SPP Dean’s Report Vol. 18, Iss. 2

VOLUME 19 | ISSUE 2 | 2021

CLASSES OF 2020 AND 2021 COMMENCEMENTS

O

n Friday, May 14, 2021, the Pepperdine School of Public Policy (SPP) hosted a limited-capacity, in-person commencement ceremony for the resilient Classes of 2020 and 2021 in Malibu at Alumni Park.

Hattie Mitchell (MPP ’12), visiting professor of education policy and impact and the founder of Crete Academy, opened the ceremony with the benediction and the Pledge of Allegiance. Recent Seaver College graduate Kaytlin Withers (’21) sang the national anthem.

“It took an incredible team effort to organize a commencement that will be remembered for years at SPP,” described dean Pete Peterson (MPP ’07). “From SPP and University staff to our graduates and their families, everyone contributed to host a ceremony that was both solemn and celebratory. I’m so grateful to all who helped make it possible.”

Commencements continued on page 2

Glenn Loury opens 2021 Augustus and Patricia Tagliaferri Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Series

O

n June 5, 2021, the School of Public Policy held its first in-person event since March 2020, a lecture in the Augustus and Patricia Tagliaferri Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Series. The series’ name has been expanded to include and honor the late Augustus “Gus” Tagliaferri (MBA ’74), whose generosity endowed the program, which hosts leading scholars to explore the many facets that comprise wise public decision-making.

In his lecture, “Preserving the American Project: The Bias Narrative vs. the Development Narrative,” economist Glenn Loury, one of the country’s foremost experts on social capital, explored the components that lead to greater economic opportunity and broader societal flourishing—and those that don’t—for African Americans. He contended that in doing so, we might realize anew the common aspirations we all have for the pursuit of happiness.

publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu/preserving-the-american-project

Loury’s lecture was particularly resonant in light of last year’s wave of public protests across America, which literally and figuratively placed the question of race front and center in the nation’s public square. The debates around the best ways forward—politically and in public policy— have been polarizing and wide ranging.

But a common thread running through even disparate policy proposals, and a key element of Loury’s address, has been the quest for increasing the social capital— the relational foundations of economic opportunity—of African Americans.

DEAN’S MESSAGE Having lived through a world-changing event like the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s not quite right to say that we “turn the page” to a new school year. Faulkner famously remarked, “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” While we are excited to welcome students back to our Malibu campus, we have learned much from this past year, which will continue to shape and improve the School of Public Policy for years to come.

At the same time, the policy and political environments we are working in have also changed significantly in just the last two years. The School of Public Policy finds itself in the auspicious position of applying its distinctive curriculum and programs to a nation and world known for their polarization, disengagement, and questioning of America’s founding principles.

In the pages of this edition of the Dean’s Report, you’ll see how we are responding to this new world—both inside and outside the classroom—with a new

visiting professorship in innovative local government leadership, new public programs exploring the intersection of race and public policy, new research on the impact of COVID-19 on BIPOC communities, and new mid-career training programs for first responders looking to better apply mapping technology to the next crisis.

The late Kevin Starr, California historian and early SPP faculty member, proclaimed at the founding of the new school in 1997, “Because Pepperdine remains anchored in values, it can communicate itself to the region as seeking not just numbers and statistics, not just fancy formulations, but value in our public life.” In a time when we seem to be constantly barraged with data points—from infection rates to vaccination rates—SPP never loses sight of the lives impacted by public policy decisions. Our American Project initiative continues to highlight the challenges of loneliness in our communities, and a recent webinar cohosted with our friends at the Trinity Forum explored how faith

and faith communities can provide ways of connecting with one another as well as the God who created us all.

And so we will remain, “anchored in values” as we engage in the most current public debates.

PETE PETERSON

Dean, Braun Family Dean’s Chair School of Public Policy

Commencements from page 1

As Brigitta Sanchez-O’Brien (MPP ’20) was unable to attend the ceremony in person, Peterson delivered her student address for the Class of 2020. SanchezO’Brien graduated at the top of her class with specializations in international relations and national security and dispute resolution. She has a background in communications media, and during her time at Pepperdine, she interned with the Brenden Mann Israel Internship Program at the Jerusalem Institute of Justice in Israel. Since graduating, she has moved to Tennessee and now works with the Daily Wire. She related to the attendees that, “We’re celebrating an impressive accomplishment today, but we do so with a sober understanding of what it means to move from school to work—from theory to practice.”

The Class of 2021 address was delivered by Abigail Scott (MPP ’21). Scott worked for the Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership as a graduate research assistant, where she was responsible for conducting program evaluations and developing recommendations for improving citizento-government communication throughout California. She also founded the school’s Politics in Public Policy student organization in order to foster constructive political discussion among graduate students. To broaden her experience in public engagement, Scott served as an intern at the White 2 | School of Public Policy Dean’s Report

Advancement Message Students on campus. In-person events. The ability to meet and share a meal at a restaurant.

Prior to March 2020, it was hard to imagine any of those things being controversial.

We all took them for granted, and certainly never expected the upheaval that was coming our way compliments of COVID-19. As we’ve watched the pandemic play out over the past 18 months, it has in many ways served as a living, breathing public policy classroom.

We’ve seen the contrasting approaches of red state and blue state governors, not to mention the wildly different leadership of former President Trump and President Biden.

As we continue moving away from the pandemic and closer to the “new normal,” it is clear that much in our society has permanently changed. Something that has not changed, however, is the unique and important mission of the Pepperdine School of Public Policy. We believe that viewpoint diversity on our college campuses is important, and we lead the way in hosting honest debates about the key issues facing our country. We believe that our students should learn how to think . . . rather than being told what to think, and in that way we are unlike the vast majority of higher education institutions.

Our mission has never been more important, and we are making a real impact in California and beyond. We simply could not do

House Office of Public Liaison. In this role, she built and strengthened coalitions with a variety of constituencies across the country, including faith, veteran- and militaryfamily groups, and BIPOC communities. Scott specialized in state and local policy at SPP, earning professional certificates in Advanced Public Engagement for Local Government and in Leading Smart Communities from the Davenport Institute.

This year Vianey Lopez (MPP ’12) was honored as the annual commencement distinguished alumnus. Lopez has a heart for public service, having spent more than 10 years as a government official. She currently serves as district director for state senator Monique Limón, who represents Santa Barbara County and a portion of Ventura County. Before joining the state government, she served as district scheduler and district director for former US representative Lois Capps in Santa Barbara.

Lopez was elected to the Hueneme Elementary School

that without the support of our friends! Your involvement and investment allow us to provide life-changing scholarship support to our students, incredible events with leading conservative speakers, and the ability to bring visiting faculty like Robert George, Victor Davis Hanson, and Steve Hayward to SPP. In 2022 we will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the School of Public Policy. As we anticipate that significant milestone, there are numerous ways you can make a difference:

• Consider a gift toward our newly established Tocqueville Scholars Endowed Scholarship

• Become a Public Policy Associate for an annual gift of $1,000 or $2,500. These annual gifts go directly to helping students currently enrolled in the program

• Name and endow a scholarship at SPP for a gift of $10,000 or more (which can be given over a three- to five-year period)

• Increase the brand awareness and impact of SPP by

contributing toward our national advertising campaign with Salem Communications (The Dennis Prager Show, The Hugh Hewitt Show, and The Larry Elder Show, among others)

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 any time at matt.cutler@pepperdine.edu or 310.506.6513. You can also give a gift at any time on our website: impact.pepperdine.edu/spp.

MATT CUTLER

Director of Development

District board in 2012, where she served for six years.

As a school board member, she advocated for increased parent involvement and the dual-language immersion program. In 2018 she was elected to the Oxnard City Council representing District 6 and was reelected to a four-year term in 2020. As a public servant, Lopez ensures that the South Oxnard community has a voice on local matters while also advocating for youth, working families, housing, and public safety at a citywide level. Lopez is an active member in the community, serving for the past 10 years on the board of directors for the nonprofit Future Leaders of America and as a contributor to other civic organizations.

With a few closing remarks from president Jim Gash and Peterson, Robert Kaufman (LLM ’16) concluded the ceremony with a comparison of Shakespeare’s “To thine own self be true,” with the Beach Boys’ “Be True to Your School.”

Vianey L. Lopez

publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu | 3

THE LATEST FROM

T

he Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership has had another very productive spring and summer, leading the way in helping communities come together during the pandemic and beyond. Among the many changes it experienced in the past year, the Davenport Institute had some important staffing changes.

Ashley Labosier (MPP ’09) stepped down from her role as executive director at the end of February. Although no longer the executive director she remains a part of the Davenport Institute family as a senior fellow, advisory council member, and trainer. During her tenure as the institute’s executive director, Labosier was an indispensable leader, growing the institute from its startup stage to what it is today. The institute is grateful for her continued involvement moving forward and is excited to share the experience of its new director, Maureen Tobin, on the following page.

The institute welcomed three new advisory council members this past year: Jamil Barnett (MPP ’17), Caitlin Robinett Jachimowicz, and Yvette Sennewald. Barnett is a deputy probation officer in Los Angeles County and a professor at Azusa Pacific University.

Jachimowicz is a senior attorney at the Jachimowicz Law Group, where she practices criminal defense and civil litigation. She is the elected treasurer for the City of Morgan Hill, having previously served on the Morgan Hill City Council and as a commissioner for the Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Commission.

Sennewald has spent more than 18 years working for the City of Riverside, beginning as a senior planner and now serving as the neighborhood engagement division manager.

In April and May, the institute partnered with Engaging Local Government Leaders (ELGL) for a five-part webinar series, “Connectivity and COVID-19: A Year Later.” The sessions

4 | School of Public Policy Dean’s Report

were extremely valuable in demonstrating how local leaders have stayed connected to their communities throughout the pandemic. The institute published consistently this year, expanding its reach into such outlets as the International City/ County Management Association (ICMA), ELGL, Public CEO, and Catalyst. It also held a special event to discuss technology’s relationship with public participation in collaboration with the two former groups, along with several others, in July, which is detailed on page 21.

The institute’s online certificate programs have continued to be successful in the virtual format with attendees from throughout the world. It has virtually trained 88 local government leaders in its Public Engagement and Leading Smart Communities programs since the beginning of 2021. The increasingly popular Leading Smart Communities certificate program equips participants with the tools and knowledge needed to lead their cities in this technological era. Additionally, it has proven to nicely complement our Professional Certificate in Public Engagement by guiding participants to improve engagement efforts through effective use of data.

The institute has experienced much change in the past year, a shared experience by so many. It has been creative, flexible, and adaptable to the virtual environment with very positive results.

Our mission of strengthening communities through public engagement and participation in local government is as crucial as ever, and we now have new tools and opportunities to broaden our reach and impact. We are excited to continue building on our work with further partnership events, relevant content, and high-impact training in the year ahead. We look forward to collaborating and working with many of you. publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu/davenport-institute

MAUREEN TOBIN NAMED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF DAVENPORT INSTITUTE

D

ean Pete Peterson announced the appointment of Maureen Tobin as the new executive director of the Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership at SPP. “Maureen is an experienced leader who has worked at the intersection of communications and community building at the municipal level,” said Peterson. “After a long search, I’m delighted it has resulted in Maureen joining us as the new executive director of our Davenport Institute.”

As a longtime Davenport Institute advisory council member, an alumna of its professional certificate program, and a Davenport Institute trainer, Tobin more than understands the mission and vision of the institute—she has helped to shape them.

Tobin shared, “I am both humbled and honored to be chosen as the next executive director of the Davenport Institute. I look forward to this new opportunity to further the cause of good

public engagement in local government as a requirement.

I am truly passionate about the importance of engaging our communities in the role of local government and believe the work of the Davenport Institute has never been more critical.”

It was very important to the Davenport Institute’s leadership and advisory council that the next executive director understands the challenges facing local leaders today. Tobin brings more than 14 years of local government service at the City of Morgan Hill, most recently as communications and engagement director. Serving in that position during a season that included a global pandemic, significant civil unrest, and an unprecedented wildfire season, Tobin knows that public engagement is not just theoretical, but practical. She brings a breadth of perspective to the table from past leadership roles in healthcare, medical transportation, education, and consulting work in the private sector.

The Davenport Institute team looks forward to continuing to champion broad-based civic involvement under Tobin’s leadership.

SPP PARTNERS WITH 2U, INC. AND KEYPATH EDUCATION TO POWER ONLINE MASTER OF PUBLIC POLICY AND LEADERSHIP

I

n April SPP announced a joint initiative with 2U, Inc. and Keypath Education, two global leaders in education technology, to power its new online master of public policy and leadership (MPPL) program. This program marks SPP’s first partnership with 2U and the 11th online degree offering that 2U powers across four schools at the University. The announcement also marks the second 2U-Keypath joint initiative since the two companies announced a strategic partnership in February 2019.

Building on the success of SPP’s on-campus master of public policy (MPP) program, this 33-unit online MPPL program will equip graduates with the necessary tools and skills to become public leaders across government, nonprofit, and policy-related business sectors. Designed for mid-career professionals and set to launch in 2022, the program also includes four stackable certificates—a first of its kind for Pepperdine—focused on local government, education policy, and policy communications.

“With the pandemic impacting every industry and government sector in seismic ways, there has never been a more important moment to broaden access to rigorous, engaging, and flexible training for today and tomorrow’s public leaders,” said dean Pete Peterson. “We are thrilled to begin this partnership with Keypath— building on Pepperdine University’s thriving relationship with 2U—to expand the reach of our traditional MPP program, one of the highest-ranked programs of its kind in the West, with these additional unique components of stackability and flexibility.”

In today’s complex political and economic environment, professionals with a degree in public policy will be positioned to tackle important issues of public interest and serve society in meaningful ways. Amid the current pandemic and political climate, policy professionals who can humanize politics, create sustainable policy solutions, and practice effective public leadership are needed now more than ever.

“Pepperdine University and 2U have worked collaboratively since 2017 to expand access to its distinguished graduate programs, and we’re thrilled to continue our important work together with the launch of the new online MPPL,” said Andrew Hermalyn, 2U’s president of global partnerships. “This program is truly innovative, and it shows how high-quality online higher education programs can open doors for mid-career professionals looking to unlock new skills and experiences, and fulfilling career opportunities.”

“Keypath is excited to continue our strategic partnership with 2U to power this online degree program with Pepperdine, an esteemed and student-centered university with a strong commitment to quality, flexibility, and innovation in higher education,” said Steve Fireng, CEO of Keypath Education. “At Keypath, we strive to deliver purposeful online programs that deliver career-relevant skills, and I have no doubt Pepperdine’s online MPPL will do just that.”

publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu | 5

2020–2021 Scholarship Recipients

T

he Pepperdine School of Public Policy awards a number of scholarships each year, which are made available through endowed funds, generous gifts from supporters and alumni, and allocation of University general funds. The scholarship committee awards scholarships based on merit, academic excellence, and professional experience, as well as standardized test scores. The School of Public Policy is proud to recognize the 2020–2021 scholars:

LASZLO AND MILKA AMBRUS ENDOWED SCHOLARS

WILLIAM S. AND GAY BANOWSKY BLACKALUMNICOUNCILSCHOLAR ENDOWED SCHOLAR The Black Alumni Council Scholarship

The Laszlo and Milka Ambrus Endowed Scholarship was established for students pursuing a degree at the School of Public Policy who are in good standing in all areas of the University.

Established by Lew O. Ward and supported by a circle of friends, the William S. and Gay Banowsky Endowed Scholarship provides grants to students pursuing a master of public policy at the School of Public Policy.

SARAH VELASQUEZ BA, Political Science Point Loma Nazarene University KELLEY WHELAN (MPP ’21) BA, Art California State University, Northridge XUDONG ZHU (MPP ’21) BA, Labor and Social Security Hohai University

ESTHER CHUNG (’20) BA, Political Science Pepperdine University

JOHN AND REBECCA BARTON ENDOWED SCHOLAR The John and Rebecca Barton Endowed Scholarship was established in memory of Harry E. Shafer and Izelle C. Shafer to support gifted and talented students who, in the judgment of the University, offer great promise for leadership in our country or its supporting institutions.

JUSTIN POST (MPP ’21) BA, Political Science California Baptist University

6 | School of Public Policy Dean’s Report

was established to support students at the School of Public Policy through the generosity of the Black Alumni Council.

ANTHONY BARR BA, History and English Eastern University

BOB AND AMY CLARK FAMILY ENDOWED SCHOLAR The Bob and Amy Clark Family Endowed Scholarship was established for students pursuing a degree at the School of Public Policy who are in good standing in all areas of the University.

TATE SANDERS BS, History and Business Western Oregon University

DR. FRANK W. AND MRS. SHERRY R. CORNELL ENDOWED SCHOLARS The Dr. Frank W. and Mrs. Sherry R. Cornell Endowed Scholarship provides support for Catholic students pursuing a degree at the School of Public Policy.

DANIELLE MOORE (MPP ’21) BS, Communications Media John Paul the Great Catholic University DAISY SAMPABLO BA, Political Science University of California, Berkeley

LYNN AND FOSTER FRIESS ENDOWED SCHOLAR Established by a gift from the National Christian Foundation Giving fund on behalf of Foster and Lynn Friess and the Friess Family Foundation, the Lynn and Foster Friess Endowed Scholarship provides support for qualified School of Public Policy students who have evidenced leadership based on the principles embedded in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States.

KASANDRA DILLON (MPP ’21) BA, International Relations and Middle Eastern Studies Mount Holyoke College

FRITZ ENDOWED SCHOLARS Founded in 2001 by Lynn C. Fritz, the Fritz Institute is a nonprofit organization designed to partner with governments, nonprofit organizations, and corporations worldwide to innovate solutions and facilitate the adoption of the best practices for rapid and effective disaster response and recovery.

LINDA M. GAGE AWP ENDOWED SCHOLAR

PETER AND VERONICA JOHNSON ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP

The Linda M. Gage AWP Endowed Scholarship was established by Jerry and Kay Cox to provide scholarship support to Church of Christ students with financial need.

The Peter and Veronica Johnson Endowed Scholarship provides support to students with financial need who are highly qualified applicants to the School of Public Policy and remain in good standing in all areas of the University.

ALLISON JOHNSON BA, Psychology St. Mary’s College of California

DAVID DRY BA, Political Science Westmont College

BERTHA AND JOHN GARABEDIAN CHARITABLE FOUNDATION RUSSELL AND COLENE JOHNSON ENDOWED SCHOLAR ENDOWED SCHOLAR The Bertha and John Garabedian Charitable Foundation Endowed Scholarship Fund provides assistance to qualified public policy students from Fresno, Kings, Madera, or Tulare counties in California.

EMILY MILNES (MPP ’21) JD, University of Washington BA, English University of Washington

The Russell and Colene Johnson Endowed Scholarship was established for students pursuing a degree at the School of Public Policy who are in good standing in all areas of the University.

QUINN SCHURIG BA, Economics Berry College

HISPANIC ALUMNI SCHOLARSHIP THOMAS P. KEMP ENDOWED SCHOLAR The Pepperdine Hispanic Alumni Council Scholarship was designed to support the needs of Latino students through the generosity of the Hispanic Alumni Council.

LESLIE AMAYA-YANEZ BA, Political Science San Francisco State University

ENDOWED JEWISH SCHOLARS The Endowed Jewish Scholarship Fund provides assistance to Jewish students in good academic standing who are pursuing a degree at the School of Public Policy.

SIMONE NICHOLSON BA, Philosophy Christian Heritage College

SARA GARFINKLE BA, Rhetoric and Public Address Hillsdale College

ABIGAIL SCOTT (MPP ’21) BA, Political Science University of California, Berkeley

DANIELLE GOODMAN (MPP ’21) BA, Philosophy University of California, Santa Barbara

The Thomas P. Kemp Endowed Scholarship was established in 2006 as a memorial legacy to Pepperdine regent and avid supporter of the School of Public Policy, Thomas P. Kemp.

RENEE JACKSON BA, Politics and History Regent University

MIKE E. O’NEAL ENDOWED SCHOLAR Established by Peter Cheung and Fred Prager, this endowed scholarship was created to aid deserving School of Public Policy students.

SARAH VELASQUEZ BA, Political Science Point Loma Nazarene University

publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu | 7

PETE AND GINA PETERSON ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP The Pete and Gina Peterson Endowed Scholarship was established for students pursuing a degree at the School of Public Policy who are in good standing in all areas of the University.

ANTHONY BARR BA, History and English Eastern University

ALLEN AND MARILYN PUCKETT ENDOWED SCHOLARS The Allen and Marilyn Puckett Endowed Scholarship was established to provide support for students at the School of Public Policy.

KASANDRA DILLON (MPP ’21) BA, International Relations and Middle Eastern Studies Mount Holyoke College JACKSON GRASZ BS, Management University of Nebraska

PAUL JIMENEZ BA, Politics, Philosophy, Economics The King’s College ASHLEY SUGAR BA, Politics and Philosophy Saint Mary’s College of California

S. A. ENLIGHTENMENT SCHOLARS MAURICE H. STANS ENDOWED SCHOLARS The S. A. Enlightenment Scholarship was established with a gift from the S. A. Enlightenment Foundation to provide scholarship support for students from predominantly Muslim countries.

SARAH ELSHAMY (MPP ’20) BA, Mass Communications Ain Shams University

ENDRIT HASA MS, Strategic Organizational and Political Sciences BS, Strategic Science University of Turin DENIS NIKOČEVIĆ (MPP ’21) BA, International Finance American University in Bosnia and Herzegovina

HARRY AND IZELLE SHAFER ENDOWED SCHOLAR The Harry and Izelle Shafer Endowed Scholarship was established in memory of Harry E. Shafer and Izelle C. Shafer to support gifted and talented students who, in the judgment of the University, offer great promise for leadership in our country or its supporting institutions.

ROSEMARY GUTIERREZ BA, History and Political Science Vanguard University

MARILYN DUNTON SIMPSON ENDOWED SCHOLAR Established by Marilyn Dunton Simpson in 2009, this scholarship provides support for students at the School of Public Policy.

ALLISON JOHNSON BA, Philosophy Saint Mary’s College of California

8 | School of Public Policy Dean’s Report

Established in 1999 by the Stans trust, the Maurice H. Stans Endowed Scholarship was created to provide support for African American students.

ALEXANDRA BAKER (MPP ’21) BA, Psychology University of Southern California ANTHONY BARR BA, History and English Eastern University

DEJA FREDERICK (MPP ’21) BA, Economics Agnes Scott College DANIEL KIBUUKA (’19, MPP ’21) BA, Integrated Marketing Communication Pepperdine University TYSON RHODES (MPP ’21) BA, Politics University of San Francisco

STANS FAMILY FOUNDATION SCHOLAR Established in 2012, the Stans Family Foundation Endowed Scholarship was created to provide support to students pursuing a degree at the School of Public Policy, with preference given to students who hold a license as a certified public accountant and/or hold a degree in accounting or a related field who are in good standing in all areas of the University.

DEJA FREDERICK (MPP ’21) BA, Economics Agnes Scott College

TERRALYNN AND EARL SWIFT ENDOWED SCHOLARS

FLORA L. THORNTON ENDOWED SCHOLARS

LYDELL WARD ENDOWED SCHOLAR

Established in 2006 by Terralynn and Earl Swift, this endowed scholarship was created to provide assistance to students interested in studying how people from diverse cultures might discover common values in the context of global interdependence.

Established by Flora L. Thornton in 2009, this scholarship is a merit-based academic scholarship for students at the School of Public Policy with demonstrated leadership potential.

Established in 2008 with a gift from School of Public Policy Board of Advisors member Beti Ward, the Lydell Ward Endowed Scholarship is awarded to qualified female students pursuing a master of public policy.

RYAN BROWN (’20) BA, Economics BA, International Studies Pepperdine University IBRAHIM KILIC (MPP ’20, MDR ’21) BA, Law, Economics, and Public Policy University of Washington MARIE-ANNE MORRIS (MPP ’20, MDR ’21) BA, Applied Foreign Languages The University of Tours LESLIE RODRIGUEZ BA, Political Science Loyola Marymount University

BRENNAN BALSON (MPP ’21) BA, Environmental Studies Santa Clara University CHLOE BUCKLER (MPP ’21) BA, Political Science Azusa Pacific University

BRETT FILIPEK BA, Criminal Justice BA, International Studies California Baptist University MICHAEL HULING BA, Political Science University of California, San Diego MARIELA MURO (MPP ’21) BA, Political Science University of California, Los Angeles

REBECCA DOUBLESIN (’20) BA, International Studies Pepperdine University

MICHAEL AND CHERYL WARDER ENDOWED SCHOLAR The Michael and Cheryl Warder Endowed Scholarship Fund was established for students pursuing a degree at the School of Public Policy who are in good standing in all areas of the University and who are either current members of any of the six United States armed forces or honorably discharged from one of them.

JOSE ALANIS (MPP ’21) BS, Business Management Colorado Statement University Global Campus

J. MCDONALD AND JUDY WILLIAMS SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY SCHOLAR Established by J. McDonald and Judy Williams in 1999, this scholarship is designed to assist deserving School of Public Policy students who are members of the Church of Christ.

JUSTIN DYER (’03) BA, Religion Pepperdine University

publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu | 9

Faculty/Fellow Update SEAN JASSO

Adjunct Faculty Practitioner Faculty in Economics, Graziadio Business School In June Sean Jasso presented his paper, “Creative Destruction and Resilience: A Market and Policy Analysis of the Nation’s Management of the Pandemic,” at the Western Economic Association’s annual conference. The paper investigates the pandemic’s damage to the structural economic framework with an emphasis on entrepreneurial energy within the labor market. Additionally, a close analysis details the portfolio of government policy prescriptions aimed at stabilizing the pandemic’s shock to the economy. The paper concludes with a cautiously optimistic vision of an awakened country reinforced by a surge of competitive entrepreneurship and robust government intervention.

Jasso also recently delivered a keynote address at the Maryland Association for Election Officials in August entitled, “Why So Complicated? Achieving Simplicity and Influence in a Complex World—Toward Better Public Service” emphasizing the importance of alignment of efforts within any bureaucracy, which is achieved through strategy, shaped by goals, driven by shared mission, grounded on values, and implemented by exceptional leaders.

JAMES PRIEGER

Professor of Public Policy James Prieger has several papers posted to the Social Science Research Network.

During his fall sabbatical semester, Prieger’s work continued to be among the top downloaded papers in several health policy-related topic areas on the site. His research investigates the drivers of quitting smoking and the role that e-cigarettes may play in cessation, with one paper each on individuals in Korea and Japan, and the third paper comparing residents of five different countries.

Prieger presented his research on e-cigarettes and smoking policy at the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco’s virtual meeting in February, the Global Forum on Nicotine in June, and the Western Economic Association International (WEAI) virtual conference in June. He also reviewed seven articles on various topics in e-commerce, tobacco policy, and entrepreneurship for peer-reviewed journals and chaired a session at the WEAI conference as well as continued to serve on the program committee of the Telecom Policy Research Conference.

10 | School of Public Policy Dean’s Report

MICHAEL SHIRES

Vice Dean for Strategy and Online Programs Director of Assessment, Associate Professor of Public Policy

Michael Shires assisted with the launch of the new online master of public policy and leadership program scheduled to begin in the spring of 2022. He is taking a sabbatical for the 2021–2022 academic year.

Shires was named the school’s new vice dean for strategy and online programs. In his new role, Shires will lead the school’s new initiatives in the area of online learning. He will not only oversee SPP’s innovative online master of public policy and leadership program but will also lead efforts to add new programs and certificates in the online arena.

SPP WELCOMES NEW BOARD OF ADVISORS MEMBER CHANDRA DUISTERMARS MELTON (’99, JD ’02) Chandra Lynn Duistermars Melton (’99, JD ’02), is a Los Angeles native and double graduate of Pepperdine, having earned a BA in psychology from Seaver College and a JD from the Caruso School of Law. She and her husband, Adam Melton, married at Stauffer Chapel on the Malibu campus and have now been married for more than 18 years and have three children.

Duistermars Melton initially began her career as a litigator in a high-profile boutique family law firm in Los Angeles.

She thereafter moved to Texas where she found her true passion working for the county in the family courts as guardian ad litem for children removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect.

Having been called by God to both service and an entrepreneurial opportunity, the Meltons left for China in 2010. Duistermars Melton taught in the local orphanages and eventually leading the youth and women’s ministries at the only government-independent international church.

They went on to serve on the church’s board, while Melton became an elder and one of the pastors. They adopted their daughter there in 2015. During these years, the couple also spent substantial time in Cambodia, where they founded both a Cambodian NGO and US nonprofit organization to further pastoral work.

SPP HOSTS ANNUAL CONSTITUTION DAY LECTURE

Alumni Notes JARED SAM AGTUNONG (MPP ’20) Jared Sam Agtunong was named grant writing and grant program management, public health and public education advocate for the mayor’s office in Maui, Hawaii. This position was a direct appointment by the mayor.

CALEB JASSO (’17, MPP ’19) and ALEXINE CARR (MPP ’21)

Caleb Jasso and Alexine Carr met in Malibu the summer after Jasso graduated from SPP and before Carr had started the program. Two years later, Jasso proposed at the beach where they had their first date. Now, the two are planning a move to Washington, DC, to pursue their careers in public policy.

GREGORY PEJIC (MPP ’06)

Gregory Pejic has joined Leidos as their strategic account director for national security space. He most recently served in the Trump administration as deputy assistant secretary of defense for space policy and before that as a special assistant to deputy secretary of defense David Norquist.

Before joining the Department of Defense, Pejic was a member of the civil service in the US Department of Homeland Security and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

What’s new with you To share your alumni news, please submit to jaclyn.ramirez@pepperdine.edu.

I

n September, SPP welcomed Ian Rowe, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, to the Pepperdine campus. Celebrating Constitution Day, dean Pete Peterson led a conversation with Rowe diving into the deeper meanings of our founding documents and how they impact our current civic landscape.

Peterson started the event by providing the foundation for why we celebrate Constitution Day at Pepperdine, noting that the Founders’ efforts involved extensive civil discourse, an activity that is championed at SPP. “We teach the Constitution here, not just as a document, but as a way of working together to solve policy problems,” said Peterson.

Picking up on the theme of a purposeful debate, Rowe highlighted some of the more recent discussions about the Constitution, emphasizing the importance of allowing a competition of ideas.

He noted, “Every now and then, it’s a good thing for the country to test its own principles.”

Rowe ended the conversation by noting the three main ideas, inspired by the founding documents, that provide the foundation for his work in the field of education. “The Constitution was written at a time where the world was ordered around inequality, and it took a bold vision to layout very different ideas focused on equality of opportunity, individual dignity, and common humanity.” publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu | 11

SPP Cohosts Webinar on

TECHNOLOGY’S USE IN CRISIS RESPONSE AND PREPAREDNESS

S

PP, in partnership with Bent Ear Solutions, hosted an informational and interactive webinar for emergency managers and public safety professionals on May 26, 2021. Made possible through a grant from the Public Interest Technology-University Network, “Leveraging Technology to Improve Crisis Response and Preparedness Decision-Making” brought together more than 50 executives, public safety professionals, crisis managers, operations teams, and GIS professionals from around the nation.

As communities reopen, it is imperative that crisis managers lean forward and prepare for the worst— hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, violent actors, cyber attacks, and more. During the event, attendees learned how their existing technology platforms can be employed on blue sky days, gray sky days, and throughout post-disaster response and recovery. From monitoring social media trends to predictive weather modeling to real-time gunshot tracking, technology improves situational awareness, real-time decision-making, and information sharing—internally, between agencies, and with the public.

This event was the first of four hosted in partnership with Bent Ear Solutions. Founded as a result of firsthand experience with organizations that were frustrated with the inability to access critical information needed to support operations, Bent Ear Solutions, a veteran-owned small business, has established itself as a national leader in technology optimization, strategy development and implementation, operations center readiness, and continuity of operations planning across sectors. Through this partnership, SPP further solidifies its commitment to foster leaders of smart communities.

12 | School of Public Policy Dean’s Report

POLICY RESEARCH SEMINAR (CAPSTONE)

P

olicy 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. Last spring’s graduates explored some fascinating topics, including:

International Relations and National Security • National Security Strategy for Russia

Empirical Policy Analysis • Addressing the Deficit of School-Based Mental Health Personnel in United States School Districts • An Examination of the Problem of Human Trafficking in Los Angeles • Effectiveness of Plastic Ordinances in Santa Monica, California: Do Regulations at the Municipal Level Reduce Plastic Waste?

• Increasing Accessibility in the Paycheck Protection Program: Identifying Barriers to Loan Accessibility for Minority-Owned Small Businesses in Los Angeles County • Is It Really Crime-Free? An Analysis of the Efficacy of the Crime-Free MultiHousing Program for Housing in California • Macroeconomic Factors Influencing Hong Kong’s Housing Prices • Understanding Mental Overload to Guide Best Practices for Financial Education in Predominantly Hispanic Communities in the San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles County • Understanding the Relationship between COVID-19 Policies and Unemployment

Major Issues in Public Policy • A Path Toward Achieving Functional Zero in Anaheim, California: A CrossContextual Analysis • Alternative Dispute Resolution and the US Armed Forces: An Analysis of Current Policy and Opportunity for Future Development • An Analysis of California’s Prison Education Programs: What’s Working and What Can Be Improved?

• Analysis of China’s Tax Incentives for Personal Tax-Deferred Commercial Pension Insurance • Are Veterans Paying the Price for a Broken Immigration System?

• Human Trafficking in India and China • International Conflict Resolution: The Middle Kingdom Restoration Problem • Labor Trafficking in the Global Supply Chain of Coffee • Policy Evaluation of Bolivia’s Broadband Infrastructure • Turkey and NATO: Reevaluating a Complex Alliance

KEVIN FAULCONER NAMED VISITING PROFESSOR OF COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNMENT INNOVATION

LOCAL LEADERSHIP SERIES WITH KEVIN FAULCONER

PP is pleased to announce the appointment of former San Diego mayor Kevin Faulconer as visiting professor of community leadership and government innovation for the 2021 calendar year. Faulconer is currently teaching Innovative Local Leadership in the school’s state and local policy specialization. He has also provided regular public lectures and consulted on the development of coursework for the forthcoming online degree program.

n keeping with his experience, Kevin Faulconer lead a four-part webinar session centered around local leadership. In session one, Faulconer focused on his background, upbringing, and the work he did during his time as mayor. At first, Faulconer started volunteering in his local community in Oxnard, where he was raised, and then later in San Diego. He focused on tax fiscal reform while San Diego was on the verge of bankruptcy.

S

“As a graduate program focused on preparing public leaders who make government systems more efficient and responsive to the needs of residents, I’m delighted to welcome Mayor Faulconer, a nationally recognized leader in this field, to Pepperdine,” noted dean Pete Peterson.

“We’ve seen significant growth in the number of students who come to SPP seeking innovative solutions on issues from housing and homelessness to education policy and fiscal transparency at the local level. I’m excited that they’ll get the chance to learn from the mayor as we continue to build out our programming in this area.”

“I’m honored to join the faculty of Pepperdine’s distinguished School of Public Policy,” Faulconer said. “California is where new opportunities take hold and new ideas take flight, and our government must embrace these values so it can better serve the public. I’m proud to share with the next generation of public servants the successes, lessons, and insights learned during my time as mayor and city councilmember in San Diego, and to work with dean Peterson to envision new leadership programs for the school.”

In his new role, Faulconer will work with Peterson along with SPP faculty and staff to develop and explore new growth opportunities for these programs based on his years of experience in deploying similar efforts in San Diego.

Under Faulconer’s leadership, the City of San Diego has been recognized nationwide for its use of technology to simplify government processes, including overhauling the city’s archaic website, deploying customerfocused apps and technologies, and creating the Performance and Analytics Department. These efforts have earned San Diego national acclaim, including being named a top Digital City (2019) by the Center for Digital Government, receiving a top ranking as the American city most “Equipt to Innovate” (2018) by Governing Institute and earning a Silver Certification (2020) as one of the nation’s few “What Works Cities” in the category of data transparency.

Prior to being elected mayor in 2014, Faulconer served for seven years on the San Diego City Council, where he was elected as council president pro tempore and the inaugural chair of the city’s audit committee. He went on to serve as the city’s mayor for two terms.

I

Faulconer touched on managing the problem of homelessness in San Diego during session two. He discussed housing and homelessness policy and the rise of NIMBY-ism in the city. He was able to reduce the population of people experiencing homelessness by double digits and aimed to humanize the new projects and policies that he put into place. Although people did not always agree with the changes, he was able to effect change through communication with the public.

Cohosted with the Association of Environmental Professionals student organization at SPP, session three posed the question, What can cities do about improving the environment? As a priority, Faulconer’s initiatives were to support physical infrastructure enhancements, including repaving the streets of San Diego to allow for more bike lanes and install wastewater pipelines underground. The Clean SD program founded by Faulconer created crews to travel the city and clean it to improve its beauty and its healthfulness.

Session four was a dialogue between Faulconer and dean Pete Peterson on the issue of affordable city living. To improve the affordability of San Diego, Faulconer took measures to ensure the availability of good middle-class jobs and the promotion of small business success through tax and regulatory reform. He stated that small businesses, forming 85 percent of California cities’ economy, are the foundation of cities’ financial well-being. publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu/local-leadership publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu | 13

School of Public Policy

RANKS AMONG TOP 10 MPP PROGRAMS IN THE WEST IN U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT

S

PP ranked a top 10 program in the West among 275 policy programs in the recently released 2022 edition of Best Graduate Schools for Public Affairs by U.S. News & World Report.

Grounded in a distinctive curriculum, which balances coursework in American history and political economy with standard quantitative studies in policy analysis, SPP prepares public leaders who can work across differences and across sectors to create sustainable policy solutions. In 2020, SPP announced noted policy leader Kevin Faulconer, former mayor of San Diego, California, and candidate for California governor, to serve as the visiting professor of community leadership and government innovation.

The school has launched recent initiatives in education policy and crisis management alongside its nationally recognized Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership, which continues to train and consult with hundreds of local government leaders from across the country in facilitating more effective and participatory public policy making processes. As a founding member of the Public Interest Technology-University Network, the institute has grown its coursework and training in the “smart city” movement.

In 2020, it offered one of America’s first professional certifications in leading smart communities for municipal government officials and will offer a new workshop in GIS skills for crisis managers in 2021.

Launched in early 2017, SPP’s American Project remains a unique academic effort to gather leading academics and policy

makers to explore the prospects for a more communitarian approach to American policy and politics. In 2020 the project began its “Quest for Community” webinar series, which has featured panels with civic leaders, policy researchers, and political opinion writers.

It continues to host an essay series on the website RealClearPolicy.com.

SPP offers a two-year, full-time master of public policy program with its comprehensive James Q. Wilson Core curriculum grounded in both policy analysis and an exceptional understanding of the many factors—cultural, historical, philosophical, and faith perspectives— to employ what Wilson called our “moral sense.” The need to humanize our politics and policymaking has never been greater, which is why we say from our breathtaking campus, our students “will see public policy differently from here.” Through coursework and co-curricular events, SPP demonstrates its commitment to viewpoint diversity, which it views as an integral component to the preparation of leaders going into careers in policy and politics.

Offering joint degree programs in partnership with Pepperdine's top-ranked graduate schools for business, law, and dispute resolution, SPP also facilitates a 3-credit Washington, DC Policy Scholars Program during the summer, offering courses on “American Gospel: The Role of Religion in US Domestic and Foreign Policy” and “Humanizing Education Policy: A Study of Foundational Philosophies.”

School of Public Policy Announces

THE BRUCE HERSCHENSOHN ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP

I

n February SPP established the Bruce Herschensohn Endowed Scholarship in honor of the former faculty member’s passing in late 2020.

A member of SPP’s founding faculty in the 1998 academic year, Herschensohn should be considered one of our program’s “founding fathers.” Herschensohn had been involved with teaching our graduate students since that first year through 2020, when he gave a riveting presentation on the protests in Hong Kong.

More than a teacher, Herschensohn was a true mentor to many of our students, and a friend to the school, who often led 14 | School of Public Policy Dean’s Report

“friend-raising” efforts through his popular foreign policy roundtables. Herschensohn maintained decades’ long relationships with students who have gone on to incredible careers in public policy and politics.

With Herschensohn’s passing, the opportunity now exists to engage and support our next generation of public leaders through an endowed scholarship program in his name. Through the Bruce Herschensohn Endowed Scholarship Program, future generations of leaders will learn about him and carry on his legacy.

The scholarship will support master of public policy students:

• who share Herschensohn’s passion for foreign policy and seek careers in the Foreign Service and/or the national intelligence agencies • who share Herschensohn’s interest in the media and seek careers in political/policy communications To continue building an impact, additional donations can be made on our giving page or through consultation with the school’s director of development, Matt Cutler at matt.cutler@pepperdine.edu. publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu/ bruce-herschenson-scholarship

Quest for Community:

A FUTURE FOR AMERICAN CONSERVATISM WEBINAR SERIES

S

PP hosted the sixth segment of its Quest for Community webinar series. The discussion focused on communitarian politics and its prospects for bipartisan implementation.

The event was moderated by April Lawson, who leads Braver Angels’ Debate and Public Discourse Program and recently cofounded Weave: The Social Fabric Project, an Aspen Institute initiative. The panelists included dean Pete Peterson and Citizen University chief executive officer Eric Liu, who has served in the Clinton and Obama administrations, as well as director of the Aspen Institute’s Citizenship and American Identity Program.

Peterson opened the conversation by noting that the growing appetite for communitarianism is a response to a sense of loneliness and alienation, which have broader economic and societal implications. Liu explained that despite policy disagreements, there is a shared understanding of the challenges facing Americans and believe that a bipartisan commitment to revitalizing the value of community is necessary to bridge divides and solve complex problems.

“The values, norms, narratives, and habits that add up to a culture shape the frame of the possible when it comes to structural political conversations,” Liu said. Liu also expressed concern with hyperindividualism, which he described as a “diseased vision of the meaning of liberty” that blindly advances “liberty without responsibility.” Additionally, he suggested that there’s a strong desire for communitarianism on the political left, which may take the form of a “progressivism of connection” to meet Peterson’s support for a “conservatism of connection.”

Peterson emphasized localism as a key mechanism to strengthen community, as issues such as road repair and water conservation are best suited to local, practical problem solving.

In a time of immense political polarization, communitarianism offers a shared foundation from which communities can flourish, encouraging Americans to rebuild the habits, bonds, and affections that support responsibility and provide genuine fulfillment.

The seventh webinar’s focus shifted to philanthropy as a potential community-building practice. This event was moderated by Peterson and featured a four-member panel to discuss the promises and perils of philanthropic efforts. Panelists included American Philanthropic cofounder Jeremy Beer, Bradley Foundation senior program director Alicia L. Manning, American Enterprise Institute resident fellow and Independent Women’s Forum senior fellow Naomi Schaefer Riley, and Hudson Institute senior fellow William A. Schambra.

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, Riley expressed a sense of optimism regarding the response from American philanthropists. “I think you saw the most vital community organizations supported by philanthropies really stepping up to help people who were in need—either because of the effects of the pandemic or the effects of the lockdowns,” she explained.

“This year really showed the promise of American philanthropy and, in many ways, it was fulfilled.”

On the flip side, Riley and Manning noted the growing politicization of the philanthropic environment, which has been a consequence of broader changes in American political culture.

Manning further observed that recent partisan intrusion into philanthropy “supplants healthy communities” and replaces relationship building with dissolution.

Another key element of philanthropy is effectiveness, which is to say how well resources can be used to improve the wellbeing of communities. Elite foundations dominate much of the philanthropic landscape, but much of their efforts are at a national or international level. Beer compared this tendency with a more localist vision of philanthropy, arguing that locally based efforts involve donors more personally in their giving and make them more accountable. The ability to see philanthropy in action—rather than abstraction—connects supporters to their communities, creating unique bonds that strengthen local relationships.

The primary takeaway from the panelists was that philanthropic efforts can be extremely effective tools to rebuild and improve communities, but must be not be distracted by “businessization” or politicization. The restoration of American civil society can be greatly assisted by philanthropy, though a renewed appreciation for the virtue of community is also a necessary condition. publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu/quest-for-community publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu | 15

School of Public Policy Introduces

THE FLOYD BLACK FELLOWSHIP

I

n a few short months, SPP student Floyd Black had a profound impact on classmates, school staff, and faculty. Possessing a sharp intellect and a passion for serving those with the deepest needs—particularly in the area of education—Black’s potential seemed limitless.

His passing last year was felt strongly by all who knew him—not only because of who he was but also because of who he appeared destined to be. At SPP, where we prepare the next generation of public leaders, we are saddened by the loss of Black as a student and friend, but also by the loss of Black to the people and communities he would have lifted up.

The annual Floyd Black Fellowship awards eligible SPP students $2,500 per candidate to support a summer internship at the Crete Academy in South Los Angeles.

Founded more than a decade ago by SPP alumna and nationally recognized education reformer, Hattie Mitchell (MPP ’12), this TK–6th grade school serves students who are experiencing homelessness or living in deep poverty. The stated vision of Crete Academy is that “One day, the cycle of poverty will end and children who once were homeless and living in poverty will be leaders of this world.”

The inaugural cohort was selected from a number of applicants that submitted a 1,500-word essay. Floyd Black Fellow Rosemary Gutierrez, stated “the Floyd Black Fellowship is an opportunity to serve in an area where much help is needed. I have seen the inequalities that exist in the education sector and feel that it is my moral obligation to give back to a community that parallels the one I grew up in. I want to be an example to those with hardships and show them that they too can overcome these challenges through education.”

Working under the leadership of Mitchell, the fellows worked on education policy research and development related to the needs

of the Crete Academy. Floyd Black Fellow Victoria Amponsah shared, “I was initially drawn to the fellowship because of Dr. Mitchell’s focus on helping the most vulnerable, impoverished children gain a solid education through Crete Academy. The fellowship also aligns with my public policy career goal of working in education policy to serve underprivileged and underrepresented communities. I am looking forward to gaining further insight into the core problems and research ways to bridge the education inequity gap.”

Leslie Amaya-Yanez, another inaugural fellow, shared, “as a native of Los Angeles and a product of Los Angeles public schools, I am excited and feel lucky to have been afforded the opportunity to work alongside people who care for the children and the future of this city as much as I do.”

“We look forward to working with SPP interns who embody the values shared by both Crete Academy and Floyd Black, to advance education and opportunities for all,” concluded Mitchell. publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu/floyd-black-fellowship

WHY CITIES GO BANKRUPT

S

PP and the International City/Council Management Association student organization hosted a discussion of city bankruptcies with journalist and founder of Market Urbanism Report Scott Beyer, city finance expert Michael Shires, associate professor of public policy, and Kurt Wilson, former city manager of Stockton, California.

Each panelist brought a unique perspective: Beyer has toured the US examining how regulatory environments have affected municipal budgets. Shires has advised local governments and organizations on best financial practices, and Wilson helped

16 | School of Public Policy Dean’s Report

usher Stockton from bankruptcy to one of the most fiscally healthy cities in the country.

The discussion ranged from analysis of systemic problems in the way the US approaches local finance, to how municipalities can avoid bankruptcy, and to how COVID-19 will impact local economies. “We don’t fully know [what the impacts will be],” said Shires. “You’re going to see a lot of budget pressure on local governments, and what the state does to step in and backfill that will decide how bad it is for local jurisdictions.”

LUISA BLANCO PARTNERS WITH UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES, TO INCREASE VACCINE ACCEPTANCE IN LATINX FAMILIES

F

ollowing her studies on the economic impacts the Latinx community is facing due to COVID-19, Luisa Blanco, professor of public policy and economics at SPP, started a community-based study to improve vaccine acceptance in Latinx communities in Los Angeles. Blanco is collaborating with University of California, Los Angeles associate professor Yelba Castellon-Lopez and community organizations in this effort.

The program is a testament to Blanco’s commitment to blend technology, policy, and education together to create meaningful change within underserved communities.

Since the onset of the pandemic, Latinx communities have faced significantly greater economic and health impacts than other populations. These impacts include higher unemployment rates, the loss of retirement savings to cover the cost of basic needs, and a higher risk of serious COVID-19 infections. Public health experts believe vaccines are critical to the nation’s effort to fully recover from the pandemic.

Blanco and Castellon-Lopez state, “Improving COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among Latinos is necessary to mitigate the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Latinos and address health disparities.” Unfortunately, BIPOC populations and individuals with low

income are showing a lack of trust in COVID-19 vaccines. This lack of acceptance could draw out COVID-19-related economic and health impacts on Latinx communities, especially families who faced financial hardship before the pandemic, long after the nation’s economic recovery.

To improve vaccine acceptance, Blanco and Castellon-Lopez have partnered with InnerCity Struggle, Families in School, and Innovate Public Schools—community-based organizations dedicated to supporting families with low income in East and South Los Angeles—to develop a family-centered mobile intervention campaign. The project, made possible through funding from UCLA and Pepperdine, aims to counter vaccine misinformation with easily accessible vaccine and COVID-19 educational material.

Building upon Castellon-Lopez’s previous work to address health disparities in vulnerable communities and Blanco’s holistic understanding of the long-term impacts, the educational material is carefully developed with a culturally competent lens. Additionally, the campaign is available in both English and Spanish and easily accessible via mobile text messaging on a twice-weekly basis.

Comparing Data Dashboards:

THE CALIFORNIA PROSPERITY INDEX AND THE CALIFORNIA DREAM INDEX

I

n the spring term, dean Pete Peterson discussed using data dashboards to guide policy makers statewide in making well-informed, data-driven decisions with Shaun Flanagan, director at the Legatum Institute, Patrick Atwater, senior research analyst for California Forward, and Oscar Chavez, assistant director of Human Services for Sonoma County. The policy experts discussed two data dashboards, the Legatum Institute’s US Prosperity Index, and California Forward’s CA Dream Index.

The Prosperity Index measures prosperity throughout each US state by using 48 policy elements in the domains of inclusive societies, open economies, and empowered people, which provides policy makers with a broad overview of a wide array of quality of life elements. In contrast, the CA Dream Index focuses on tracking factors related to long-term economic mobility in such areas as home ownership rates, clean water, and prosperous neighborhoods, offering a more nuanced understanding of how

specific individual groups are faring due to more disaggregated data. These data dashboards essentially work in tandem to provide a picture of the state of California. Following the discussion surrounding the data dashboards, Chavez related the actions that Sonoma County has taken to become more “data driven and evidence informed” to ensure that policies lead to positive outcomes for community residents. These data dashboards can both guide policy makers’ decision-making and can provide substantial information to the public statewide. publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu/comparing-data-dashboards

publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu | 17

SPP Launches New Civics Initiative

T

hrough the support of two new donors to the School of Public Policy­—Sheldon Stone and Sam Ginn—the school has begun a new civics education effort focused on high school teachers and adult learners. Grounded in the research and writings of Professor Emeritus Gordon Lloyd, the “Project on Civics Education through Primary Texts” webpage is being expanded and updated with new, short video courses to complement hyperlinked texts. The first four-part video seminar, “The Roots of Capitalism vs. Socialism: A Conversation” will be uploaded to the website. The second short course, “The Roots of Education Policy: A Conversation” features SPP professor Ted McAllister and Princeton Seminary professor Margarita Mooney Suarez discussing the foundational thinkers in education policy.

Two more short video courses are slated for filming later this year.

Along with the larger web presence, SPP is partnering with the Ashbrook Center to host a pair of one-day civics education sessions for high school teachers in the Los Angeles area. These colloquia will be hosted at Pepperdine campus sites in West Los Angeles and Calabasas, and will include a history scholar leading cohorts of high school teachers through an examination of primary text documents from pivotal eras in American history.

“From our founding, SPP has placed a particular emphasis on understanding American public policy from the perspective of the original thinkers and practitioners through the process of conversation and deliberation,” described dean Peterson.

“Through these initiatives—both online and in-person—we look forward to engaging a wider audience in learning about the exceptional nature of the American project,” he announced.

Jeff Sikkenga, former William E. Simon Visiting Professor at SPP and executive director of the Ashbrook Center, noted, “Ashbrook is proud to join with the School of Public Policy to help teachers deepen their understanding of American history and government.

These teachers will reach thousands of students over the course of their careers, and we know that our experiment in self-government can only flourish if the youngest generation understands and appreciates America’s history and fundamental principles."

SPP PARTNERS WITH TOP UNIVERSITIES ON GOVTECH CONFERENCE

P

ublic interest technology is an emerging field in which technologists, designers, strategists, researchers, and policy makers leverage digital technologies to create more sustainable and inclusive economic and governance systems. Public interest technologists ask questions like: How can digital tools address food insecurity? How might communities connect through virtual networks to address policy challenges together?

In 2019 SPP was named one of the founding members of the Public Interest Technology–University Network (PIT-UN)—a nationwide academic network of more than 40 institutions exploring the intersection of technology, government, and the public interest. This groundbreaking effort sets SPP apart from other prestigious programs by providing a path for lifelong learners, entrepreneurs, and public policy advocates to create a better community-based technology marketplace that prioritizes people over profit. As the network continues to grow, students at every point in life have the chance to build a more robust and healthier future relationship between free societies and the use of technology tools.

18 | School of Public Policy Dean’s Report

Partnering with Stanford University, the University of Washington, and New York University, SPP is happy to have supported “A Better Tech: Public Interest Technology Convention and Career Fair,” which took place in October. Through hands-on workshops, roundtables, keynotes, fire presentations, a hackathon, and a virtual career fair, participants shared the latest developments in the field, learned about careers in public interest technology, and connected with professionals working in this area across many different sectors and industries. As the first convening of its kind in the US, it brought together the country’s most talented students and leading researchers with organizations and companies that are at the forefront of creating responsible and accountable tech that serves the public interest.

This conference and career fair brought together technologists, educators, researchers, companies, advocacy groups, recruiters, and other professionals working in public interest technology to present their ideas for implementing and adopting emerging technology and invited those who envision a new direction for communities to work across disciplines in the discovery of mission-driven career paths.

School of Public Policy

STUDENTS EXAMINE THE Financial Impact of COVID-19 ON CALIFORNIA'S LATINX COMMUNITY

U

nder the direction of economist Luisa Blanco, professor of public policy at SPP, a group of Pepperdine graduate students applied qualitative data analysis to explore the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Latinx families currently residing in California. Last year, the researchers collected data via mobile phones and computers among a sample of 84 Latinx community members with low to moderate income who had participated in a previous economic study spearheaded by Blanco in 2018–2019. The 84 participants shared information about their financial well-being, offered insights into their overall stressors, and disclosed personal experiences highlighting how the pandemic has impacted their personal finances and mental health.

According to Deja Frederick (MPP ’21) who served as Blanco’s research assistant during a summer 2020 internship and partnered with her on this project, the number of participants in the sample that have emergency funds had increased during COVID-19. Frederick shares that COVID-19 relief efforts seem to be an important factor in providing financial security among those who lost their jobs as a result of business shutdowns.

Susie Herrera (MPP ’21), who worked alongside Blanco as a graduate research assistant focusing on qualitative analysis, shares that one of the most eye-opening aspects of this project was learning that no one was exempt from challenges brought on by the pandemic. While some of the essential workers who participated in the process were able to work additional hours at their job sites, this opportunity put their family’s health at risk. Additionally, some families who were barely making ends meet prior to the pandemic experienced even harsher financial hardships.

“I want people to understand the narrative behind the data,” Herrera says. “For example, some people lost 20 hours of work and their savings to make ends meet, while living in fear of a sometimes fatal illness as their partners continued to work outside the home to simply maintain basic needs.”

Student Vanessa Cruz, who helped gather the project’s literature review and created graphs to help visually explain the statistics, reveals that based on the data, people of color were financially impacted at higher rates from COVID-19 than white people and that the California-based Latinx population in particular experienced the largest disparity in terms of COVID-19 cases and deaths.

To help alleviate some of the challenges presented by this gap, Cruz notes that, “Raising awareness about the financial vulnerabilities experienced by Latinx people is the first step in addressing these significant circumstances that many are currently experiencing.”

The study also discovered a correlation between ethnic backgrounds and gender, and the ways in which those factors further widen the economic disparity gap.

It revealed that Latinas were those most affected by financial hardships during the pandemic in California. Amid school closures and lack of daycare options, many of these women quit their jobs in order to provide full-time care for their children.

While investigating financial difficulties, the researchers found that many Latinx people were experiencing major levels of stress stemming from household management responsibilities, familyrelated issues, exposure to COVID-19, and the uncertainty of their financial future.

In response, Blanco and her team of researchers recommend emphasizing the importance of mental health treatment services among Latinx populations.

In the paper, “Financial Stress among Latino Adults in California during COVID-19,” published in the School of Public Policy Working Papers section of the Pepperdine Libraries website in March 2021, the researchers encourage collaborations between community organizations and the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, expressing that, “We should focus on devising effective interventions for wellness programs and eliminating the stigma associated with mental health services within the community.”

SPP and LA world affairs council Cohost “Everything Will Be Okay”

O

n April 8 SPP and the Los Angeles World Affairs Council & Town Hall cohosted “Everything Will Be Okay,” an online conversation with Dana Perino moderated by Charity Wallace (’97), founder and president of Wallace Global Impact, and SPP board member. The webinar’s title derived from Perino’s latest book, Everything Will Be Okay: Life Lessons for Young Women (from a Former Young Woman).

Perino currently cohosts one of the most popular shows on cable television, The Five. She was nominated by President Barack Obama to serve on the Broadcasting Board of Governors— an agency overseeing governmentsponsored international broadcasting— and has taught classes in political communications at George Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management. Everything Will Be Okay is a no-nonsense how-to guide to life for young women looking to reframe their thinking, to believe in themselves, to take risks, to understand their power, and to feel better overall through finding serenity and taking action.

Two months after the 9/11 attacks, Perino was hired by White House chief of staff Andy Card to help lead the country through the worst attack on United States soil since Pearl Harbor.

Perino went on to become the first Republican woman to serve as the White House press secretary, a position she held until the end of the Bush administration.

Perino shared the most valuable lessons she learned from working at the White House during the aftermath of the 9/11 national crisis and offered advice for managing high-stress environments and career trials. She also addressed the relationship between politics and the media by drawing on her extensive experience working at the nexus of this relationship. Her message to viewers regarding stress management in difficult times resonated with all in attendance. publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu | 19

ROBERT GEORGE NAMED RONALD REAGAN HONORARY DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR OF PUBLIC POLICY

P

rinceton University professor Robert George has been named the inaugural Nootbaar Honorary Distinguished Professor of Law at the Caruso School of Law and the Ronald Reagan Honorary Distinguished Professor of Public Policy at the School of Public Policy. George will commence his new roles at Pepperdine in fall 2021 and serve a five-year term. He will continue to serve as the McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence at Princeton University where he is a full-time faculty member.

As an honorary distinguished professor at Pepperdine in both schools, he will be invited to give academic lectures, lead student colloquia, and participate in other speaking engagements with members of the Pepperdine community.

In January 2021 George was introduced to the University community at the inaugural President’s Speaker Series event, where he joined fellow professor and political scholar Cornel West for a discussion of honesty and courage through the lens of faith. During the event George expressed that universities have a sacred mission to open students’ minds to the truth and to encourage the pursuit of information from opposing sides to better understand and defend the truth. “We need to encourage that kind of inquisitiveness and openness and the sense that you can learn even from people who are wrong, even from people you disagree with,” George said.

During its 24-year history, the School of Public Policy has welcomed noted scholars to lead classroom discourse through a number of visiting professorships to help prepare America’s next generation of public leaders. From a list that includes James Q. Wilson, Lanhee Chen, Victor 20 | School of Public Policy Dean’s Report

Davis Hanson, Karen Elliot House, Jack Kemp, and Michael Novak, this role has been essential to establishing the school’s distinctive national identity while providing students with opportunities to learn from the nation’s leading policy practitioners and intellectuals.

Books relevant to our next generation of public leaders,” says dean Pete Peterson.

“We’re honored to welcome Robby George—an acclaimed academic with a commitment to viewpoint diversity—to serve as our next Ronald Reagan Honorary Distinguished Professor of Public Policy.”

The most distinguished of the School of Public Policy’s visiting professorships is the Ronald Reagan Professor of Public Policy, launched in the program’s first years and approved by Nancy Reagan. As the school’s first-ever visiting professorship, and the only professorship in the president’s name at any policy program in the United States, the position was initially endowed and facilitated

by University supporter Flora L. Thornton.

George is the McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence and director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University and is a visiting professor at Harvard Law School. He has served as chair of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom and as a presidential appointee to the US Commission on Civil Rights.

George has also served on the President’s Council on Bioethics and as the US member of UNESCO’s World Commission on the Ethics of Science and Technology. He was a judicial fellow at the Supreme Court of the United States, where he received the Justice Tom C. Clark Award.

“From the late James Q. Wilson to Bill McClay and Steve Hayward, our Ronald Reagan professorship has been held by some of America’s great scholars who have made the lessons of history and the Great

VICE DEAN MICHAEL SHIRES NAMED VISITING SENIOR FELLOW FOR NEXT GENERATION TEXAS

M

ichael Shires, vice dean for strategy and online programs and associate professor of public policy at SPP, was named visiting senior fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Next Generation Texas initiative during his sabbatical for the 2021–22 academic year. In this new role, he is working with the team to improve education and public finance for all Texas students as they return to school in a post-pandemic world.

“This is an amazing opportunity to work with one of the nation’s leading states to address the many challenges that schools and families face in today’s politicized and polarized policy environment,” Shires said. “We have a genuine opportunity to take the best lessons from the past

two years to build a brighter future for our children and our schools. Our nation often looks to Texas to show us how it’s done and I am honored to be a part of this important work.”

“As a leading scholar in state and local government policy with a particular expertise in the education sphere, I’m excited to see Dr. Shires both contribute to and learn from the significant public policy reforms happening in Texas,” said dean Pete Peterson. “Of all the policy areas impacted by COVID-19, we’re witnessing some of the most radical proposals in education, and Dr. Shires will play a major role in shaping them through one of America’s leading state-based think tanks,” Peterson added.

Davenport Institute Hosts

Discussion on the Future of Public Engagement in a Hybrid World

I

n July the Davenport Institute hosted “The Future of Public Engagement in a Hybrid World,” a special event about the emerging hybrid of online and in-person public participation in local government using new digital tools and trusted and tested long-standing methods. The event featured a panel discussion and break-out sessions to dive deep into public engagement and provide professionals and stakeholders in the space the tools and resources they need to navigate this new hybrid landscape.

“I am delighted that the Davenport Institute was able to host this important discussion,” shares Maureen Tobin, executive director of the institute. “For the first time ever, we welcomed several organizations to partner and provide a forum for important dialogue around the future of public engagement as we emerge from the pandemic. By coming together to learn from each other and share best practices, ultimately, the communities we serve benefit.”

Alongside the International Association of Public Participation’s California Chapters, the Institute for Local Government, Engaging Local Government Leaders, and Cal-ICMA, the Davenport Institute hosted this special conversation about the changing ways in which we participate in government. After a year and a half of predominantly online engagement, the institute hopes

to further engage stakeholders in leveraging the varieties of available methods of involvement.

Featured speakers included principal consultant and founder of New Reach Community Consulting Coby C. Williams, community organizer and policy advocate at Green Action for Health and Environmental Justice Miguel Alatorre, and CEO of Right + Good Consulting Rebekah Grmela. publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu/future-of-public-engagement

publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu | 21

SPP TRAINS LEAD 4 AMERICA “HOMETOWN FELLOWS”

S

PP is partnering with the national nonprofit, Lead 4 America (L4A) to provide leadership and local government training to their “hometown fellows.” Started three years ago, Lead 4 America recruits recent college graduates to serve in their home communities on two-year fellowships, supporting local governments and nonprofits.

In this first stage of programs, SPP will provide two online training programs— one based on the Davenport Institute’s “Leadership through Public Engagement”

seminars, and the second titled, “Local Government 101,” which will teach students about the various aspects of municipal governance. Dean Pete Peterson will be offering the first training and Davenport Institute executive director, Maureen Tobin, is leading the second.

“I’m excited to have SPP support this remarkable nationwide service program,” said dean Peterson. “It aligns closely with our focus on public engagement— particularly at the local level,” he said.

L4A’s chief program officer, Maya Pace, added her thanks for this partnership: “L4A is honored to partner with the Davenport Institute to deliver our public engagement and local government training for our incoming class of 2021 fellows. We appreciate the opportunity to work with a service-minded institution like the institute to ensure that our fellows are equipped with the technical expertise and leadership skills necessary to build their hometown civic ecosystems.”

SPP and the Trinity Forum Hosted

ALL THE LONELY PEOPLE: ISOLATION, CONNECTION, AND THE COMMON GOOD

S

PP and the Trinity Forum hosted the webinar, “All the Lonely People: Isolation, Connection, and the Common Good.” SPP Washington, DC Policy Scholars Program faculty member and policy researcher, Ryan Streeter of the American Enterprise Institute, and psychiatrist Francie Broghammer of the University of California, Irvine, had a conversation on America’s epidemic of loneliness and the path toward meaningful connection.

Loneliness in America has been sharply increasing, even before the onset of the pandemic—despite our virtually unprecedented national prosperity, technological advances, and immediate virtual access to information and each other, there is, in the words of Broghammer, a growing “toll of despair.” The thinning of many family and community ties has sharpened our felt sense of isolation and led some to seek a sense of solidarity in political involvement. Streeter’s research has found that “normally when people get involved in their communities, social capital grows and loneliness declines . . . but we have found that political engagement is a lone exception to this rule.”

Streeter and Broghammer addressed: • How should we think about reinvigorating the relational and community ties that encourage the flourishing of both the individual and the body politic?

• What are the antidotes to isolation in a time of pandemic—and beyond?

• Is there hope for connecting lonely people in a divided nation?

• Is there a way to talk about politics that actually brings people together?

22 | School of Public Policy Dean’s Report

THE PARAMETERS OF A PRO-WORKING-CLASS ECONOMIC POLICY

I

n the spring term, SPP welcomed former chief executive of CKE Restaurants and SPP senior fellow Andrew Puzder to discuss the components of a pro-working-class economic policy with dean Pete Peterson. Puzder contended a successful economic policy for workers must focus on increasing wages and decreasing the unemployment rate. According to Puzder, the way to accomplish this is to encourage growth so businesses compete for workers and wages increase.

In his comparison of the last three eras of presidential policy, including that of the Biden administration, Puzder stated that the Trump era emphasized a greater effort to assist the working class due to deregulation and conservative government spending. Puzder noted a drop in the poverty rate during President Trump's time in office, as well as a historic low in the unemployment rate in 2019. Obama and Biden both entered office during times of recession and promised large Keynesian-style stimulus packages aimed to boost the economy. Such policies don't help the working class, according to Puzder, because “businesses don’t invest and grow based on a temporary stimulus.”

WAVEMAKER IN ACTION: POLICY FOUNDATIONS FOR A DYNAMIC CAREER

I

arrived at SPP as a staunch conservative. I had spent my undergraduate studies in constant tension with my classmates who disagreed strongly with my values and took issue with my large platform as a writer in conservative media. I hoped to gain resources to further my education in policy from SPP, but in reality, I gained much more.

Most importantly, I obtained the ability to defend my conservative values through a solid foundation in classic literature, history, and philosophy. This is not to say that SPP’s classrooms are dominated by die-hard conservatives like me, rather, they are actually diverse. During one of my first classes, a professor conducted an anonymous survey that found that the class was close to evenly split between students on the right and left. In my opinion, the majority of classrooms in America cannot say the same—and that is a huge problem. At SPP I was able to learn from professors who were deeply interested in explaining traditional values. This not only gave me confidence but prepared me to employ these values in my career, which focuses on international relations and communications.

I am proudly now the digital director for ambassador Nikki Haley’s nonprofit Stand for America and sit on the board of Lone Conservative, the nonprofit I founded that gives conservative students a voice. My usual workday consists of constantly intersecting my skills in communications and social media with the public policy tools I gained while at SPP. Some days I may be working on policy about Israel and the Middle East, and other days immigration or China’s genocide against the Uyghurs. In other words, my job requires that I be flexible, comprehensive, and able to push past the noise to find the truth and decide how to solve problems. It’s been a blessing to have an influential role

in these conversations while working with Haley’s organization.

I am so fortunate to have the knowledge, resources, and community I gained at SPP to help lead me forward in my career.

And I am happy to have a campus that I can truly call home.

KASANDRA DILLON (MPP ’21) twitter.com/KassyDillon

MEETING OF THE MAYORS

S

PP welcomed Eric Johnson, Pepperdine regent and mayor of Dallas, Texas, and Kevin Faulconer, former mayor of San Diego, California, and former gubernatorial candidate for California, for an interactive conversation on “Policy Leadership for Challenging Times.” The engaging conversation with such highly respected leaders was centered on the policy challenges facing cities across the country, and the ways we can move forward during these difficult times. It became clear that leadership, judgment, and communication—particularly

during a crisis—are critical to effective public service.

Both mayors related the importance of local government leadership and the fulfillment offered by public service.

Johnson shared his enthusiasm for his job and his gratitude that it exposed his children to public service at a high level. This sentiment was echoed by Faulconer, who acknowledged that public service is “a great way to understand what is happening in your community.”

Overall, the conversation highlighted

the importance of principled leadership as a central factor for effectively serving local communities. publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu/policy-leadership publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu | 23

PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY School of Public Policy 24255 Pacific Coast Highway Malibu, CA 90263-4494

PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY Pete Peterson (MPP ’07) Dean Braun Family Dean’s Chair

MEMBERS

Nicole Neily (MPP ’06)

Viggo Butler (MBA ’80)

Gary Oakland

Rod Campbell (In Memoriam)

Stephen Olson (MBA ’73)

Frank Cornell (MBA ’78, EdD ’04)

Nishan Partamian

Lisa Cowell Doug De Groote

James R. Wilburn (MBA ’82) Dean Emeritus

Maureen Grace

BOARD OF ADVISORS

Jay Hoffman

Cynthia Guerrero (MPP ’04) Glen Holden

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Ed Feulner

Colene Johnson (’68) Jeffrey Jones (MPP ’02) Jonathan Kemp (’94, MBA ’07) Cathryn Kingsbury (’97, MPP ’99) Donald R. Knabe Jong Lee Darrell Levonian

Steve Forbes Robert Hertzberg Frederick Ryan

James Piereson Ronald Plotkin Gary Polson Walter Poser James Puckett (MBA ’12) Kevin Richardson (JD ’82) Margaret Sheppard Eryn Witcher Tillman (’97, MPP ’99) Keith Tobias Robert Virtue Carol Wallace

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.

Charity Wallace (’97)

Ernie Maldonado (’76, MP ’80) Michael Y. Warder Barry L. Wolfe Chandra Duistermars Melton (’99, JD ’02)

EDITOR: Jaclyn Ramirez

COPY EDITORS: Sheryl Covey (MDR ’20) Amanda Pisani

Johnny Zamrzla

WRITERS: Chloe Buckler (MPP '21), Matt Cutler, Kasandra Dillon (MPP '21), Susie Herrera (MPP '21), Michael Huling, Lawson Mansell, Naomi Newman, Jordan Parrish, Pete Peterson (MPP '07), Jaclyn Ramirez, Abigail Scott (MPP '21)

Upcoming Events For more information and additional events, visit publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu/events PP2107100

Joseph Czyzyk Chair

Dean’s Report Editorial Team

Peggy Grande

Jason Pates (’95, MPP ’99)