This year marks the 25th year of the Pepperdine School of Public Policy (SPP). The school was founded in 1997 following the launch of the Davenport Institute in 1996. SPP is built on a distinctive philosophy of preparing public leaders to use tools of analysis combined with their moral sense to affect real change. Through a curriculum grounded in understanding policy’s inherent philosophical and historical dimensions, SPP prepares cross-sector leaders for careers that strengthen the institutions of the private, nonprofit, and government sectors.
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Receives $10 Million Endowment to Launch New Edwin Meese III Institute for Liberty and the American Project
Pepperdine School of Public Policy
he Pepperdine School of Public Policy has announced the launch of the Edwin Meese III Institute for Liberty and the American Project.
CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF PUBLIC LEADERSHIP
The new Meese Institute has been endowed with a $10 million gift from Pepperdine alumni Chandra (’99, JD ’02) and Adam (’99) Melton. A member of the School of Public Policy Board of Advisors, Chandra is dedicated to preparing students for leadership opportunities in government agencies at the local,
state, and federal levels. The Melton Chair, a leading scholar in American history, politics, and the role of faith in American Institutions will direct the institute. The chair will also teach the school’s graduate public policy students, organize events, and engage through the media on current political and policy debates from the school’s unique perspective. The University anticipates a highly competitive national search for this position.
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SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY
“From our founding, the School of Public Policy was intended to take a different approach to public leadership education,” said Pete Peterson, dean of SPP. “By grounding our curriculum in the great books and the debates at the Constitutional Convention, we have always understood that policy and political issues in a democratic society must be open to investigation and
“With its longstanding commitment to grounding public leadership education in civic virtue and America’s founding principles, the School of Public Policy is the perfect home for this new institute. We all must act to protect the constitutional rights that have made America what it is today and the Meese legacy acts as a compass, a true north for all of us,” states Adam and Chandra Melton. “Ed Meese is a man of faith, grounded in absolute truth
VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 1 | 2022
In considering a theme for this celebration, we’ve looked to Pepperdine’s Affirmation Statement to derive this foundational statement: “That freedom, whether spiritual, intellectual, or economic, is indivisible.” In so many ways, the School of Public Policy was founded to prepare leaders of free peoples, understanding that freedom is a precious gift for a society— one that requires a sense of stewardship by virtuous citizens and leaders. Then governor Ronald Reagan was right to say, “Freedom is a fragile thing and is never more than one generation away from extinction.”
That freedom, whether spiritual, intellectual, or economic, is indivisible.
This Dean’s Report marks the first one produced in this, our 25th anniversary year, and what a year it promises to be!
focus on freedom has always been at the heart of the School of Public Policy. Looking back over many of the School’s “founding documents” (organizational memos, meeting minutes, benchmarking studies, and the like) from the 1990s, it becomes quickly apparent that those who created Pepperdine’s newest graduate program sought to build an institution that differed from many in the public policy discipline. I happened upon this sentence in SPP’s “Statement of Strategic Intent,” developed in the late ’90s:
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PETE PETERSON Dean, Braun Family Dean’s Chair School of Public Policy
Dean Emeritus James Wilburn states, “Gail and I are delighted to chair this momentous celebration of the School of Public Policy. We hope you’ll join us in supporting the event as all proceeds above our costs will go directly toward
In planning out this year’s events and announcements and describing them here in this edition of the Report, it’s my hope that you’ll see a depiction of this theme on each and every page. Our dedication to freedom is seen in the major gift announcement of $10 million from Adam and Chandra Melton endowing SPP’s second major academic center, the Edwin Meese III Institute for Liberty and the American Project. You should also see
Among other things, the [Blue Ribbon] committee urged the University to proceed with its plans with a special emphasis on the founding mission and enduring philosophy of Pepperdine. Their belief was that existing schools of public policy do not place enough emphasis on the context of
deliberation. As our longtime professor Gordon Lloyd likes to say, ‘America is about the conversation,’ and that’s what we continue to prioritize in our classrooms today,” Peterson concluded.
the moral, ethical, and spiritual paradigm, which Pepperdine encourages. To further undergird Pepperdine’s unique legacy, the committee recommended that effective public policy solutions should be rooted in the classic literature of history, political philosophy, and economics, and should be deeply immersed in concerns for moral and ethical principles.
DEAN’S MESSAGE
go.pepperdine.edu/spp-25
Here we see the deep connections between SPP’s founding and Pepperdine University’s longstanding commitments to freedom, leadership, and service. Even though much has changed in our nation and in our world since 1997 when the School of Public Policy opened its doors, we will remain dedicated to preparing leaders for the public square as we promote freedom—“whether spiritual, intellectual, or economic”—both inside and outside the classroom.
it referenced in the hiring of Kiron Skinner, the new affiliation with Byron Johnson, and our events. This theme will be our touchstone throughout this anniversary Ofcelebration.course,a
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Indeed, the school’s Statement of Strategic Intent provides:
scholarships for our students—our next generation of public leaders.”
“Among schools which have chosen to develop either analysts, or managers, or leaders, Pepperdine has clearly chosen to discover, nurture, and encourage leaders. Thus in addition to core courses which teach the tools of analysis, Pepperdine’s curriculum also requires the study of great literature to search out the roots of order in free institutions.”
In this, SPP’s founders sought to build a graduate policy program that was uniquely Pepperdine. This is why we’ve selected for our anniversary theme one of the powerful sentences that appear in the University’s Affirmation Statement:
of strengthening communities through participation in local government is as crucial as ever, and we now have new tools and opportunities to broaden our reach and impact. The Davenport Institute staff is excited to continue building on our work with further partnership events, relevant content, and high-impact trainings in the year ahead.
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The institute continued to work with its expanded graduate assistant team as second-year students took on greater responsiblities for thought leadership, curriculum design, and communications with the three first-year graduate assistants in trainings. This expanded team led to exponential growth of the activities of the institute, with multiple publications in our partner publications, such as PM Magazine and ELGL, an expanded social media presence, and two offerings of the professional certificate in Public Engagement for Local Government. In addition to attending all the Davenport Discussions and engaging with the speakers, the graduate assistants also visit at least one city council meeting per semester to familiarize themselves with the workings of local government.
publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu/davenport-institute LATEST FROM
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The institute also continued its Davenport Discussions in-person with a full slate of community and local government leaders. A member of our advisory council, Morgan Hill treasurer and former city council member Caitlin Robinett Jachimowicz spoke about her experiences in local government and the importance of building trust within the community. In another discussion, Jonathan Reichental spoke on the importance of innovative data usage in building more efficient cities and communities.
This year the Davenport Institute continued to be active in the conference space, submitting nine calls for presentations nationwide. Presentation topics included: “Public Engagement as a Vital Leadership Skill,”“Inclusivity and Engagement,” and “How to Have Difficult Conversations.” In spring, executive director
Maureen Tobin moderated a lunchtime webinar, “Reflections on Two Years of Virtual, Hybrid, and In-Person Local Government Meetings,” with our partner, ELGL. The discussion revealed the different ways that government leaders managed the unique character and challenges of their communities, and how they will navigate a “post-pandemic” world. The webinar provided a detailed perspective of the new challenges that local governments are facing, as well as a bird’s eye view of how public engagement is changing around the country. The Davenport Institute continued this conversation in its second annual “State of Public Engagement” event in July 2022. This year’s theme focused on the process for determining which type of public engagement— in-person, virtual, or hybrid—is the most effective for each community and situation.
The Davenport Institute’s online certificate programs have continued to be successful in the virtual format with attendees from throughout the world. The increasingly popular Leading Smart Communities certificate program equips participants with the tools and knowledge needed to lead their cities in this technological era. The program has proven to nicely complement our professional certificate in Public Engagement by guiding participants to improve engagement efforts through effective use of
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The institute resumed its in-person City Manager in Residence program for the first time since 2019, hosting Moorpark city manager and International City/County Management Association president Troy Brown. The program consists of one-on-one conversations with 10 selected students as well as a Davenport Discussion event. In these 30-minute meetings, students had the unique opportunity to gain advice and guidance on a career in local government in an intimate setting. The Davenport Discussion chronicled Brown’s journey from UPS driver to his current positions, and how developing relationships with its residents turns his city into a community. Students appreciated Brown’s honesty about the challenges and rewards of working in local government, his commitment to an open-minded approach to his job, and his willingness to guide the students in their career journey.
Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership has had another very productive semester, leading the way in public engagement during a hybrid time of in-person and virtual interactions.
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The institute is named after Edwin Meese III, who is best known as United States attorney general from 1985 to 1988 during president Ronald Reagan’s second term. Meese served the conservative icon from the California governor’s mansion in 1966 to the White House in 1981 before he went to the Department of Justice four years later. Pepperdine is privileged to honor an institute with the values and deep Christian faith of Meese. Meese received an honorary doctorate from the School of Public Policy in 2007 and has made numerous trips to campus for lectures and events over the years.
The first program of its kind at a major graduate policy school, the new Edwin Meese III Institute for Liberty and the American Project serves as the new academic home for scholarship, teaching, and events focused on connecting America’s founding principles and importance of faith to today’s national policy challenges. Organizationally, the
new institute stands as the foundation of the school’s American Policy and Politics curriculum track, formed to prepare public leaders in domestic policy for careers in Washington, DC, and America’s top policy research institutions.
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to also prepare our next generation of public policy leaders.”
that is unwavering, steadfast, and full of glorious hope in alignment with our intentions for this institute. It is our calling to give freely, ‘for such a time as this,’ and affirm that these principles will endure for generations to come.”
“I’m extremely pleased to have my name adorn this new institute at Pepperdine’s School of Public Policy, which is committed to making relevant the nation’s founding principles to today’s public policy challenges,” noted Meese.
The institute builds upon the work of the school’s “American Project,” which launched in 2017 to explore the future of a more communitarian approach to national politics and policy grounded in the US Constitution. Through events and commissioned essays, and advised by a network of leading academics and policy makers, the project has made a compelling case for a flourishing American political culture based on economic opportunity, religious liberty, self-governance, and devolved governance. These programs will continue in the new Meese Institute.
“The launch of the new Meese Institute marks a major milestone in the policy school’s 25th anniversary year and is grounded in both America’s founding principles and our own,” said Pete Peterson, dean of SPP. “The institute will be a vibrant home for our distinctive approach to American policy formation and furthers our plans to grow our program both here in California and in Washington, DC.”
“We know, as President Reagan once said, that ‘freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction,’ and so I’m excited by the opportunity created by the Meese Institute to not only engage current policy debates, but
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Mrs. Meese, Adam Melton, and Ed Meese
Advancement Message
Almost all of our students come to Malibu out of a passion for public service. These positions—especially early in postgraduate careers—may not be particularly lucrative, even as they are making a real difference in fields ranging from national security to homelessness in Los Angeles. Our ability to reduce the student debt burden is almost entirely related to our ability to provide scholarship support to our students. Whether you decide to create and endow your own scholarship fund over the course of several years, or contribute to one of several existing scholarships with a onetime gift, we can promise these gifts will be invested wisely in future leaders.
25th Anniversary Gala Sponsorship
We look forward to hosting a celebratory gala to honor our past and cast a new vision for the future of our program. Please plan to join us on Saturday, February 11, 2023, at the Air Force One Pavilion at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley. You can sponsor what promises to be a historic event for SPP in a number of ways, such as table sponsorships and major title sponsorships. Your commitment will be well recognized, and we hope you’ll consider being a part of the gala!
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off the School of Public Policy’s 25th year, SPP hosted two salon events on the Pepperdine Malibu Campus supported by SPP Board of Advisors member Maureen Grace. These intimate conversations tackled timely issues such as America’s Role in World and Education Policy.
To learn about the ways you might support SPP during this momentous year, please reach out to Pepperdine’s vice chancellor, Rebecca Malzahn (rebecca.malzahn @pepperdine.edu), or dean Pete Peterson ( Pepperdine.edupete.n.peterson@ ).
On February 2, Robert Kaufman, Robert and Katheryn Dockson Professor of Public Policy, gave a talk entitled “America’s Role in a Dangerous World.” Kaufman discussed his book, Dangerous Doctrine: How Obama’s Grand Strategy Weakened America. At this event SPP announced the establishment of the Conservative Leader Scholarship, generously funded by Grace. Recipients of this scholarship will demonstrate commitment to America’s founding principles, the free market, servant leadership, and limited government. The second salon event was held on April 11, and featured Ted McAllister, Edward L. Gaylord Chair and professor of public policy. McAllister discussed “The Two Paths of Education: Understanding How Fundamental Principles Impact Today’s Classrooms.”
While the opportunities to support the School of Public Policy are myriad, for this anniversary issue, we’d like to focus on two areas where your gifts can make a real difference for our next 25 years:
this issue of the Dean’s Report, you’ll see that during SPP’s 25th anniversary year we have already added significant gifts to our endowment that will impact our program and our students for decades to come. Our vision remains to build America’s uniquely important public leadership program, preparing students for important positions of servant leadership across levels of government, think tanks, policy-focused nonprofits, and the policy-related private sector. Philanthropy remains at the heart of realizing this vision.
SPP BUILDS COMMUNITY THROUGH SALON EVENTS ON MALIBU CAMPUS Kicking
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BYRON JOHNSON NAMED DISTINGUISHED VISITING PROFESSOR OF RELIGIOUS STUDIES AND THE COMMON GOOD
“I am especially excited to work with Pete Peterson and new colleagues in the School of Public Policy, both on the Malibu campus and in Washington, DC. Pepperdine is positioned like no other university in America to be a leader in addressing contemporary social problems,” said Johnson. “From cuttingedge research to legislative expertise and an intentional approach to public policy, Pepperdine scholars from across the disciplines are uniquely positioned to employ rigorous methodologies in pursuit of evidence-based solutions.”
“We are honored to be joined by one of America’s leading social scientists, a scholar researching at the intersection of faith and public policy,” said Pete Peterson, of SPP. “As one of the nation’s few graduate policy programs based at a Christian university, I’m excited about the new opportunities Dr. Johnson’s work provides for SPP student research and policy consulting.”
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Johnson directs the Program on Prosocial Behavior, which examines the ways in which religion impacts key behaviors like volunteerism, generosity, and purpose. These topics are covered in four recent books cowritten by Johnson, The Angola Prison Seminary (2016), which evaluates the influence of a Bible college and inmate-led congregations on prisoners serving life sentences; The Quest for Purpose: The Collegiate Search for a Meaningful Life (2017), which examines the link between religion and finding purpose and meaning, and the subsequent link to academic integrity; The Restorative Prison: Essays on Inmate Peer Ministry and Prosocial Corrections (2021), which looks at the empirical evidence in support of the link between religion and the emerging subfield of positive criminology; and Objective Religion: Competition, Tension, Perseverance (2021), that examines the factors related to the resilience of religion.
Johnson is a former member of the Coordinating Council for Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, an independent organization within the federal government. He has been the principal investigator on grants from private foundations as well as the Department of Justice, Department of Labor, Department of Defense, National Institutes of Health, and the United States Institute for Peace, totaling more than $80 million. He is the author of more than 200 journal articles, monographs,
Johnson is the founding director of the Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion and a faculty affiliate of the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University. He is a faculty scholar in the Center for Spirituality, Theology, and Health at Duke University; senior fellow with the Witherspoon Institute; senior fellow at the Sagamore Institute; and a senior advisor at the Religious Freedom Institute.
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yron Johnson, Distinguished Professor of the Social Sciences at Baylor University, joined the School of Public Policy faculty as Distinguished Visiting Professor of Religious Studies and the Common Good on April 1, 2022.
and books. Johnson is recognized as a leading authority on the scientific study of religion, the efficacy of faith-based organizations, and criminal justice. Recent publications have examined the impact of faith-based programs on offender treatment, drug addiction, recidivism reduction, and prisoner reentry. These topics are the focus of his book More God, Less Crime: Why Faith Matters and How It Could Matter More (2012).
“I’m so delighted we were able to persuade Emily to return to her alma mater to take on this vital new position at SPP,” noted Pete Peterson, dean of SPP. “She brings a passion for the program combined with a unique ability to build relationships, which are the essential qualities for this role,” he concluded.
SPP is thrilled to have an alumna work closely with the team and communicate with prospective students with first-hand experience and comprehensive background.
Woodson finalized his talk by emphasizing the importance of academics and think tanks to focus their writings on success stories and case studies that emphasize where resilience took center stage and revitalized a community. “Be inspired that solutions do exist,” Woodson said in closing, “Low-income people are the new patriots.”
He believed that “in order for freedom to be fully realized, people have to learn how to be free,” and he identified healing agents that would help people “learn how to be free” through neighborhood development.
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“It’s a privilege to return to SPP to invest in the next generation of policy makers preparing ‘for lives of purpose, service, and leadership,’ to engage in conversations, build relationships, and to partner with others doing amazing work here and around the world,” said Milnes.
Woodson grew up in Philadelphia during the Great Depression and amid segregation. His father passed away when he was nine, and in a single-parent household, his peer group became his surrogate family. This connection with his neighborhood helped form his views on the importance of community revitalization and locally focused investment. He met Dr. King, then a young civil rights leader, in West Chester in the 1960s, but became disenchanted with the more liberal sides of the civil rights movement.
Prior to pursuing a master of public policy, she practiced immigration law with Eaton & Associates, handling cases involving employment investment processes, family immigration, and consular processing. She represented clients before the Department of State, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. She also taught legal research and Overwriting.theyears,
In her new role, Milnes oversees admission and recruitment initiatives, sets goals to increase enrollment in the on-ground program, travels for recruitment and networking events, acts as the main liaison for the Pepperdine Policy Partners Program (P4), works closely with the marketing team, publishes op-eds, and participates in speaking engagements.
On February 9, the School of Public Policy welcomed Robert Woodson, Sr., to participate in a virtual discussion on “Black History: An Affirmation of American Values” moderated by dean Pete Peterson. Woodson is a community development leader, author, and president of the Woodson Center, as well as one of the key players in the start-up of Pepperdine SPP.
Milnes has conducted policy and legal research for nongovernmental organizations throughout the United States, East Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. In 2017–18, she served as the first training and development fellow with the International Justice Mission (IJM) in Uganda, where she developed a program addressing crimes of violence against women and children for countrywide implementation in partnership with government stakeholders. While a student at SPP, Milnes helped develop policy positions for IJM’s human trafficking program portfolio and stakeholder engagements in Eastern and Central Europe.
Black History Webinar: AN AFFIRMATION OF VALUESAMERICAN
Those actions include tangible help to poverty, such as identifying and funding projects and programs that are likely to further well-being in black communities. Instead of treating low-income individuals as “a commodity,” Woodson argues that a focus on small-business development and innovation spreads quickly.
EMILY MILNES (MPP ’21) NAMED DIRECTOR OF RECRUITMENT AND PROGRAM RELATIONS
Woodson identified a narrative that he believes seeks to denigrate the founding of America focused on privilege and guilt. According to Woodson, this narrative is slowly tearing the country apart. He contended that many conservatives are actually fighting the wrong battle, noting that they are “taking ideological weapons to a narrative fight.” In order to effectively meet the argument from the left, conservatives cannot just talk with no action. “We must do more than issue white papers and offer free downloads of the constitution,” Woodson implored, “Values are understood when they can be witnessed through the actions of people.”
The School of Public Policy is honored to announce that Emily Milnes (MPP ’21) has agreed to serve as the school’s director of recruitment and program relations. Milnes holds a BA from the University of Washington (2007); a JD from Oak Brook College of Law and Government Policy (2013); and an MPP from SPP (2021). Milnes is a licensed attorney admitted to the State Bar of California.
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Skinner noted the unique historical connection she has to SPP, sharing, “The late James Q. Wilson welcomed me to Harvard as a young doctoral student. I look forward to building upon his foundational SPP legacy of combining pedagogy marked by an intellectually diverse tool kit and rigorous social science research.”
• Pepperdine University Board member, Paul Bennett and his wife Bea: “Kiron is one of the smartest people we know. She has a tremendous breadth of knowledge and a keen curiosity that works nonstop. We are proud to call her our friend and welcome her to Pepperdine.”
• Former national security adviser Robert C. O’Brien: “Dr. Kiron Skinner is one of America’s preeminent experts in foreign policy and national security. She has served with distinction at the highest levels of the State Department and White House. Kiron’s academic career has been just as impressive as her government service. Bringing Kiron on board immediately puts Pepperdine’s international relations graduate program into the top tier in the country.”
Several of Skinner’s colleagues from her academic and public service added their thoughts:
KIRON SKINNER NAMED TAUBE PROFESSOR OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND POLITICS AT PEPPERDINE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY
• Former US secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett: “Dr. Kiron Skinner is one of America’s most accomplished academic and government leaders. She convened a global leaders summit at Carnegie Mellon University on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Pittsburgh in 2009. For CMU, she created an enduring degreegranting department in international relations and politics. Her foreign policy expertise is sought by senior State Department and Defense Department officials, leading media networks, and presidential campaigns, including Donald Trump’s in 2016. In 2020–21, Dr. Skinner worked collegially with other experts and CEOs on the Defense Business Board where her insights guided improvements in departmental operations. Dr. Skinner demonstrates her unwavering commitment to advancing women and people of color by advocating for talented leaders, especially in foreign policy and national security matters.”
Skinner previously served as the Taube Professor for International Relations and Politics at Carnegie Mellon University’s Institute for Politics and Strategy and was a faculty member in the history and social and decision sciences departments at the university’s Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences. At Carnegie, she also directed the Center for International Relations and Politics and the Carnegie Mellon University Washington Semester Program. Skinner continues to serve as the W. Glenn Campbell Research Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University.
• Former House speaker Newt Gingrich: “Kiron Skinner is a remarkable scholar with an amazing range of experiences from writing a key book on president Ronald Reagan to serving on a wide range of Pentagon advisory boards to creating new academic departments and developing Washington centers of academic influence. She will build an amazing center of studies in national security.”
Skinner’s past government service includes serving as the director of the office of policy planning and senior advisor at the US Department of State, membership on the US Department of Defense’s Defense Policy Board as an adviser on the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars, the Chief of Naval Operations’ Executive Panel, the National Academies Committee on Behavioral and Social Science Research to Improve Intelligence Analysis for National Security, and the National Security Education Board. From 2012 to 2015 she served on Pennsylvania governor Tom Corbett’s Advisory Commission on African American Affairs.
International relations, US foreign policy, and political strategy expert Kiron Skinner will join the School of Public Policy’s faculty as the Taube Professor of International Relations and Politics.
Skinner is a lifetime director on the board of the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations in New York City and the Pacific Council on International Policy in Los Angeles. She holds MA and PhD degrees in political science and international relations from Harvard University and undergraduate degrees from Spelman College and Sacramento City College.
Skinner is an award-winning and best-selling author with particular scholarship focused on the life and public policy of former president Ronald Reagan. Her coauthored books Reagan, In His Own Hand (2001) and Reagan, A Life in Letters (2003) were New York Times best sellers. Reagan, In His Own Hand won the Hoover Institution’s Uncommon Book Award in 2002.
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HOW CALIFORNIA’ S CLIMATE POLICIES UNDERMINE CIVIL RIGHTS AND RACIAL EQUITY
SPP WELCOMES BACK KEVIN FAULCONER
AS VISITING PROFESSOR OF COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNMENT INNOVATION
n December 2, 2021, SPP hosted “Green Jim Crow: How California’s Climate Policies Undermine Civil Rights and Racial Equity.” The conversation was moderated by dean Pete Peterson and featured Jennifer Hernandez, a senior fellow at the Breakthrough Institute who has practiced land use and environmental law for more than 30 years.
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Hernandez emphasized that energy and transportation policies in California have disadvantaged people of color. Californians pay 17 cents per kilowatt-hour of electricity, compared with the national average of 10 cents. The push for public transportation also limits economic opportunities, as 30 times more jobs are accessible by car than transit. Subsidies for electric vehicles and solar panels are generally unavailable to low-income families, stratifying California even further.
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High rents, regressive utility rates, increasing gas taxes, and exclusive subsidies all exacerbate racial and economic inequities. Hernandez concluded that California’s environmentally focused policies are pushing the state backward, exacting their greatest toll on families and communities of color.
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“I’m tremendously excited to continue the work with the School of Public Policy as we develop and challenge the future leaders of our state,” Kevin Faulconer said. He added, “Cities are where innovative policies are born. They are where we can experiment with new ideas and approaches to tackling the toughest issues of the day like homelessness, housing affordability, and protecting our environment, and I look forward to working again with Pepperdine’s grad students as they represent our next generation of problem solvers.”
Existing policy seeks to mitigate climate change and solve the housing crisis with higher-density high-rises in transitdependent urban areas. By increasing population density and reducing reliance on private transportation, many environmental leaders believe that housing can become more affordable while also reducing emissions.
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PP is pleased to welcome back former San Diego mayor Kevin Faulconer as visiting professor of community leadership and government innovation. Faulconer began his service to the University on January 1, 2021. He continues to teach Innovative Local Leadership, in the school’s state and local policy specialization. He also provides regular public lectures and consults on the development of coursework for the master of
crisis has retaught us about the importance of cities, and I’m delighted to have such an innovative local government leader like Kevin return to the policy school,” noted dean Pete Peterson. “On issues ranging from public safety and homelessness to education and housing policy, our state and nation demand thoughtful leaders ready to work in municipal government. Kevin brings a passion and proven experience on these topics into our classroom that is infectious.” The school is looking forward to building upon local leadership and to continue making an impact across the nation.
The intersection of affordable housing and environmentally sustainable development has been at the forefront of policy debates in California for years, as state leaders struggle to balance both priorities. Hernandez identified climate change and housing affordability as policy issues that have received much attention with little to show for it.
Faculty/Fellow Update
Shires also served as a visiting senior fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation—partnering with their education policy team as they work on parental empowerment, workforce training expansion, and accreditation reform issues nationally and in Texas. Most recently, he has been working with others to raise awareness about the impact of political and social agendas on free speech on college campuses. These conversations are among the most important for higher education as we work to create an open intellectual environment in the pursuit of truth.
LUISA BLANCO Professor of Public Policy
MICHAEL SHIRES Vice Dean for Strategy and Online Programs Director of Assessment, Associate Professor of Public Policy
JAMES PRIEGER Professor of Public Policy
Prieger also reviewed three articles on broadband Internet adoption, tobacco policy, and entrepreneurship for peer-reviewed journals. He organized an online workshop, “the Pepperdine Workshop on Broadband and Entrepreneurship,” with Abraham Song, assistant professor in the Education Division at the Pepperdine Graduate School of Education and Psychology. The workshop brought together scholars performing research in these fields for a half-day conference of presentations and feedback.
On sabbatical for the 2021–22 academic year, Micheal Shires has been furthering his research. He has continued his work on preserving middle-class opportunity with the March release of his study on the impact of agricultural water on economic prosperity of California’s Central Valley—a study that has generated considerable media interest. The study looked not only at farming’s impact on the local economy, but it also considered how current trends might increase the vulnerability of our nation’s supply of fresh fruit and produce.
James Prieger’s research paper, Tax Evasion and Illicit Cigarettes in California: Prevalence and Demand-Side Correlates, has been accepted for publication in the journal Crime, Law and Social Change. Earlier this year, Prieger attended the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Mangement’s annual research conference in Austin, Texas, where he served as the discussant for the papers in a session on broadband Internet topics, “Broadband Infrastructure in Pandemic Times: Challenges, Opportunities, and Constraints.”
Luisa Blanco’s team received a $75,000 grant to pilot their MiVacuna project to increase pediatric COVID-19 vaccination rates in Los Angeles County as one of the winners of the VaxUp Challenge hosted by Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, with funding from the Los Angeles County Department of Public MiVacunaHealth.isan
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evidence-based digital outreach program designed to inform and empower Latinx families when making the decision to vaccinate their children for COVID-19. The initiative will enroll 600 Latinx parents with at least one unvaccinated child in a four-week program where they will receive reliable information via text messages, and will train 20 Latinx parent ambassadors with at least one vaccinated child to recruit unvaccinated families and share credible vaccine information in their communities.
Prieger has been serving on the program committee for ThermoPlastic Composites Research Center’s “The Research Conference on Communications, Information and Internet Policy,” which will be held at American University.
He continues to serve on the editorial board of Applied Economics Quarterly
Dreher’s address was followed by an education-focused panel featuring Mari Barke, president of the Orange County Board of Education; Joshua Katz, Cotsen Professor in the Humanities and Professor of Classics at Princeton University; and Habi Zhang (MPP ’17), School of Public Policy alumnus and contributing writer for the American Mind. The panel was moderated by Ted McAllister, School of Public Policy professor and Edward L. Gaylord Chair, who opened the discussion by saying, “The process of education [in America] prepares people for tyranny, and the question lies in whether the character of the American people is capable of resisting it.” Each of the panelists shared their stories of how they have been challenged by the educational system. Katz opined that modern American educators are forced to censor alternative perspectives and conform to prescribed truth, and that it is “the duty [of the American people] to act even if we are not brave, doing our best to be honest and compassionate storytellers.”
Notes What’s new with you To share your alumni news, please submit to jaclyn.ramirez@pepperdine.edu. publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu | 11
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JACOB DEPARALTA (MPP ’22) interned in Washington, DC, at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He is a fellow with Founders’ Foreign Policy Fellowship. He was named a White House Fellowship Regional Finalist for the Pacific Coast.
LIVE NOT BY LIES CONFERENCE
In his address, Dreher contended that an ever-growing soft totalitarianism in the American political system is squelching free expression and religious liberty. He compared this phenonmenon with events in the former Soviet Union and asserted that this type of autocracy can occur anywhere—and that Americans must remain vigilant to potential totalitarians by questioning collectively endorsed truths. He argued, “Christianity stands with the weak and marginalized, yet contemporary Christians are sitting ducks for wokeness,” and that part of reclaiming the truth is by not only exerting one’s own civil liberties, but also fighting for the freedoms of others.
The subsequent panel, moderated by Julia Norgaard, assistant professor of economics at Seaver College, focused on government and its deceptive practices. The panelists included Lance Christensen (MPP ’04), chief strategist for Fix California’s Education Savings Account Act of 2022; James Poulos, cofounder of the American Mind, and William Voegli, senior editor at the Claremont Review of Books. Each of the panelists contributed their thoughts on how the American government has become increasingly totalitarian—Poulos noted that politicians “are changing our form of government without our consent.” Christensen agreed, stating that the system is becoming a game of “power and control” and that it disregards the people it is trying to serve. At the close, each panelist offered statements encouraging audience members to open their hearts (and wallets) to fight against growing totalitarianism in our government.
November, the School of Public Policy hosted the Live Not by Lies conference, which drew its name from keynote speaker Rod Dreher’s best-selling book, Live Not by Lies: A Manual for Christian Dissidents. The conference was established around Dreher’s work and hosted three distinct panels on education, government, and developing a Christian response in policy and politics.
LANCE CHRISTENSEN (MPP ’04) is running for California State’s Superintendent for Public Instruction. In this role he can advocate for wise policymaking and implement regulations judiciously.
MICHAEL KOTUTWA JOHNSON (MPP ’03) accepted a faculty position at the University of Arizona’s School of Natural Resources and the Environment. Johnson will also be affiliated with the university’s Indigenous Resilience Center which works with Indigenous communities to help resolve environmental concerns and provide technical assistance in the areas of water, food, and energy.
In
JEREMY WOLF (MPP ’17) is running for the City of Agoura Hills City Council. He is dedicated to maintaining, and improving, the quality of life for those who call Agoura Hills, California, home.
Alumni
• Achieving Carbon Neutrality in Energy Production and the Perception of Nuclear Energy: California’s Renewable Portfolio
• Reform Recommendations of Drug Policy in California
• What Is the Degree of Populism Surrounding the Marine Corps Air Station Futenma Controversy?
• Rebuilding Trust through Civic Engagement
• Civilian Bootcamp: Rethinking How Veterans Transition
Trends in Policy Analysis
• Solving America’s Growing New Deserts
• The Impact of COVID-19 on the California Achievement Gap and Policy Interventions to Move California Schools Forward
Research Seminar projects, also 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 agree to the project’s plan. An effective project 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 visitors 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. This spring’s graduates explored some fascinating topics, including:
• Cultural Competence in Higher Education
• Meeting California’s Demand for Teachers
• Creating Dense Urban Areas for Children
International Relations and National Security
Empirical Policy Analysis
• Memo to Councilmember Isaiah Thomas re: Call for Policy Recommendations to Address Rising Homicide Rate
POLICY RESEARCH SEMINAR (CAPSTONE)
• Containing Chinese Hegemony: Australia-United States Relations and China— An International Security Policy Proposal in the Indo-Pacific
• United States National Security Strategy for Europe
• “Latinx” in the Political Space and Its Implications for Public Policy
• Challenging the Status Quo: United States Foreign Policy in Cuba and Venezuela
• Addressing the Problem of Declining American Fertility
• The United States National Security Strategy: The Middle East
• United States National Security Strategy toward China
Policy
• Danger to Democracy: United States—Russia National Security Strategy
• Dark Money and Campaign Finance Reform
• Proposal to Minimize Homelessness in Oxnard, California
• Health Policy, Inequality, and the Technology Divide: Bridging the Gap for Racial Community Divide
12 | School of Public Policy Dean’s Report
the 25th anniversary of the School of Public Policy, Wilfred McClay, Victor Davis Hanson Chair in Classical History and Western Civilization at Hillsdale College, delivered a moving Charles and Rosemary Licata Lecture, speaking on the place of the constitution in the education of citizens. With a large number of attendees, McClay began his story in England. For the English, the ruling monarch unifies the country and unifies all her citizens as one people, regardless of political party affiliation. “It is a document, our constitution, that plays the role of monarch for us,” said McClay. “It is our commitment to one another as a nation.” He reminded us that, while the constitution is a unifier, it is first and foremost a legal document enshrining the highest law in the land. In such a time of intense contention in America, we must remember that which unifies us: our constitution, which protects our natural rights. Civic education, McClay argued, ought to instruct students in the national commonalities that bind Americans. Much is to be gained in referring to history, to the founding of our country, when examining current challenges. We are sharply divided today, noted McClay, and our discourse reflects that. He elaborated that in his opinion, debates and deliberations about modern issues often lack the essential historical contextualization and, too often, the advocates of uncontextualized arguments need the moral and intellectual foundations to argue well. “You can’t deliberate without having the moral and intellectual tools to do it,” he said.
On April 28, 2022, SPP hosted historian Victor Davis Hanson for his lecture, “Is There Hope for the ‘Dying Citizen?’” Hanson’s remarks highlighted what he feels are the decline of citizenship and the hollowing out of the middle class. He cited growing tribalism, the stagnation of middle-class wages, massive student loan debt, and prolonged adolescence as characteristics of the dying citizenry. Hanson pointed to both premodern and postmodern forces as the causes of this decline. He contended that premodern forces have manifested themselves in attacks on our borders, values, and customs. Hanson argued, “Immigration is great when it is legal,” yet America’s lack of sovereign borders has created a massive burden on civic education. Postmodern forces, according to Hanson, have eroded citizenship in the form of two million unelected administrators who lack accountability for their actions. Referring to many of these administrators, he said, “There have to be consequences if someone lies under oath in Congress.” Despite worrying signs, Hanson provided reassurance that there is hope for the dying citizen and that these pre- and postmodern problems have solutions through changes in policy, attitude, and the brilliance of individual American citizens.
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IS THERE HOPE FOR THE “DYING CITIZEN?”
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McClay concluded, “Civic education is an education in love. The love in question is not like any other love . . . it’s something all on its own. Like any other love, it cannot be imposed by teachers or governments or edicts. It has to be embraced freely.” The audience left inspired and motivated to continue their education in American civics, our constitution, and love.
The Augustus and Patricia Tagliaferri Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Series was established through an endowment for the School of Public Policy by benefactor Augustus “Gus” Tagliaferri (MBA ’74). From its founding, the School of Public Policy has uniquely considered the role all the liberal arts play in shaping sustainable policy and great leaders. This unique lecture series welcomes historians, social scientists, and religious scholars to explore the many dimensions of American policy and politics.
Augustus and Patricia Tagliaferri Dean’s Distinguished Lecture:
During
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Charles and Rosemary Licata Lecture:
McClay argued that civic education—education in the American story, its founding values, its successes and failures—is missing in this country. “The greatest enterprise in human history may be the story of our country,” said McClay, “and it ought to be a part of our teaching in history classrooms.” Civic education is so important because it not only educates students in the history of their country and the virtues of their community, but it shapes each student’s moral and intellectual virtues.
THE PLACE OF THE CONSTITUTION IN THE EDUCATION OF CITIZENS
social, political, racial, geographical, and generational lines. “What we must find is new ways to connect together to get us out of our loneliness, out of our bubbles, and with people who think and see the world in a different way from ourselves,” he
to reduce both political animosity and loneliness. “I think it is about creating that sense of belonging for everyone in the community across those perceived lines of difference,” said Morley. “It’s about engaging in meaningful conversation, understanding our differences, and unearthing some similarities at the same time. We don’t have to agree on anything, but it’s healthy to talk about [our perspectives].”
Perez is the health policy project manager at the Cato Institute, a public policy research organization that creates a presence for and promotes libertarian ideas in policy debates. In her role, Perez works to increase the reach of Cato’s health policy research by managing research project timelines and performing various forms of outreach. Recently, Perez and her colleagues announced an initiative to make health savings accounts (HSAs) work for everyone by reforming the tax exclusion for employer-sponsored health benefits and expanding HSA access. Prior to joining the Cato Institute, Perez helped manage outreach efforts and operations at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University and is an alumna of the Koch Associate Program.
On October 12, 2021, the School of Public Policy hosted the eighth installment of its Quest for Community series. The conversation centered on the effects of loneliness and isolation on politics in the United States and abroad.
Wavemaker in Action:
For those who are concerned about social isolation and its negative influence on our politics, solutions are on the table. The panelists asserted that if we can commit to building strong relationships, associations, and communities, the conditions for robust civic life and functional politics will likely emerge.
Yates opened the discussion by citing a string of trends and statistics indicating the gravity of the polarization along
ALEXANDRA PEREZ ( ’15, MPP ’18) COFOUNDS MENTORING PROGRAM HISPANICS FORWARD
As an alumna of SPP, Perez is very familiar with the phrase, “putting the public back into public policy.” It is this attitude that has inspired her to work for an organization focused on how to help individuals and communities prosper. This same spirit also drove her to cofound Hispanics Forward. Perez believes that leaders in public policy can be more effective by allowing more freedom for individuals and communities to decide how to best address their unique challenges.
The panel featured the Roots Programme and Rekindle School founder Ruth Ibegbuna, the Cares Family interim managing director Nas Morley, and Youth Endowment Fund executive director Jon Yates. School of Public Policy dean Pete Peterson and Relationships Project associate Iona Lawrence served as the moderators.
LONELINESS AND POLITICAL LIFE: A TRANSATLANTIC CONVERSATION
Morley emphasized that creating opportunities for discussion is essential
Thecontended.2016presidential
College and SPP alumna Alexandra Perez (’15, MPP ’18) cofounded Hispanics Forward, a groundbreaking mentorship program committed to helping young Hispanic professionals jumpstart their careers in the liberty movement, in January of 2022.
next generation of Hispanic leaders who embrace the principles of free markets and individual liberty.
“I would not be where I’m at today without the several mentors I had along the way–from my days at Seaver College to the present. I am so excited to offer this opportunity to aspiring professionals in public policy and help create a more diverse talent pool in the liberty movement,” said Perez.
combined experience in Washington, DC, Perez and cofounder, Grauben Lara, identified a diversity gap in policy careers—within the liberty space specifically—and have sought to bridge that gap ever since. Perez is passionate about increasing Hispanic representation because the issues she finds that Hispanic communities deeply care about—such as education, the economy, immigration, and healthcare, to name a few—are matters that policy makers have failed people of color on continuously, usually due to top-down strategies that infringe on personal freedoms. By founding Hispanics Forward, Perez and Lara hope to cultivate the
election in the US and Brexit in Europe served as key events that made political divides more apparent than ever. The panelists believe that a growing sense of loneliness has also played a role in increased hostility in politics, as people are less inclined to come together for difficult conversations on important issues.
Hispanics Forward is a mentorship program committed to bringing more Hispanic voices to the liberty movement. Mentees are paired with seasoned professionals and typically meet twice a month. Supplementing mentorship sessions, the program hosts monthly cohort sessions that provide guidance on broader professional development topics and also offer mentees the opportunity to meet and network with their peers in the program. The six-month mentorship aims to provide early-career Hispanic professionals with the tools, knowledge, and network required to succeed and increase representation in libertyAfterfocused careers.afewyearsof
Seaver
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SPP Partners with ZÓCALO, CALIFORNIAINSTITUTETHEINSTITUTE,BERGGRUENANDPUBLICPOLICYOF
The report, which focused on the nation’s largest agricultural water district, confirmed that agriculture remains an essential aspect of the local and national economies. Water from the district led to almost $2 billion of crops, resulting in more than $4.7 billion of economic activity and more than 35,000 jobs in the region. These jobs are important to the local economy, where poverty rates are high and other indicators of household wealth are far below statewide averages.
Shires, vice dean for strategy and online programs and associate professor of public policy, published an update to his 2016 report, “The Economic Impact of Westlands Water District on the Regional and Local Economy.”
The study also explored how COVID-19, water supply restrictions, inflation, the supply chain disruption, and hydrologic trends can threaten this important production, endangering our national food supply. Farmers within the district, for example, grow 5.4 percent of the nation’s fresh vegetables and melons. Statewide, California growers produce 80 percent of the nation’s produce. The report noted significant declines in that production as less water is available and more acreage is fallowed.
this region are critical to the national food supply and how that supply may be threatened. It also shows how the production of these crops creates jobs that play a key role in alleviating the poverty that permeates this region. We are at a turning point in water policy, both in California and nationally, and these considerations need to be an essential part of that Shiresconversation.”added,“This needs to be a national priority. The Central Valley is the only place in the United States where we can grow crops at this scale. We must be sure these critical contributions can be sustained.”
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Direct democracy is supposed to be a people’s process, allowing everyday citizens to enact their own ideas for laws or constitutional amendments. This event addressed whether California’s system lives up to that promise. Panelists specifically discussed the ballot measures that are an integral part of the state’s governance. Qualifying a measure for the ballot costs so many millions of dollars that only the richest people and interests can bring their proposals forward. Elected and appointed officials have considerable sway over the process and routinely use it for their own aims. And voters have little information and few opportunities to deliberate as they make decisions about complicated proposals that, once approved, are very difficult to fix or change.
According to Shires, “This study shows us that the crops produced in
On Wednesday, May 11, 2022, SPP partnered with Zócalo Public Square to host an event with the Berggruen Institute and the Public Policy Institute of California on the topic of “Is This What Democracy Looks Like?”
Held at the Arizona State University California Center, Nathan Gardels, editor in chief of Noema magazine moderated this panel composed of Shirley Weber, California secretary of state; Mark Baldassare, president of the Public Policy Institute of California; John Matsusaka, president of the Initiative and Referendum Institute; and dean Pete Peterson.
MICHAEL SHIRES RELEASES STUDY ON ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE WESTLANDS WATER DISTRICT ON THE LOCAL AND REGIONAL ECONOMY
Michael
WASHINGTON, SCHOLARS PROGRAM
books section. These will be wonderful opportunities for students to experience our unique curriculum,” he added.
SPP began the program to bring its unique approach to students and young professionals studying and working in Washington, DC. The American Gospel course accurately captures SPP’s crosssector public leadership approach by bringing policy analysis together with history, religious freedom, viewpoint diversity studies, and strategic decision-making. Scholars explored how religious and cultural factors have served as key motivators in US policy related to the abolition and civil rights movements, debates around abortion and marriage policy, and foreign policy in a post-9/11 world.
RETURNS TO PEPPERDINE’S DC CAMPUS
DC POLICY
T
to be back in Pepperdine’s Washington, DC, building for this summer’s DC Policy Scholars program,” said dean Pete Peterson. “Our very popular American Gospel class returns, and we’ve tweaked the Humanizing Education Policy course to add a more policy-focused component to the great
The Humanizing Education Policy course combined the philosophical with the latest public policy debates, exploring foundational concepts and their impact on current events. Like few other areas of public policy, the COVID-19 crisis has
placed a focused lens on America’s K–12 school systems. Americans have long cared about preserving a tradition of liberal arts education, seeing it as key to a free society of citizens with both the knowledge and virtue to sustain self-governance and to advance social order and prosperity. This graduate-level introduction to the philosophical debates that have shaped the goals and practices of American educational policies, curricula, and institutions asked scholars to identify challenges and opportunities for revitalizing American educational systems and culture.
he SPP Washington, DC Policy Scholars Program returned to the nation’s capital in June and July, offering two 3-unit, full-tuition scholarship graduate-level courses. The first course, American Gospel: The Role of Religion in US Domestic and Foreign Policy, featured Ryan Streeter, director of domestic studies at the American Enterprise Institute and Elizabeth Spalding, senior fellow at SPP. The second course, Humanizing Education Policy: A Study of Foundational Philosophies and Practices , featured Margarita Mooney, associate professor at Princeton Theological Seminary, and John Bailey, visiting fellow at the American Enterprise
Each course is available to only 20 qualified scholars who are rising juniors or seniors at undergraduate institutions enrolled in a graduate program or young professionals working in or around Washington, DC. The program met three times a week during Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings at the Pepperdine DC campus in Foggy Bottom.
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16 | School of Public Policy Dean’s Report
“NO WAY TO TREAT A CHILD”
FAITH AND PUBLIC POLICY:
On
Valdez affirmed that strengthening relationships among children and community groups is critical to foster children’s well-being. “The church is uniquely positioned to provide community to the people,” she said.
January 27, 2022, the School of Public Policy hosted the Faith and Public Policy Series seminar “No Way to Treat a Child: Foster Care and Youth Services.” The keynote speaker and a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, Naomi Schaefer Riley shared the challenges within the child welfare system, a system that she says serves to better protect adults than children. Drawing from her book No Way to Treat a Child, Schaefer Riley identified the ways in which current foster care system policies are detrimental to children, particularly children who experience abuse. More than 400,000 children are in foster care in the US today. In Los Angeles County alone, more than 33,000 foster care youth have experienced abuse or have been abandoned. Schaefer Riley stated that “15 percent of those in the foster care system will spend more than three years there” and “more than 715,000 cases were still filed
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Dan Broyles, care pastor at Valencia Hills Community Church, moderated a panel conversation with Jessica Valdez, director of adoption promotion and support services at Olive Crest, and Dominique Robinson, faith-based program manager at the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services.
Robinson stated when faith leaders came together for the department staff, it wasn’t about ideology, “it was all about love, and care, and safety” and that all families of all different backgrounds and ethnicities were able to have access to the resources they need from different faith communities. She shared that “I would love to see legislation provide more support for caregivers who are interested [in fostering children] … because the need is there. The faith community is a great resource for that.”
It is important to ask thow we can change policies on both a systemic and a practical level. The theme of this event addressed flaws and challenges in the foster care system, but also invited those in the faith-based community to understand the good that can come from community support.
in state family courts in 2011 and more than a quarter were still pending a year later. By forcing these children to wait endlessly for these decisions, we are stunting their social, emotional, and intellectual development.”
Dan Broyles, Jessica Valdez, and Dominique Robinson
The Class of 2022 speech was delivered by Michael Huling (MPP ’22). During his time at the School of Public Policy, Huling served as a graduate research assisstant at the Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership and last summer he worked as an intern at the American Conservative, a publication based in Washington, DC.
Huling recognized and praised his classmates for the incredible adversity they overcame in the past two years. He closed his speech with words of wisdom for his fellow graduates, telling them to not just look forward but also look back—and “as you figure out who you are, remember whose you are.”
On
After the degrees were conferred, president Jim Gash gave concluding remarks and congratulations to the Class of 2022. The ceremony closed with a benediction from Kurt Wilson, city manager of Stockton, Califormia, and 2016 city manager in residence at the Davenport Insitute.
CLASS OF 2022 COMMENCEMENT
Jay Brewster, provost of Pepperdine University, spoke to the values of Pepperdine that the graduates will take with them. Additionally, he solemnly recognized the absence of Floyd Black, member of the Class of 2022, who tragically passed long before his time—but was memorialized with an empty chair and regalia at the ceremony. Brewster also acknowledged the first three graduating recipients of the Floyd Black Fellowship.
Seaver College ’99 and Caruso School of Law ’02 alumna and member of the School of Public Policy’s Board of Advisors, opened the ceremony with an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance. Seaver College music major, Britney Winestock, sang the National Anthem.
Each year SPP recognizes one outstanding alumnus who has made great contributions to society and asks them to speak at commencement. This year’s honoree was Hattie Mitchell (MPP ʼ 12). Mitchell has dedicated her career to improving the lives of young people in Southern California and across the nation. She is the founder and principal of the Crete Academy in southern Los Angeles and has a distinguished list of credentials in the education field, including her service as chief of staff for student programs at the Louisiana Department of Education, as well as director of charter development at Pathways in Education in Pasadena. In her speech, she recognized the graduates’ accomplishments, gave wisdom from her own experience, and urged them to consider the importance of service in all that they do.
Friday, April 22, 2022, the Pepperdine School of Public Policy hosted its annual commencement ceremony—the first ceremony since 2019 that looked and felt normal. The event served as a proper ending for the Class of 2022 graduates, who persisted through the pandemic with a first-year of fully remote Chandralearning.Melton,
18 | School of Public Policy Dean’s Report
publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu/graduation
We invite you to attend and support the 25th anniversary of the Pepperdine School of Public Policy!
That freedom, whether spiritual, intellectual, or economic, is indivisible.
LEARN MORE AT: GO. PEPPERDINE.EDU/SPP-25
The school was founded in 1997 following the launch of the Davenport Institute in 1996. Through a curriculum grounded in understanding policy ’s inherent philosophical and historical dimensions, SPP prepares cross-sector leaders for careers that strengthen the institutions of the private, nonprofit, and government sectors.
Celebrate With US !
Walk through a timeline of our history, save the date for the upcoming gala, register for upcoming events, keep updated with new program announcements, take a look back at some of our featured speakers, and join us as we recognize 25 outstanding alumni that have transformed their curriculum to career.
Your support will help contribute to the next 25 years of viewpoint diversity and civil discourse, and will help shape the next generation of policy leaders! By establishing one of the very few programs of its kind based at a Christian university, SPP ’s founders saw an important opportunity to teach and highlight the role people of faith have and continue to play in addressing a myriad of public challenges.
ReportDean’s TeamEditorial EDITOR: Jaclyn Ramirez COPY EDITORS: Sheryl Covey (MDR ’ 20) Amanda Pisani WRITERS: Andrew Davenport, Sara Garfinkle (MPP ’22), Michael Huling (MPP ’22), Christopher LaCreta, Lawson Mansell, Jamie Park, Pete Peterson (MPP ’07), Jaclyn Ramirez PUBLICSCHOOLUNIVERSITYPEPPERDINEOFPOLICY Pete Peterson (MPP ’07) BraunDean Family Dean’s Chair James R. Wilburn (MBA ’82) Dean Emeritus BOARD ADVISORSOF Joseph Czyzyk LisaChairSmith Wengler COMMITTEEEXECUTIVE Ed FrederickRobertSteveFeulnerForbesHertzbergRyan MEMBERS Viggo Butler (MBA ’80) Frank Cornell (MBA ’78, EdD ’04 Doug De Groote Maureen Grace Peggy CynthiaGrandeGuerrero (MPP ’04) Jay ColeneGlenHoffmanHoldenJohnson (’68) Jeffrey Jones (MPP ’02) Jonathan Kemp (’94, MBA ’07) Cathryn Kingsbury (’97, MPP ’99) Donald R. Knabe Jong ErnieDarrellLeeLevonianMaldonado ( ’ 76, MP ’80) Chandra Duistermars Melton ( ’99, JD ’02) Nicole Neily (MPP ’06) Gary StephenOaklandOlson (MBA ’73) Nishan Partamian Jason Pates (’95, MPP ’99) James JamesWalterGaryRonaldPieresonPlotkinPolsonPoserPuckett(MBA ’12) Kevin Richardson (JD ’82) Margaret Sheppard Eryn Witcher Tillman (’97, MPP ’99) Keith CharityCarolRobertTobiasVirtueWallaceWallace (’97) Michael Y. Warder Barry L. Wolfe Johnny Zamrzla PP2204155 PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY School of Public Policy 24255 Pacific Coast Highway Malibu, CA 90263-4494 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. Upcoming Events For more information and additional events, visit publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu/events
