political parties, Murray declared the traditional luster of creedal America, that once placed a high premium on deep respect for the law, truth, and accountability, has been tarnished. Murray argued that the state of our country can be restored by renewing our passion for the American creed, a responsibility that rests upon all Americans. Murray outlined that “lasting,
sustained, and just happiness” is attained by pursuing a vocation, having support from a family, connecting to a community, or engaging in a faith practice. While not always easy to achieve, he explained, this type of happiness is accessible to everyone in the United States, and we all should strive toward it in such a time as the present. Watch the lecture: youtu.be/tL0OctQ5voA
Commencement from page 1
legislative consultancy, budget analysis, and his dedication to the community through volunteer work with the Boy Scouts of America and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Christensen serves as chief of staff and senior policy advisor for California state senator John M. W. Moorlach. He encouraged students to promote and employ the education gained at SPP for the benefit of others and the public. The 2018 commencement address was given by Sally Pipes, a highly regarded professional in healthcare policy. She is the president and chief executive officer of the Pacific Research Institute, and is the founder and chair of the Benjamin
Rush Institute, which focuses exclusively on healthcare. In addition, she served as the assistant director of the Fraser Institute in Vancouver, British Columbia, and on former governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s transition team. Author of Miracle Cure: How to Solve America’s Health Care Crisis and Why Canada Isn’t the Answer, Pipes advised the graduates to challenge the assumptions that underpin the conventional policy wisdom and put evidence at the center of their own policy arguments. President Benton conferred the honorary degree on Pipes for her many achievements and her tireless work to find solutions for our healthcare systems’ most pressing problems.
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THE LATEST FROM
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hether in the classroom at the Pepperdine School of Public Policy, in a training room full of city managers and elected officials, or through partnerships with like-minded organizations, the Davenport Institute continues its mission of championing public engagement as a 21st-century leadership skill for local governments and residents to thrive together.
Between January and August of 2018, the institute conducted seven half-day public engagement trainings across the state. More than 300 local officials, police, and community members were taught a more deliberative and collaborative approach to local opportunities and challenges. Executive director Ashley Trim (MPP ’09) and dean Pete Peterson presented a total of eight shorter conference or keynote presentations on public engagement including at the Coro Technology x Democracy conference, the Innovations in Participatory Democracy conference, and the League of California Cities Mayors & Council Members Executive Forum, among others. Back on campus in Malibu, Trim and Peterson co-taught an elective in public engagement, equipping master of public policy candidates with a historical and cultural perspective on the topic, as well as the tools to become leaders who put the “public” back into public policy. The Davenport Institute continued to facilitate opportunities for students to hear from practitioners and experts during lunchtime Davenport discussions on issues ranging from global health policy to lobbying to the challenge of fostering real deliberation in a sound-bite era.
The institute also hosted two evening documentary screenings. Teach Us All looks at why many schools remain segregated in the decades since Brown v. Board of Education. Following the screening Evelyn Aleman (MPP ’00) and director Sonia Lowman discussed what can be done both from a policy and a public perspective to address this. Charlie vs Goliath looked at the impact of partisan politics and campaign finance on outsider candidates. The documentary follows the quixotic campaign of Charlie Hardy who ran as the Democratic nominee for Senate in Wyoming in 2014. In June we welcomed our professional Certificate in Advanced Public Engagement for Local Government trainees. Participants included public safety professionals, city and county staff, and school district administrators. With generous support from the James Irvine Foundation, the institute is preparing to undertake a strategic positioning effort through the remainder of 2018. This will ensure that the institute supports local governments and seeks out more inclusive and more deliberative engagement with residents heading toward the third decade of the 21st century.
2018 CITY MANAGER IN RESIDENCE LYDIA ROMERO As part of the ongoing work of the Davenport Institute to connect students with local government leaders, in March the institute and the School of Public Policy welcomed their eighth city manager in residence, Lydia Romero, city manager of Lemon Grove, California. The City Manager in Residence program is part of a collaborative effort developed by the California International City Manager Association (Cal-ICMA) to give students a chance to learn firsthand from some of the leading city managers in California. This annual program is related to the school’s ICMA student chapter. 6 | School of Public Policy Dean’s Report
Romero offered students an inside view of the challenges and opportunities involved in local government service. A majority-minority city, Lemon Grove has a substantial refugee population and a large Hispanic community. Romero shared lessons learned and challenges she has faced in engaging residents in this working-class community. Prior to her service in Lemon Grove, Romero was deputy city manager for the City of San Rafael, a position she held for nearly a decade. She also worked as a policy analyst for the League of California Cities. As the second female city manager in residence, Romero was able to provide insight into the gender gap in executive-level positions in local government. Romero spoke to students during a lunchtime lecture and met one-on-one with students to offer advice and direction for careers in local government.
SPP PARTNERS WITH DAVENPORT INSTITUTE TO HOST CHARLIE VS GOLIATH DOCUMENTARY AND BIPARTISAN DISCUSSION The School of Public Policy, in partnership with the Davenport Institute, hosted a screening of the 2017 documentary Charlie vs Goliath. The film details the grassroots campaign of Charlie Hardy, a Democrat running for Senate in the solidly Republican state of Wyoming. A 75-year-old former priest, Hardy toured the state in a donated bus with dedicated supporters. Despite ultimately losing at the polls in 2014 and 2016, Hardy proved hopeful and uncompromising in defending his ideals. Hardy attended the screening and sat down with dean Pete Peterson, who ran as the Republican nominee for California secretary of state in 2014, and Ashley Trim (MPP ’09), executive director of the Davenport Institute, to have a bipartisan conversation about campaigning as an underdog, financing an election bid, and personnel management. Instantly Hardy and Peterson found similarities in their election attempts, as they both belonged to the minority
party in their respective states. Peterson’s motivations centered on returning the state to the ideals of California Republicanism. Like Hardy, Peterson funded his campaign through grassroots and individual support. While Peterson raised less than a fifth of his opponent’s funds, he outperformed most expectations in his narrow defeat for California secretary of state. In closing, both Hardy and Peterson reiterated the importance of having the right people on the campaign trail—having dedicated supporters. “In my mind, volunteers will always be more valuable than money,” said Hardy.
JOHNS HOPKINS PROFESSOR STEVEN TELES ON “THE CAPTURED ECONOMY” On March 21, 2018, the School of Public Policy welcomed Steven Teles, professor of political science at Johns Hopkins University, to give a lecture related to the book he recently coauthored with Brink Lindsey entitled The Captured Economy: How the Powerful Enrich Themselves, Slow Down Growth, and Increase Inequality. In his presentation, Teles introduced two broad categories of economic regulation, economy wide and industry specific. He argued the first represents a beneficial and necessary function of democratic governance while the second manifests as an insidious form of policy monopoly, resulting in economic inefficiency and inequality. In an era replete with arguments about inequality, blame has been attributed to a variety of sources: increased corporate influence, diminished labor power, the bifurcation of culture into classes, and even to the nature of capitalism itself. Teles declared that it is the control of industry-specific economic regulations by powerful political organizations that drives much inequality. Evidence is shown in the disproportionate amount of wealth concentrated in a few heavily regulated industries. The basic contention is that market entrepreneurship is positive, benefiting society at large and fair to all while political entrepreneurship is negative, creating inequality by protecting entrenched interests with special privileges. He reminded us that democracy is ruled by organizations, since associating gives individually weak citizens access to resources, strategy, and influence. Organizations are best able to monitor elected officials and develop persuasive fictions to drive political action. The problem is that organizations
tend to represent the privileged, those interested in preserving the status quo, rather than making changes. Economists may like creative destruction, but organizations do not, and when they successfully prevent change, they decrease social mobility, increase inequality, and stifle economic activity. The unorganized, powerless masses then turn to alternatives such as populism to represent their interests. Teles left the audience with an array of policy options useful in balancing this tendency and making sure both sides of a regulatory issue are fairly represented. Society can subsidize countervailing powers to balance entrenched interests, promote greater legislative contemplation and subject matter expertise to reduce the influence of lobbyists, or create a more egalitarian framework for how professional organizations participate in self-regulation and licensing, among other strategies. And while these suggestions may not solve society’s ills, they provide a good place to begin the discussion. In short, a more competent and independent administrative state may be needed to balance the power of organizations. publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu | 7
SPP Hosts
Discussion Panel on CLIMATE CHANGE On February 27, 2018, the Pepperdine University School of Public Policy hosted a panel discussion entitled “The Unexpected Consequences of Climate Change on Government Finance.” The panel’s three experts, Anthony Casso, professor and clinical faculty at Dale E. Fowler School of Law, Chapman University; Marc Joffe, a senior policy analyst at Reason Foundation; and Francis Menton, lawyer at the Law Office of Francis Menton, focused on the question of what climate change means for cities, especially when the extent of the impacts are still relatively unknown. Recently many cities and local governments have filed lawsuits against companies, claiming harm from the defendants’ alleged contributions to climate change. The panel addressed what these lawsuits could mean for city finances. Casso led the discussion, noting that the impacts of climate change are mostly unknown, and cities are filing lawsuits without concrete evidence of damage. Joffe expanded the conversation to include the topic of municipal disclosure and the transparency cities must maintain when making these types of claims, and Menton addressed the issues of bond markets and the potential for the abuse of process by cities. The panel concluded that many factors contribute to climate change and that not all are part of these city lawsuits. Although many cities are filing claims, there is also movement within communities to accommodate climate change, the effects of which are an evolving issue. Watch the discussion: youtu.be/HlHUt7zlD-8
Jeffrey Sikkenga, Rosemary Licata, Dean Pete Peterson
Annual Licata Lecture Features
POLITICAL SCIENTIST JEFFREY SIKKENGA on James Madison and Religious Liberty
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he newest installment in the Charles and Rosemary Licata Lecture series featured William E. Simon Distinguished Visiting Professor Jeffrey Sikkenga, whose talk was entitled “First Freedom: James Madison and the Future of Religious Liberty.” Madison believed the “right of conscience” to be the first and most fundamental freedom, one that provided a foundation for all freedoms connected to the human mind, including religion and speech. However, the gravity of this concept is often obscured by disparate interpretations, agendas, and even court decisions. Sikkenga invoked the arguments of Madison to help reaffirm the monumental importance of this fundamental freedom and then elaborated on its implications for public policy.
Madison argued that the right of conscience is an inalienable natural right, one that goes beyond tolerance, which implies something that can be granted or denied by the government, and because government doesn’t originate the agency, it should have no power to deny it. The right of conscience is one to be enshrined, revered, and accommodated whenever possible. With respect to religion, a government that cannot claim dominion over human consciousness should never have the power to control or force religious expression. From a practical standpoint, Sikkenga left the audience with an important set of questions. Should public policy accommodate religious freedom, and how far should this freedom extend? In response, he provided
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three criteria for considering religious liberty accommodations from a policy perspective: the importance of the affected interest, the amount of damage done by the accommodation, and whether accommodating the practice would influence others to adopt the belief. Sikkenga argued that the questions are not always easy to answer, but it is up to the population to engage in careful deliberation in order to uphold precious liberties. Religious freedom is said to be the most difficult of these liberties to accomplish, but worth preserving, and according to Sikkenga, “religious freedom should never be a divisive, partisan issue.” On the contrary, people tend to gravitate toward a government that respects their beliefs.
POLICY RESEARCH SEMINARS
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olicy Research Seminar projects, otherwise known as capstone presentations, require students to design and implement a major policy program for a global, state, or local agency using a real-life situation. As a requirement for graduation, these projects require students, individually or in a team, to develop a clearly focused mission statement, a strategic plan for the undertaking, and an implementation schedule that acknowledges various interest groups that must “buy in” for the project to be successful. This requires personnel planning, budget planning, and a clear method for securing approvals from all interested parties whose ownership is critical for its success. The results may be presented to a board of advisors including academics and real-world agency leaders. Students are expected to be able to identify, verbalize, and experience in an authentic way clearly stated personal values as well as technical expertise. Topics for the 2018 Policy Research Seminars are listed below.
International Relations and National Security
Professor Sean Jasso's seminar class celebrates capstone completion.
• National Security Strategy of the United States of
• Crisis in the American Family: Addressing Family Dissolution
• The National Security Strategy: The American Strategy for Europe
• Diminishing Urban and Rural Educational Disparity in China • Safer, Freer, Faster: Improving Results in America's Airport
America Regarding China
• US National Security Strategy for Russia Where Markets and Government Fail
in the United States
Security Checkpoints
• Should Cities Promote Development for Accessory Dwelling Units to Increase Housing Stock in California?
• A Road Forward: Addressing Underinvestment in the
• The Silent Killer: US Agricultural Policy
• Access to Affordable and Nutritious Foods for
Economics and International Relations
United States Surface Transportation System Individuals Living in South Los Angeles
• Addressing California's Water Needs: A Policy Analysis • Addressing the Negative Perception of Drug Abuse Resistance Education
• Creating More Housing Amidst a High-Cost Housing Market
• A Comparison of Chinese and American Strategies to Renewable Energy Development
• Low Competition and Innovation in the Biopharmaceutical Industry
• Preventing a “Lost Generation”: Identifying and Breaking Down Barriers to the Education of Syrian Refugee Children in Jordan
SPP DC POLICY SCHOLARS SUMMER PROGRAM UPDATE The School of Public Policy Summer 2018 Washington, DC Policy Scholars program was a great success with a sizable wait list and a fully enrolled course. This exclusive 3-unit, fulltuition scholarship course held June 5–30 at Pepperdine’s Washington, DC campus was entitled “American Gospel: The Role of Religion in US Domestic and Foreign Policy.” Co-taught by Dr. Joseph Loconte, associate professor of history at the King's College in New York and Dr. Ryan Streeter, director of domestic policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, scholars explored how religion has played a central role in some of America’s most defining
domestic and foreign policy debates, including the abolition movement, judicial battles on abortion and gay marriage, and the War on Terror. Upon successful completion, scholars received a completion certificate from the School of Public Policy and the ability to transfer the 3 units of credit toward future enrollment at SPP or their “home” undergraduate institution. Learn more: publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu/dc-policy-scholars
WASHINGTON, DC POLICY SCHOLARS PROGRAM
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FACULTY/FELLOW UPDATE LUISA BLANCO RAYNAL
Associate Professor of Public Policy
Luisa Blanco was selected as a senior visiting scholar and spent this summer at the Federal Reserve of Minneapolis working on two projects related to the financial well-being of minorities. Blanco is working on mobile financial diaries among Hispanics to study the link between financial wellbeing and mental health. She worked at the Opportunity and Inclusive Growth Institute for the 2017–2018 academic year. This project is in collaboration with the Center for Economic and Social Research at the University of Southern California and funded by the Federal Reserve of Minneapolis and the School of Public Policy. In addition, using data from the Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking (SHED), which is collected by the Federal Reserve Board, Blanco is studying the racial and ethnic differences in the determinants of being unbanked and underbanked.
SEAN JASSO
Adjunct Faculty, School of Public Policy Practitioner Faculty of Economics, Graziadio Business School
Sean Jasso, adjunct faculty at the School of Public Policy and economics faculty at the Graziadio Business School, presented at the Western Economic Association International's annual conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, in June 2018. His paper entitled ”The Rule of Law in America: Legislative Milestones of the 2000s and Their Impact on Business and Society” examines the political economy of the era with a supporting policy analysis measuring the efficacy of intent.
TED McALLISTER
Edward L. Gaylord Chair/Associate Professor of Public Policy
Ted McAllister gave a lecture for the James Madison Program at Princeton University entitled "Conservatism and the Danger of Abstraction." In addition, he chaired a panel at the American Project conference and lectured on “The Problem of History for Conservatives.” McAllister was awarded the Pepperdine University Howard A. White Award for Teaching Excellence for the second time. His book Revolt Against Modernity: Leo Strauss, Eric Voegelin, and the Search for a Postliberal Order has been translated into Portuguese and can be found on Amazon. He continues to actively work on the American Project.
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JAMES PRIEGER
Professor of Public Policy
James Prieger had an editorial published on the Social Science Research Network (SSRN) and ranked in the top 10 percent of the network’s authors. Some of his editorials have included: ”Tax Evasion and Illicit Cigarettes in California: Part I– Survey Evidence on Current Behavior” with Jonathan Kulick; “Tax Evasion and Illicit Cigarettes in California: Part II– Smokers’ Intended Responses to a Tax Increase” with Kulick; and ”Combating the Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products in California and at the National Level through Track and Trace (T&T) Mechanisms” with Michael DeFeo and Mark Kleiman. Prieger has presented “Tax Evasion and Smokers’ Intended Responses to a Tax Increase,” a paper that reflects smokers’ intended responses to the California cigarette tax increase at the International Society for the Study of Drug Policy, in Vancouver, Canada.
BRAD ROWE
Adjunct Faculty, School of Public Policy
Brad Rowe helped a dozen California localities with the legalization of cannabis: writing pieces on policy options for reducing access to minors, providing quality metrics for manufacturing and dispensary site inspections, establishing scoring and protocols for awarding licenses, and assembling and presenting “Cannabis 101” sessions for local stakeholders. He serves on the planning board for the University of California, Los Angeles, Cannabis Research Initiative charged with proposing the cannabis research agenda for the California state-funded public universities. Rowe also serves on the advisory committee for the Los Angeles County Department of Health Cannabis Health Impact Assessment.
MICHAEL SHIRES
Associate Dean for Academic Strategy and Special Projects Director of Assessment Associate Professor of Public Policy
With former School of Public Policy professor Joel Kotkin, Michael Shires coauthored a series of articles on the best places to do business in the United States for Forbes. Shires also authored this year’s ”Foreign Direct Investment in Southern California” report in conjunction with the World Trade Center Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Business Journal describing business ownership trends in the sixcounty Southern California region. He was elected secretary of the National Professional Research Association for Public Policy, the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management, and continues his leadership in the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration
(NASPAA), serving on both its governing executive council and as chair of NASPAA’s data committee. Shires oversaw the creation, adoption, and University approval of a School of Public Policy specialization in dispute resolution, the first new specialization since the school’s founding.
JEFFREY SIKKENGA
William E. Simon Distinguished Visiting Professor
Jeffrey Sikkenga completed his work on a second, revised edition of History of American Political Thought. For this edition, he contributed a chapter on Barack Obama's political thought and its application to domestic and foreign policy. He also completed an article on Abraham Lincoln's understanding of the authority of the Supreme Court and an article on John Locke's argument for religious liberty, which is part of a book he is finishing on Locke's A Letter Concerning Toleration. He gave the 2018 Licata Lecture entitled “First Freedom: James Madison and the Future of Religious Liberty” and led a seminar at the School of Public Policy for high school teachers on the American founding.
ECONOMIST DR. ANNA CHOI TO SERVE AS THE JAMES Q. WILSON VISITING PROFESSOR SMEs, Regions, and Cities. As an analyst/economist at the OECD, Choi contributed toward different projects and publications such as the PISA 2015 report on students' well-being, OECD working paper on emotional health and mental well-being trends, and country review report on engaging employers for apprenticeship opportunities at the local level in Australia.
Dean Pete Peterson announced that health economics expert Dr. Anna Choi will serve as the James Q. Wilson Visiting Professor of Public Policy at the Pepperdine School of Public Policy. Choi has served as an analyst at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), headquartered in Paris, France, since 2015. She has also held roles in the Directorate for Education and Skills as part of the Young Professionals Programme and the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship,
“We're very excited to welcome Dr. Choi to Pepperdine as our James Q. Wilson Visiting Professor,” noted Peterson. “She brings a terrific background in healthcare and education policy with international experience that will be very helpful for our students considering careers in these fields." Peterson added that "on a more personal note, she really understands what makes us unique as a graduate policy program and will be an essential part of our growth into a more nationally recognized school.” Choi received a PhD in policy analysis and management from Cornell University
with a focus on health economics, an MPP from the College of William & Mary, and a BA in economics from the University of California, Berkeley. Her research focus is primarily on health and behavioral economics and to better understand how policy changes can alter individual's outcomes and behaviors. Choi has forthcoming articles in Health Economics and the American Journal of Health Economics on topics such as health disparities across education and the role of differential reporting error, and how legalization of medical marijuana can affect individuals' cigarette consumption after the policy changes. “I'm very excited to be joining the School of Public Policy at Pepperdine University,” says Choi. “I feel very welcomed by the staff, faculty, and students, and I look forward to being part of such a dynamic and passionate community this fall.” Choi is teaching the core course in applied research methods in public policy this fall and will teach two elective courses in the spring. publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu | 11
NEW SPRING 2018 ADJUNCT FACULTY OFFER CLASSES ON CRIME AND DRUGS, PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT LEADERSHIP, AND ENVIRONMENTAL PERMISSIONS The Pepperdine School of Public Policy welcomed three new adjunct faculty members for the Spring 2018 semester. Brad Rowe, Primo Tapia, and Ashley Trim (MPP ’09), taught master of public policy (MPP) elective courses in the American policy and politics and the state and local policy specializations, bringing a diverse background of policy expertise to the program. Rowe, chief executive officer of BOTEC Analysis, led a course on criminal justice and drug policy; Tapia, vice president of Envicom Corporation, held a course focused on land use; and Trim, executive director of the Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership, taught a course on leadership through public engagement with SPP dean Pete Peterson. "We were privileged to have these new faculty engaging with our students this semester,” said Peterson. “Each brought significant experience as a policy practitioner and researcher, and expanded our course offerings into new areas." BRAD ROWE is the chief executive officer of BOTEC Analysis. He oversaw the completion of projects on violence reduction for the Office of the Attorney General State of Mississippi, cannabis and hemp policy for Jamaica, community supervision for the Office of the Commissioner of Probation of Massachusetts, medical cannabis market measurement for the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board, field research in lower income neighborhoods for Uber Technologies, Inc., and the Cannabis Science and Policy Summit for New York University. Rowe has also had a multifaceted career in the entertainment industry for 17 years with a filmography that includes almost 100 titles. He received an MPP from the University of California, Los Angeles, where he was awarded the Ann C. Rosenfield Fellowship for his work with the United Way of Greater Los Angeles on educational attainment.
PRIMO TAPIA is an environmental permitting, regulatory compliance, and entitlement consultant with more than 27 years of experience. He is the vice president of Envicom Corporation, a Southern California-based professional services consulting firm, and has extensive experience in the preparation of environmental constraints analyses and development impact analyses pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Tapia has served as analyst, lead author, and project manager for several complex, large-scale CEQA projects that require the coordination of diverse, multidisciplinary teams. Additionally, he has successfully coordinated the acquisition of resource permits from various agencies, including the US Army Corps of Engineers, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Regional Water Quality Control Board, and the California Coastal Commission. Tapia received a BA in geography from California State University, Northridge. ASHLEY TRIM (MPP ’09) is the executive director of the Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership at SPP. She began her career in public engagement as communications specialist for the City of Lancaster, California. This experience provided insight and understanding into the challenges and fears of local government officials who wish to involve their residents. Trim writes and speaks about public engagement and transparency issues; coordinates the institute's grant programs, training seminars and events; and oversees its research and engagement projects. She codesigned and serves as an instructor for the professional certificate. Trim spearheads the institute’s collaborative partnerships with various organizations committed to improving engagement between citizens and government in connection with the Advanced Public Engagement for Local Government workshop. In this capacity, she served as the 2017–2018 chair of the University Network for Collaborative Government. Trim received a BA in government from Patrick Henry College and an MPP from SPP.
SPP AND FREE THE FACTS HOST SOCIAL SECURITY DISCUSSION Free the Facts is a nonpartisan organization that gives college students the opportunity to reform policy in Washington, DC. Its 2017–2018 cross-country college tour focused on social security. Lindsay Hayes, executive director of Free the Facts, and Tom Church (MPP ’11), a fellow at the Hoover Institution, joined the School of Public Policy to give insight into the threat of social security’s bankruptcy 12 | School of Public Policy Dean’s Report
that affects our future and should be prioritized today. Explained with graphic representations exhibiting how social security is collected and distributed, Hayes and Church demonstrated what potential policy solutions would do to the US economy if implemented through the next 18 years. One of the most important elements of the Free the Facts presentation is it not only explains why the system is at risk,
but what it would take to fix it. Free the Facts proposed 36 social security policy options and projections through its online tool, the Social Security Performance.
SPP HOSTS NASPAA-BATTEN STUDENT SIMULATION COMPETITION AND THE PPIA PUBLIC SERVICE WEEKEND Preparing thoughtful public policy leaders is at the core of the Pepperdine School of Public Policy’s academic programs. In keeping with this focus, SPP hosted two weekend events.
the Los Angeles County Office of the District Attorney’s Public Affairs Division Lara Arsinian (MPP ’12).
The weekend of February 23, 2018, SPP welcomed policy graduate students from 10 universities across the West serving as the Southern California host for the 2018 Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA)—Batten Student Simulation Competition. As one of just 16 global host sites, SPP demonstrated its commitment to effective leadership as students assumed a variety of high-ranking, decision-making roles in fictional countries in an effort to minimize the impact of a deadly infectious disease.
Assistant dean Carson Bruno (MPP ’12) commented following the event, “SPP is known nationally for preparing the next generation of mindful public policy leaders. Our students and their peers put that commitment to the test in a challenging, real-world simulation showcasing why thoughtful leadership isn’t simply a catchphrase, but a necessity to enact good public policies.”
Designed by the Center for Leadership Simulation and Gaming at the University of Virginia’s Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy and supported by NASPAA, the simulation used extensive realworld data, scientific modeling, and educational learning objectives to simultaneously connect more than 550 students around the world.
Hosting its inaugural Public Service Weekend entitled "Civic Engagement, the Public Trust, and Public Policy," in collaboration with the Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) Fellowship Program, and in partnership with the Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership, SPP welcomed nearly 40 undergraduate students and young professionals from across the country for an intensive weekend exploring the importance of civic engagement.
Judges included former associate professor of public policy and James Q. Wilson Fellow Angela Hawken, current adjunct professor and Milken Institute research analyst Marlon Graf, SPP alumnus and lead public health advisor at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Andrew Weathers (’98, MPP ’00), and SPP alumna and management fellow with
Associate professor of public policy and Edward L. Gaylord Chair Ted McAllister lectured on the historical development of American public engagement and how it shaped the foundations of our democratic republic. A conversation on modern-
day challenges to public engagement between dean Pete Peterson and City of Thousand Oaks city manager Andrew Powers followed McAllister’s lecture. The second day continued with panels by local government representatives and GovTech leaders, public engagement training sessions conducted by Peterson and Ashley Trim (MPP ’09), executive director of the Davenport Institute, and guest lectures by PPIA alumni, including Josh Diosomito from the US Government Accountability Office. The weekend concluded with a passionate keynote from City of Inglewood city manager Artie Fields, on how effective civic engagement is strengthening the sense of community and promoting economic development for this diverse Los Angeles County city. A special thanks to both NASPAA and PPIA for giving SPP the opportunity to host two amazing events.
publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu | 13
SPRING POLICY INTENSIVE WITH PRACTITIONERS SERIES Every semester the School of Public Policy hosts three policy intensive seminars for students’ professional development, each of which features a unique policy theme and set of leading experts on the topic. This semester’s three seminars complemented the specializations offered in our curriculum: American policy and politics, international relations and national security, and state and local policy. TERRY McCARTHY, president and CEO of the Los Angeles World Affairs Council, hosted the first seminar, “Dealing with Asia, Dollars, and Democracy.” McCarthy discussed the history of US-Asia relations from Commodore Perry’s opening of Japan’s economy to the present rise of China. He lectured on America’s unique relationships with the East Asian community of states and the present economic and ideological challenge posed by a revisionist China whose wealth has not prompted democratization.
TONY BELL, assistant chief deputy and communications deputy of the Office of Los Angeles County supervisor Kathryn Barger, led the second seminar, “Issues Facing the World’s Largest County.” An informative session with questions and answers allowed participants to learn about and better understand the workings of Los Angeles County and the unique challenges it faces in the urban core and rural periphery, housing, and intergovernmental relations and shared duties.
KAY KO, public affairs specialist and former agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), led the final policy intensive, “Civil Liberties and National Security,” which addressed freedom and security balance. The first half of the discussion introduced participants to the nuances of privacy and security needs and to the arguments provided by both the FBI and Apple regarding the San Bernardino terror situation. The second half involved a debate exercise in which students, regardless of their original leanings, were asked to advocate either for the FBI or Apple.
The well-attended series will provide Fall 2018 sessions on how film can influence policy, how the intelligence community works, and opportunities and challenges for California’s community colleges. View the fall lineup and register: publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu/events/policy-intensives/fall-2018
School of Public Policy Mourns the Passing of Board of Advisors Members
BETI WARD and MIREILLE WOLFE
BETI WARD passed away on March 9 after a brief illness. Ward saw a need to provide air cargo service to Hawaii nearly 40 years ago when she launched American International Cargo (AIC) in 1981. She semi-retired when she sold her interest in 1998 and re-established herself in 2000 in the air cargo industry with the formation of Pacific Air Cargo (PAC), where she served as CEO. Among many business achievement awards, Ward was the recipient of the 2004 Business Woman of the Year in Hawaii award and the #1 Woman-Owned Business in Hawaii award from 2000–2006 by Pacific Business News. Reflecting on Ward's membership on the board of advisors, dean Pete Peterson shared that she brought “such a bright shining presence to every conversation and board meeting.” He continued, “She was a terrific business leader and woman of faith who frequently contributed helpful strategic thinking to discussions about the future of SPP. I'll miss her smile and her encouragement.” Ward established the Lydell Ward Endowed Scholarship for exceptional women in public policy, and her support enabled dozens of female students to pursue their master's degrees. 14 | School of Public Policy Dean’s Report
MIREILLE WOLFE passed away on December 9, 2017. She was born in Limoges, France, and was a hidden child in World War II while her parents fought with the French army and resistance. After the war she immigrated to the United States with her parents and grandmother. Professionally, Wolfe served in private practice as an RN/psychotherapist working with catastrophically ill and wounded patients and was a first responder to private industry and government agencies. Alongside her husband, Barry Wolfe, she served on national and regional boards such as StandWithUs and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. In addition, she supported the Daniel Pipes Middle East Forum and several Jewish and Christian organizations to assist the state of Israel. “Mireille had an elegant presence and wonderful sense of humor,” stated dean Pete Peterson. “As a member of the board of advisors, she was a tremendous intellect with a common touch and an engaging conversationalist who could speak on an amazing range of topics from politics to culture.” Through their contributions to the Endowed Jewish Scholarship Fund, the Wolfes have assisted a number of students to pursue degrees at SPP.
NEW BOARD OF ADVISORS MEMBERS The School of Public Policy Board of Advisors is composed of national policy, business, and community leaders who support the school’s mission and are committed to a more expansive approach to public policy. The board provides invaluable counsel and support to the School of Public Policy, and the members are examples of public leaders who appreciate the role of a strong moral and ethical standard while recognizing the central importance of civil society, faith, and free markets to solve policy issues.
DEAN PETE PETERSON WELCOMES THE NEWEST BOARD OF ADVISORS MEMBERS: COLENE R. JOHNSON (’68) has served for more than a decade as a member of the board of trustees for the Fund for American Studies, a nonprofit educating students and young professionals on the topic of world change by developing leaders for a free society. She is actively involved in the Lincoln Club, engaged with the Pacific Research Institute, and serves on the finance committee for the Republican National Committee. A graduate of Pepperdine University in journalism, Johnson was a flight attendant for Western Airlines for nearly two decades. While living in Santa Rosa, California, she raised two children who are now living and working in Washington, DC. A global citizen, Johnson lived in Hong Kong for three years and now resides in San Francisco.
KAY KO spent 25 years in service
with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as a linguist and analyst in terrorism, counterintelligence, money laundering, and organized crime. Ko currently works as an FBI community outreach specialist educating the public about FBI priorities and students about being model citizens for the FBI Youth Program. She is also serving as the regional lead for the White House Initiative on Asian American and Pacific Islanders in the southwest region. She was appointed to the California State Board of Accountancy by governor Jerry Brown in November 2013 and has been a member of the Pacific Council on International Policy since 2014. Ko holds a doctoral degree in comparative education from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a JD from Loyola Law School.
ALUMNI NOTES ANDREW CLARK (’15, MPP ’17)
married ALEXA BORROEL (’16) on May 19, 2018. They reside in the Washington, DC, metro area where Clark works with the external affairs team at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution and Borroel works with Dupont Circle Solutions, a boutique Salesforce consulting firm, as an operations analyst.
What’s new with you
MELISSA (JACOBS) CROMACK (MPP ’12) recently started a new
position at the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) in Washington, DC, as the policy and government relations associate. Cromack supports five policy teams and is the liaison to various coalitions regarding legislative priorities for manufacturing companies. Previously, she focused on member retention as a member relations manager at NAM.
To share your alumni news, please submit to jaclyn.ramirez@pepperdine.edu.
publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu | 15
PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY School of Public Policy 24255 Pacific Coast Highway Malibu, CA 90263-4494
PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY
MEMBERS
Gary Oakland
Viggo Butler (MBA ’80)
Stephen Olson (MBA ’73)
Rod Campbell
James Piereson Ronald Plotkin
Pete Peterson Dean
Frank Cornell Babette J. Donaldson
Gary Polson
Peggy Grande
Walter Poser
Cynthia Guerrero (MPP ’04)
James Puckett
Jay Hoffman
Kevin Richardson (JD ’82)
Glen Holden
Margaret Sheppard
Tina Marie Ito
Keith Tobias
Colene Johnson (’68)
Robert Virtue
BOARD OF ADVISORS Joseph Czyzyk Chair
Jeffrey Jones (MPP ’02)
Carol Wallace Jonathan Kemp (’94, MBA ’07) Charity Wallace (’97) Cathryn Kingsbury (’97, MPP ’99) Michael Y. Warder
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Donald R. Knabe
William S. Banowsky
Kay Ko
Ed Feulner
Ernest M. Maldonado (’76, MP ’80)
Steve Forbes
DEAN’S REPORT EDITORIAL TEAM
Robert Hertzberg
EDITORS: Christina Ramirez Jaclyn Ramirez
COPY EDITOR: Amanda Pisani
Barry L. Wolfe Johnny Zamrzla
IN MEMORIAM
Seiji Masuda
Beti Ward
William S. Mortensen
Mireille Wolfe
For more information and additional events, visit publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu/events or follow us on Facebook, facebook.com/pepperdine.policy
NOVEMBER 14, 2018 | 6:30 PM
Has Liberalism Failed? Ted McAllister, Edward L. Gaylord Chair/ Associate Professor of Public Policy, Pepperdine School of Public Policy Patrick Deneen, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Notre Dame Malibu, California
NOVEMBER 28, 2018 | 6:30 PM Patricia Tagliaferri Dean's Distinguished Lecture Series: The Rational Bible: Exodus Dennis Prager, Founder, PragerU Malibu, California
WRITERS: Carson Bruno (MPP ’12), Sheryl Covey, Matt Cutler, Zachary Decker (MPP ’18), Melissa Espinoza, Jeffrey Longust (’16, MPP ’18); Alexandra Perez (MPP ’18), Pete Peterson (MPP ’07), Andrew Phillips (MPP candidate ’19), Christina Ramirez, Jaclyn Ramirez, Ashley Trim (MPP ’09), Grace Williams, and Abigail Wordin (MPP ’18)
Join the SPP community on PeppConnect. Pepperdine alumni, faculty, staff, and parents: expand your professional network, advance your goals, and give back through this virtual networking community. Join today: pepperdine.edu/alumni/connect
PP1808322
James R. Wilburn Dean Emeritus
UPCOMING EVENTS