From Coast to Capital: The School of Public Policy Launches
Washington, DC, Track
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Welcome to our first annual edition of the Dean’s Report from the School of Public Policy (SPP). In this robust volume, you’ll read of all the incredible developments at SPP during a highly productive 2024. It had already been a busy year before the end of November, but we closed with a pair of momentous events. The first was the news of the passing of the school’s founding dean, Jim Wilburn, on November 29.
As you’ll read in the story herein, Jim’s influence on the School of Public Policy is foundational—from the design of our distinctive curriculum to the construction of our Braun Building overlooking the Pacific Ocean. After he retired almost a decade ago, I was delighted when he decided to keep an office on campus just down the hall from mine. The proximity enabled numerous conversations over these past years. He was not only an inspiration for what he built, but he was an ongoing source of encouragement and wisdom. I’ll miss him greatly.
As we absorbed this sad news, our Malibu campus was assaulted by the timeless menace of fire as the Franklin Fire swept over the Santa Monica Mountains behind SPP on December 9–10. The fire has once again left scarred hillsides, but it also revealed the remarkably capable leadership of the University’s Emergency Operations Committee, level-headed reactions by our students and faculty, and the incredible heroism of our firefighters. At one point on the evening of the 9th, as the fire reached within 75 yards of the school’s front door, it appeared to “jump” (in the words of one of the fire officials) north and away from campus. I have no doubt we were blessed
with some divine protection as well. The fire also demonstrated the leadership skills of alumnus Kevin McGowan (MPP ’10), who coordinated the region’s fire response from his position as director of Los Angeles County’s Office of Emergency Management.
For the rest of the year, the school’s programs spanned from California to Washington, DC, to Pepperdine’s new campus in Switzerland covering topics ranging from homelessness to religious liberty to national security. Program enhancements include the addition of the University’s highest endowed chair with Kiron Skinner becoming our inaugural Taube Family Chair of International Relations and Politics and new cocurricular initiative in energy policy led by Steve Hayward. Victor Davis Hanson returned for his second year as our Giles-O’Malley Distinguished Visiting Professor, teaching a new class on leadership lessons from World War II.
The School of Public Policy’s national reputation has continued to grow. SPP was recognized by the respected Truman Scholarship Foundation as one of its select Graduate School Partners. This scholarship program—created by an act of Congress in 1975—supports students through a highly competitive process as they pursue graduate studies in public policy and public service. The school was also recognized by the nonpartisan Volcker Alliance in partnership with the nonprofit, We the Veterans, as one of a dozen policy schools to participate in the inaugural cohort of the organizations’ Service to Service Initiative.
These stories and more are covered in the following pages, and while the programs may be new, each rests in Jim Wilburn’s founding vision for the School of Public Policy—one that is built upon our liberal arts approach to what is often considered more of a technocratic field of study. For that and so much else, we remain so grateful to SPP’s first dean.
Pete Peterson
Dean, Braun Family Dean’s Chair School of Public Policy
From Coast to Capital: SPP
Launches
SPP has announced the launch of the Master of Public Policy Washington, DC, Track, which began this spring 2025 semester. This programmatic expansion provides degree candidates with the option to complete their last semester at Pepperdine’s campus in Washington, DC, offering returning students a unique opportunity to accelerate their professional development plans in the nation’s capital.
Students take a full course load at the Washington, DC, campus located on Pennsylvania Avenue, only a few blocks away from the White House. Alongside academic coursework, students benefit from early career entry and cultural experiences carefully curated to provide a deep immersion into DC life. With its close proximity to Capitol Hill, government agencies, K Street, think tanks, and nonprofit organizations, this program offers students
Washington, DC, Track
unparalleled access to the epicenter of political decision-making and action.
The bicoastal Master of Public Policy (MPP) program was designed for the public policy student who aspires to have a career in Washington, DC, and the prepackaged, cohort-model curriculum offered is crafted for those who have a particular interest in the school’s American politics and policy and international relations and national security specializations.
“The nation’s capital is an important city for the School of Public Policy for obvious reasons,” said dean Pete Peterson. “I look forward to the next chapter of public policy education at Pepperdine University with the introduction of this new bicoastal master of public policy track that will engage students in the critical policy work and thought leadership taking place in Washington, DC.”
Davenport Institute Promotes Local Government Leadership
The past year has been marked by significant strategic development, expanded programming, and continued leadership in public engagement and local government education. Through staff members’ core roles as thought leaders, conveners, and trainers, the Davenport Institute has made substantial progress in advancing public sector leadership and community engagement.
In early 2024, the institute completed a comprehensive strategic planning process for 2024–29. This intensive effort involved close collaboration with its advisory council, key stakeholders, and consultant Nancy Hetrick then with Baker Tilly. The process allowed the institute to carefully refine the strategic direction and update the vision and mission statements to more accurately reflect its commitment to emerging community leaders and local government officials.
The institute’s professional training programs demonstrated remarkable impact this year. The Local Government and Community: Partnering for Success program with the California Association of Realtors and the professional certificate in Public Engagement for Local Government collectively issued 398 professional certificates. The institute maintained strong training partnerships with the California Police Chiefs Association and International Association of Government Officials, while also expanding its reach by providing custom training for the City of Hercules in collaboration with consultants at Raftelis.
Thought leadership remained a critical focus of the work this year, publishing five significant articles in the International City/ County Management Association’s PM Magazine, including a comprehensive piece on sustainable digital innovation and implementation, coauthored by Pooja Bachani Di Giovanna and Almis Udrys (MPP ’01). The contributions extended to consistent updates on the Davenport Institute Blog and Pepperdine School of Public Policy Newsroom. A particularly noteworthy event was the panel discussion on storytelling in community connection, cohosted with the Social Enterprise Collective, which brought together insights from multiple disciplines.
The Davenport Institue’s campus programming continued to provide exceptional learning opportunities, hosting six Davenport Discussion events featuring distinguished speakers, including Lee Taylor Simmons from Stand Together; Amanda Rotella, the economic development strategist for Mountain View; and Steve McClary, city manager of Malibu. The City Manager in Residence program, which hosted Malibu assistant city manager Alexis Brown in the spring and Malibu city manager Steve McClary in the fall, remained a cornerstone of its student engagement efforts. Supporting the next generation of public service leaders remained a priority. This was accomplished by celebrating the graduation of Celeste Benitez (MPP ’24), who made significant contributions to our programs, and welcoming three new graduate assistants: Faith Chang, LaMontria Edwards, and Jacob Salas. Former graduate assistant Nathan Peterson developed an innovative conflict
resolution training module that is intended to be incorporated into the curriculum in 2025.
The commitment to build a long-term professional network continued through speaking engagements at the California Police Chiefs Association, International Association of Government Officials, California Association of Public Information Officials, and the Municipal Management Association of Northern California and its Southern California equivalent.
Last year Pooja Bachani Di Giovanna concluded her four-plusyear tenure as assistant director to pursue doctoral studies. Her substantial contributions to the institute included reimagining the professional certificate program as a successful six-week online course, establishing a robust graduate assistant program, and establishing and maintaining the publication submissions to PM Magazine. In July Davenport appointed Robert Jordan (MPP ’22) as its new assistant director. With his previous experience as a graduate assistant and his Malibu community-building background, Jordan is well positioned to continue and expand the institute’s established relationships.
Transitioning into the new year the Davenport Institute remains steadfastly committed to its mission of empowering public-sector leaders and fostering meaningful community engagement. The accomplishments of 2024 have led the institute to profound gratitude for the continued support of the alumni, partners, and stakeholders who continue to make their work possible.
Recognizing the School of Public Policy Class of 2024
On April 19, 2024, the School of Public Policy hosted its annual commencement ceremony at Alumni Park on the Pepperdine University Malibu campus to commemorate the remarkable achievements of the graduating class. Robert and Katheryn Dockson Professor of Public Policy Robert Kaufman commenced the event and adjunct professor Abbylin Sellers followed with a heartfelt invocation.
Pepperdine University provost Jay Brewster extended a warm welcome to the crowd, acknowledging the dedication and commitment of the graduating cohort. Brewster underscored the importance of service-driven leadership and the student’s role in shaping a brighter future through selflessness. His simple yet profound advice was that we must not be driven by “a desire for personal wealth or glory but by a passion to serve others.”
The student graduation address was delivered by Noah Jackson, who completed his master of public policy with a specialization in applied economic analysis. Before attending the Pepperdine School of Public Policy, Jackson served under the US secretary of agriculture Sonny Perdue, and US senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK). Jackson has also spent time in the private sector building a bioenergy startup that converts wood waste from California’s wildfires into low-carbon biofuel.
In his address, Jackson emphasized the profound significance of relationships, humility in serving others, and finding joy in life’s pursuits. His words resonated deeply with faculty and peers. “Life is not about money or material things. Life is defined by the relationships we have,” stated Jackson.
School of Public Policy dean Pete Peterson then welcomed back 2011 graduate Shelby Eli Steele as the recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award. Steele, owner and president of Man of Steele Productions, has served in multiple capacities as director, writer, and producer and has created several feature-length films, including a self-penned drama and several feature-length and short documentaries. His work often explores current cultural issues and discussions of race, offering perspectives of those from regions across
the nation. The award rightly acknowledged Steele’s dedication to advocacy and innovation.
Finally, graduates heard from commencement speaker Eric Johnson, mayor of Dallas, Texas, who urged them to navigate the complexities of decisionmaking with integrity and compassion. Johnson discussed the transformative power of principled leadership grounded in values and said that facts, faith, and family should lead us as we make our decisions, especially the most challenging ones.
Following the conferring of the degrees by Pepperdine University president Jim Gash, assistant professor of public policy Dayea Oh delivered a benediction of blessings and wisdom upon the graduated class to close out the intimate occasion.
Pepperdine Grieves the Passing of School of Public Policy
Dean Emeritus James R. Wilburn
On November 29, 2024, the School of Public Policy’s beloved Dean Emeritus, James R. Wilburn (MBA ’82, PKE 56), passed away at age 91.
“Pepperdine University has experienced a loss of great magnitude with the passing of the great Jim Wilburn,” said Pepperdine president Jim Gash (JD ’93). “More than his decades of dedicated and tireless service to the University, the world has lost a visionary leader, a revered scholar, and a great mind among his contemporaries. Dr. Wilburn was instrumental in Pepperdine’s presence in Malibu, and from his first day on the job until his last day in the office, he cared about one thing: the growth and advancement of the University. On the list of Pepperdine legends, Dr. Wilburn was among the top. He will be missed tremendously by his friends and colleagues.”
Born on December 6, 1932, in Electra, Texas, Wilburn’s family moved to Southern California a few years later—where his father, a Church of Christ minister, took him to the site where George Pepperdine College would soon open in 1937. However, Wilburn’s true historical connection to Pepperdine began in 1915, when his grandmother taught in a oneroom schoolhouse—a few miles away from where his future office would sit.
Wilburn’s nearly 50-year career at Pepperdine began in 1970, when thenpresident Bill Banowsky selected him to serve on a task force to plan the new Malibu campus. The following year, he accepted an appointment as President Banowsky’s executive assistant, overseeing the move to Malibu while maintaining operations at the Los Angeles campus. Named provost and chief operating officer of the Los Angeles campus in 1973 and then appointed vice president for university affairs in 1976, Wilburn played a key role in launching the Pepperdine Associates and its Founding 400 members (a group agreeing to a significant long-term annual gift). Considered a fearless leader who inspired hard work and admiration in students,
faculty, and staff, Wilburn’s fruitful efforts throughout the years developed into his position as dean of the Graziadio Business School in 1982, where he advanced international business initiatives, introduced five new academic programs, and was largely responsible for generating the nearly $10 million to develop the Drescher Graduate Campus in Malibu.
“The School of Public Policy is truly ‘the house that Jim built,’” said Pete Peterson, dean of the School of Public Policy. “From raising the funds to establish it to helping to chart its unique mission, Jim was both an institution builder and visionary scholar. I’ll miss him greatly even as we seek to carry on the vision he developed decades ago.”
“The School of Public Policy is truly ‘the house that Jim built,’” said Pete Peterson, dean of the School of Public Policy.
At the urging of then-president David Davenport, Wilburn became the founding dean of the Pepperdine University School of Public Policy in 1997. Wilburn envisioned a program that emphasized the fundamental nature of personal and institutional integrity in effective public policy. He noted in a memo to Davenport months before the first class arrived, “It is truly unique among public policy programs . . . It includes a stronger emphasis on culture, history, and the great books theme than others I have seen . . . It has a breadth in core courses which can be a hallmark.”
During Wilburn’s almost 20 years at the helm of the School of Public Policy, the school quickly became known for its research and seminars, exploring the intersection of faith and public policy. He recruited a number of distinguished faculty, including Jack Kemp, James Q. Wilson, Michael Novak, and Angela Hawken as well as three of the school’s current tenured faculty: Robert Kaufman, James Prieger, and Luisa Blanco. In 2012 Pepperdine honored him by dedicating the Drescher Graduate Campus auditorium in his name. Wilburn stepped down from the deanship and was named dean emeritus in 2015.
Beyond academia, Wilburn made significant contributions to national and global policy. Before becoming president, Ronald Reagan appointed Wilburn to head the board of the Citizens for the Republic Education Foundation in late 1978, and he worked extensively with Baron Rothschild and the European Parliament Industrial Council during the late 1980s. Wilburn also helped introduce capitalism to Russia, serving as an adviser to former Russian president Boris Yeltsin. From 1991 to 1996 he served as cochair of the United States Committee to Assist Russian Reform, a program funded by the United States Department of State and authorized by Yeltsin.
Wilburn authored books on American history, business management, and the relationship between faith and public policy—most recently a collection of essays written by a selection of prominent political scholars from institutions across the country entitled Character and the Future of the American University: A Pathway Forward with James Q. Wilson’s Moral Sense, published in 2023.
Wilburn received his PhD in economic history from the University of California, Los Angeles, a master’s degree in history from Midwestern State University, and an MBA from the Pepperdine Graziadio Presidents and Key Executives program. He received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biblical studies from Abilene Christian University.
Wilburn is survived by his wife, Gail (MA ’05); daughter, Susan; sons Greg and Jonathan; stepdaughter Casey; stepson Mark; and eight grandchildren.
Addressing Homelessness
In the spring semester, the Pepperdine School of Public Policy organized a conference in Downtown Los Angeles titled “Homeless America: Creative and Compassionate Responses to a CrossSector Challenge.” The event brought together a diverse group of experts to address the complexities of homelessness, a pressing issue that transcends multiple policy domains, including housing, mental health services, and public safety.
The first keynote was delivered by Stephen Eide, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and author of Homelessness in America: The History and Tragedy of an Intractable Social Problem. Eide provided a historical context to the homelessness crisis, tracing its roots and examining why it remains such an enduring and challenging issue. Eide argued that understanding homelessness’s historical and societal foundations is crucial to developing effective policy responses.
The first panel of the day was moderated by Rick Cole, adjunct faculty at Pepperdine School of Public Policy and chief deputy controller for the City of Los Angeles. The panelists included Kevin Faulconer, visiting professor of community leadership and government innovation at Pepperdine; Elizabeth Mitchell, partner at Umhofer, Mitchell & King, LLP; and Brandon Young, partner at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips.
The discussion highlighted the challenges of politicization in policy making and the need for a coordinated effort between city and
county governments. Mitchell emphasized the importance of not treating the unhoused population as a monolith, advocating for tailored solutions that address the diverse needs of individuals experiencing homelessness. Faulconer called for a clear delineation of responsibility, urging for an emergency response framework that treats homelessness with the urgency it deserves. “We need to address the issue as one that not only can be solved but must be solved,” he asserted.
The second featured speaker was Michele Steeb, author of Answers Behind the Red Door: Battling the Homelessness Epidemic. Steeb shared insights from her experience with St. John’s Program for Real Change, emphasizing the need for a paradigm shift in defining success in homelessness policy. She debunked four key myths surrounding homelessness: homelessness can be ended, there is a one-size-fits-all approach to homelessness, everyone struggling with homelessness needs lifelong permanent housing, and once the homeless are stably housed they will request services.
“It should not be about the numbers served, but the numbers of those who no longer need service,” said Steeb. She also stressed the importance of building systems that help individuals experiencing homelessness lead purposeful lives, incorporating responsibility and accountability at all levels.
The second panel, moderated by Soledad Ursua, board member of the Venice
Neighborhood Council, explored the role of nonprofits in addressing homelessness. Panelists included Matthew Dildine (MPP ’08), CEO of Fresno Mission; Jim Palmer, CEO of TrueSight Solutions; and Brian Ulf, CEO of SHARE! Each panelist discussed their organization’s innovative approaches to support the unhoused population. The panel underscored nonprofits’ need to work closely with governmental agencies and the private sector to create sustainable solutions. The discussions also highlighted the importance of community-based approaches and the need to empower individuals through choice and opportunities.
The conference ended with a keynote conversation featuring Byron Johnson, Distinguished Visiting Professor of Religious Studies and the Common Good at Pepperdine; Robert Marbut, professor at Northwest Vista College; and dean Pete Peterson. This reflective session synthesized the day’s discussions, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach that considers both the needs of individuals experiencing homelessness and the broader societal implications.
A recurring theme throughout the conference was the call for a more compassionate and integrated approach to homelessness policy, perhaps best summarized by Rick Cole, “We need to declare it as an emergency and then treat it as an emergency.”
Coming Home: Exploring the Work of Ted McAllister
From Friday, March 15, through Saturday, March 16, the School of Public Policy hosted Coming Home: Exploring the Work of Ted McAllister, a conference created to honor and discuss the scholarship of the late Ted McAllister, Edward L. Gaylord Chair and professor of public policy at Pepperdine University. Attendees enjoyed two days of panel discussions and roundtable conversations, where fellow scholars explored McAllister’s enduring influence as a professor, intellectual, and mentor.
“What we set out to do was give others a sense of Ted McAllister’s interests and publications,” said Wilfred McClay, one of the central organizers of the event and the Victor Davis Hanson Chair in Classical History and Western Civilization at Hillsdale College. “He was really, in many ways, the heart and soul of Pepperdine University’s School of Public Policy.”
With a keynote address from Bruce Frohnen, professor of law at Ohio Northern University College of Law, and four panels featuring numerous esteemed scholars, the Coming Home conference evaluated McAllister’s impact on public policy education from a range of perspectives. Each of the discussions homed in on the numerous topics the late professor extensively studied and taught.
The first panel, titled “The Stories We Tell,” focused on McAllister’s ability to teach through historical narrative. Specifically panelists Darren Staloff of the City College of New York, J.A.T. Smith and Andrew Yuengert of Pepperdine University, and Bradford P. Wilson of Princeton University, evaluated the three narratives of American history that their colleague taught in a series of tributes.
From there, Matthew Crawford from the University of Virginia’s Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture offered a talk on the rise of antihumanism, which was discussed at length by Paul Contino of Pepperdine University, Stephen Ealy of the Liberty Fund, and Brian Smith, editor of Law and Liberty. The conversation yielded
rich insight into the eroding concept of the citizen.
A panel of colleagues—including Steven Hayward of Pepperdine University, Mark Blitz of Claremont McKenna College, Alex Priou of the University of Colorado Boulder, and Lee Trepanier of Samford University— discussed McAllister’s book, Revolt Against Modernity: Leo Strauss, Eric Voegelin, and the Search for a Post-Liberal Order. Each panelist responded to the findings of the text and pursued an in-depth discussion of Strauss’ and Voegelin’s political philosophies.
The final panel discussion focused on the theme of the conference—coming home— and allowed McClay, Frohnen, and Pete Peterson, dean of the School of Public Policy to pay tribute to McAllister as a teacher, friend, and author of Coming Home: Reclaiming America’s Conservative Soul
Former students and colleagues received a chance to remember McAllister during a time of testimonials. In total, 13 individuals shared their memories of Ted McAllister, including his wife, Dena McAllister. Overall, the conference succeeded in paying homage to an integral figure in the history of the School of Public Policy. McAllister, beyond being an innovative professor and beloved mentor, was crucial to the development of Pepperdine’s graduate school and its mission to empower students.
“Ted had a key role in conceptualizing what it would be like to create a school of public policy,” said McClay. “[He succeeded in designing one] concerned with both the practical aspects of governance and the big philosophical issues that ought to underpin every great decision of public policy.”
K to Campus: How the Education Reform Movement Can Reshape Higher Education
The 2024 K to Campus Conference, hosted by the Pepperdine School of Public Policy in partnership with the Center for Civil Society, brought an inspired focus to the future of education reform and its implications for higher education. Held over two days at Pepperdine’s Malibu campus, the conference convened an impressive group of donors, nonprofit leaders, and scholars to explore the intersection of K–12 reform insights and ask: Can the majority of campuses be saved? and Is it time to take a significantly different approach to reforming higher education?
Setting the tone for the event, Victor Davis Hanson, SPP’s inaugural Terry Giles and Kalli O’Malley Distinguished Visiting Professor, and Jack Fowler, senior fellow at the Center for Civil Society and senior director at AmPhil, held a brief conversation at the welcoming evening reception. Pepperdine president Jim Gash provided opening remarks to the packed auditorium the next day, stating “What the world of education needs most desperately is not
progress, or innovation, or new methods—it is a return. A return to an education that is more about teaching students not what to think, but instead, what it looks like to think.”
The event featured keynote addresses from Hanna Skandera (MPP ’00), president and CEO of the Daniels Fund, and Mark Bauerlein, Emeritus Professor of English at Emory University and senior editor at First Things.
With a wealth of experience in education leadership, Skandera shared insights into creating education systems that foster resilient and prepared citizens. “A great leader has to be courageous, persevering, long-suffering, and humble. But they also have to have a team,” she said.
The conference’s agenda included five expert panel discussions, addressing such topics as K–12 educational successes, free speech on college campuses, strategies for engaging academic institutions in reform, and methods for donors to support meaningful change in higher education.
The theme of reform was palpable in sessions like “The Tip of the Spear: K–12 Reform and the Campus Effect,” where participants examined how K–12 innovations in school choice, curriculum, and educational standards could offer lessons and tools for college campuses.
Conversations also turned to pressing issues of campus culture, notably in the session “You’re Canceled! Free Speech, Campus Protest, the Loss of Open Debate— and Fighting Back.” This discussion spotlighted the erosion of discourse on campuses and the imperative for university leaders to safeguard open dialogue and dissenting opinions.
The final panel of the day, “Philanthropy on Campus: Do Donors Have to Help Colleges Find Their Way?” called attention to the role of benefactors in shaping the future of education. Leaders discussed how thoughtful contributions could empower institutions to uphold their missions while adapting to a changing cultural landscape.
Morality and Governance at “Making Men Moral” Conference
The Pepperdine School of Public Policy convened scholars, policy makers, and thought leaders at the “Making Men Moral” conference in November at the Drescher Graduate Campus in Malibu. The event examined the enduring influence of professor Robert P. George’s seminal book Making Men Moral: Civil Liberties and Public Morality and its continued relevance to contemporary policy debates.
George, the School of Public Policy’s Ronald Reagan Honorary Distinguished Professor and Joshua Katz, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, delivered a keynote conversation to begin the day. Together, they explored the book’s central argument—public policy cannot remain neutral on key moral issues—and challenged attendees to consider how morality shapes lawmaking and governance within a pluralistic society.
“The goal is to recover and restore the concept of public morality. Public morality, properly understood, poses no threat to honorable civil liberties,” said George. The first panel, “How Making Men Moral Challenges Liberalism,” included J.A.T. Smith, Seaver College’s associate provost, associate professor of English, and associate director of the Center for Faith and Learning at Pepperdine University; Paul Contino, Distinguished Professor of Great Books at Pepperdine’s Seaver College; Jesse Covington, professor of political science and director of the Augustinian scholars honors program at Westmont College; and Micah Watson, Paul Henry Chair for Christianity and Politics at Calvin University. The group explored the philosophical and political critiques Making Men Moral offered to modern liberalism.
“This book demonstrates the failure of neutrality to operate as a coherent basis for liberalism,” said Covington. “Making men moral provides a case for meaningful civil liberties grounded in human goodness, challenging the assumption that liberty must be at odds with perfectionism. It argues instead, that reasoning from true human goodness provides a more secure foundation for liberty regarding political order.” This, Covington described as the central challenge of the book to liberalism.
Watson noted the degradation of the moral ecology and the intentional effort needed to not change with the culture. “In short,” he argued, “I think the need to hold civil liberties and moral foundations together has, if anything, increased.”
“The law is a teacher. Law cannot make people moral, but it can certainly make us worse and can contribute to a healthy moral ecology,” Watson added.
The second panel focused on the integration of public morality and social science, highlighting empirical insights into societal norms and behaviors.
Moderated by Byron Johnson, Distinguished Visiting Professor of Religious Studies and the Common Good at the School of Public Policy, the panel featured Jesus Fernandez-Villevarde, the Howard Marks Presidential Professor of Economics at the University of Pennsylvania; Christina Hinton, research associate for the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University; and William Jeynes, senior fellow at Princeton’s Witherspoon Institute.
Fernandez-Villevarde shared insight on the relation between economics and moral behaviors and argued that they are, indeed, connected. “We tend to forget that markets are embedded in a rich tapestry of social relations and without those social relations, markets cannot work.”
In applying this to a modern-day problem, Fernandez-Villevarde underscored the critical need to address declining global fertility rates, stating, “We are in serious
trouble if these numbers do not improve.” Fernandez-Villevarde offered compelling cultural insights into the factors contributing to this demographic shift.
“The goal is to recover and restore the concept of public morality. Public morality, properly understood, poses no threat to honorable civil liberties,” said George.
The final panel, “Making Men Moral through Civil Society and Subsidiarity” focused on practical pathways to foster moral integrity outside governmental frameworks and discussed the vital role of civil society organizations and local communities. Participating in this conversation was Pete Peterson, dean of the School of Public Policy; John Goyette, vice president for advancement at Thomas Aquinas College; Andrew Yuengert, professor of economics and the Blanche Seaver Chair of Social Science at Pepperdine; and Daniel E. Burns, associate professor of politics at the University of Dallas.
The day concluded with a networking reception overlooking the Pacific Ocean, providing an opportunity for participants to continue the meaningful conversations sparked throughout the conference.
Course Highlight: How to Run the World
In the spring of 2024, Taube Family Chair of International Relations and Politics
Kiron Skinner offered How to Run the World, a unique course for international relations specialization students. Rather than attending lectures, students engaged in open dialogue with a variety of notable political and national security experts. The class was crafted to blend theoretical knowledge with practical insights to tackle contemporary challenges in public service.
“The United States is founded on a tension that sometimes produces a political consensus, but discord is always around the corner,” wrote Skinner in the course description. “For instance, core tenets of the American Creed such as individual rights and liberty are characteristically at odds with notions of equality. Yet through debates in the public square, legislation, presidential action, and judicial decrees, public policy has emerged and guided the nation through some of its darkest chapters.”
The 15-week course included an impressive line of guests including Winsome EarleSears, the first female and Black lieutenant governor of Virginia; Stephen Hadley, former national security advisor; Rick Scott, US senator for Florida; Tani Cantil-Sakauye,
former chief justice of the California Supreme Court; British A. Robinson, State Department coordinator; Brian A. Nichols, assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere Affairs; and Newt Gingrich, former speaker of the House of Representatives.
The diverse backgrounds of the speakers provided a multifaceted view of leadership, highlighting the varied paths one can take to make a difference in the public sector. Earle-Sears shared her inspiring journey from immigrating from Jamaica to serving in the US Marine Corps and holding significant public offices. Hadley discussed his experience managing US foreign policy and strategic partnerships under president George W. Bush, providing a comprehensive view of global security issues. CantilSakauye, the first person of color to serve as chief justice of California, reflected on her judicial career and emphasized the importance of diversity and justice in public service.
In addition to learning from the experiences of some of the most impactful leaders in the field, students were encouraged to ask questions and challenge assumptions, fostering a dynamic learning environment.
Sophie Collins Named Rumsfeld Foundation Fellow
The School of Public Policy is proud to report that Sophie Collins is the recipient of the prestigious 2024–25 Rumsfeld Foundation Graduate Fellowship. This distinguished fellowship recognizes exceptional graduate-level scholars who exhibit outstanding intellectual ability, integrity, moral character, and leadership potential, with a solid dedication to public service.
“I am excited and honored to be named a Rumsfeld fellow. This opportunity is about more than just personal growth: it is about broadening my perspectives, contributing to a mission dedicated to serving our nation, and engaging with a team of people with deep moral foundations and a strong commitment to public service. I am grateful for this chance to make meaningful change,” says Collins.
The Rumsfeld Foundation Graduate Fellowship provides financial assistance supporting the country’s top students in their master’s or doctoral studies as well as year-round programming designed to connect its alumni network members and support them in their professional journeys as public servants both domestically and abroad.
Capstone Students Study Tiny Home Villages for Homeless Individuals
The Pepperdine School of Public Policy received a grant from the A-Mark Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to unbiased research on political and social issues, to evaluate the operational costs of operating tiny home villages in Los Angeles as a temporary solution to homelessness. The project sought to achieve a greater understanding of funding breakdowns between local government entities and nonprofit organizations.
The capstone project is the culmination of the students’ final months of the master of public policy program and requires students to develop and present a major public policy design and implementation plan using a real-world agency or situation. This integrative experience builds leadership skills and generates deliverables for a student’s research portfolio and resume.
Led by SPP faculty member Marlon Graf and A-Mark Foundation’s vice president Tracey DeFrancesco (’01), three students— Celeste Benitez (MPP ’24), Cooper Conway (MPP ’24), and Declan Maddern (MPP ’24)— completed a capstone study on tiny home villages. Commonly referred to as cabin communities, which operate in a joint effort between the government and nonprofits, tiny home villages provide wraparound support to those experiencing homelessness through shelter, mental health support, food, and various other services.
“The project piqued my interest as I live in Vancouver, Washington, a suburb of Portland, Oregon,” said Conway. “We notably have a large population of people experiencing homelessness that I grew up serving. Recently, on my trips back home, I noticed the tiny home villages popping up on the side of highways and was curious to learn more. I was surprised by how much California’s inability to build enough housing generally impacts the effectiveness of these tiny home villages in achieving their mission.”
The team used quantitative and qualitative tools to analyze the data they gathered through public records requests, research, and interviews. They obtained the quantitative data from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority through
a public records request, spanning the 2021 to 2023 operating years. The data from individual tiny home village budgets included federal and county fund allocations for the villages’ construction and operation. Moreover, the budgets included expenses such as rehabilitation, personnel, programming, and supportive services.
For the qualitative data, the research team conducted 10 one-on-one, semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders to gain insight into the implementation, operation, and maintenance of tiny home communities in Los Angeles.
“Real-world projects are invaluable for students to gain experience working with clients and stakeholders. As a Pepperdine alumna, I am especially proud of how professionally the SPP student researchers conducted themselves in producing this comprehensive report. They uncovered new information about the costs of operating tiny home villages for people experiencing homelessness that will be a valuable read for policy makers. It makes a great companion to A-Mark’s earlier report on the costs of building tiny home villages,” shared DeFrancesco.
The study revealed several key findings about tiny home villages. Most governmentfunded tiny home village budgets are allocated to supportive and financial services, hotel vouchers, and non-personnel operating costs, yet these villages often use less money than they are awarded yearly. Notably, tiny home villages used no federal funding for the first time in
2023. Stakeholders widely regard tiny home villages as more cost effective and faster to build than other interim housing solutions, such as hotel conversions. However, operators estimate a $20–$30 daily funding gap per villager to cover essential services like security, meals, case management, and staff. Additionally, the three-month reimbursement period for operators hampers their ability to address urgent needs, such as extreme weather, unexpected repairs, or surges in homelessness.
The research study findings demonstrate that although tiny homes are effective at moving people off the street and providing desperately needed services, the lack of affordable permanent housing options severely hinders their effectiveness as temporary shelter, as many have no option but to stay indefinitely. This forces these organizations to increasingly become permanent housing providers, which is neither their mission nor realistic given their budget.
“We recommend increasing the availability of permanent housing through zoning reform, increasing funding for essential mental health services, mandating increased communication and information-sharing between shareholders, and implementing a long-term and flexible approach to budget allocation,” the study concluded. “Adopting these policy recommendations will reduce inefficiency in this critical service and better accomplish the aims of these tiny home communities.”
Secretary Kay Coles James Shares Her Life of Faith and Leadership
On January 26, 2024, the School of Public Policy welcomed its 2003 honorary degree recipient and former secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia Kay Coles James for a conversation in connection with the Tagliaferri Dean’s Distinguished Lecture series. James has an extensive background in public service and government leadership.
James’ personal and professional journey exhibits dedication, self-sacrifice, and above all, faith. “As a woman and as a strong woman, you receive a lot of push back. To know that you are the daughter of the King goes a long way to help you get through the day,” said James.
A significant theme throughout the evening was one’s response to the calling that the Lord has placed in your life. For James, this meant remaining steadfast in her values and beliefs even when they didn’t fit into stereotypical political or social boxes.
“There’s a lot about me that you could hate if you wanted to,” admitted James. “Not only Black, not only female, but the audacity to be a conservative and to be pro-life. Pick a category, there’s a lot not to like, and I’ve dealt with all of that.”
James credits the opposition she faced throughout her political career with strengthening her faith and encouraged the students in attendance to passionately pursue their calling and live out their values. “As Christians we walk out what it means to be God’s people in a crazy, hating world. We walk out what it means to love someone that we vehemently disagree with,” she said.
“At a time of such polarization in our political culture, Kay is a tremendous role model of what a faithful public leader looks like,” said Pete Peterson, dean and Braun Family Dean’s Chair at the School of Public Policy.
“We often talk about the ‘calling to public service,’ a calling placed on us by God, but Kay showed us exactly what that looks like— even through times of great trial.”
During the discussion, Peterson asked James to relive the hours following the terrorist attacks on September 11, from her position as director of the US Office of Personnel Management under former president George W. Bush. In this role, James was charged with operating a government workforce of more than 3,600 employees in the face of unprecedented national fear. “The purpose of terrorism is to terrorize, and all I understood in that moment was that God was in control. My life and the life of all those around me were in his hands, but I had a job to do, and I could not be terrified,” she shared.
A Live Discussion on Victor Davis Hanson’s The End of Everything
In a virtual event, Victor Davis Hanson, the School of Public Policy’s inaugural Giles-O’Malley Distinguished Visiting Professor, examined the correlation between wars and the destruction of civilizations. The conversation with dean Pete Peterson centered on Hanson’s latest 2024 book, The End of Everything
Hanson’s exploration was grounded in the historical analysis of ancient Greece, 15th-century Europe, and 16th-century Central America to illustrate how military defeats can lead to the annihilation of cultures.
“I suggest looking at the past as a kind of tragedy,” explained Hanson. “Things happen that should not have happened, and you want to know why they happened and what you can learn from them.”
James currently serves as president at the Gloucester Institute, a foundation dedicated to educating and cultivating the next generation of leaders. She also works with the Spirit of Virginia as a senior advisor to governor of Virginia, Glenn Youngkin.
Hanson discussed the theme of polarization as a sign of military weakness and the challenge of assessing an opponent’s capabilities with your own, using historical examples like the battle between the Aztecs and the Spaniards. He emphasized the importance of understanding history as a series of events and a guide to navigating current and future conflicts.
“Going back to history, we can learn about changes in events that will be applicable to us. The core will be the same,” Hanson noted. This “core” historical analysis, he argued, ought to inform future policy decisions and reveal the fragile state of civilization, which must be preserved through informed leadership.
His analysis offered a sobering reminder of the stakes involved in military conflicts and the need for vigilance in safeguarding societal stability as conflicts unfold.
Pepperdine Hosts Former Ambassadors in Bipartisan Discussion About International Religious Freedom
On April 8, the Sudreau Global Justice Institute and the School of Public Policy hosted former international religious freedom ambassadors Rabbi David Saperstein from the Obama administration and Sam Brownback from the Trump administration for “Bipartisan Approaches to International Religious Freedom.” Moderated by dean Peterson, the discussion highlighted the importance of advancing religious freedom around the world, how Saperstein and Brownback pursued international religious freedom both in and out of government, and how the left and right can work together in pursuit of it.
Born from the partnership between Pepperdine and the Global Faith and Inclusive Societies program—created and directed by international human rights lawyer Knox Thames, a senior fellow at the Pepperdine Caruso School of Law and SPP—the event marked one of the first bipartisan conversations on international religious freedom at Pepperdine.
President Gash opened the discussion with remarks on the importance of religious freedom and Pepperdine’s commitment to the issue. “Promoting religious freedom aligns with the core values of Pepperdine,” he stated. “Amid escalating persecution and division, Pepperdine aims to create solutions that bridge divides and safeguard everyone’s God-given right to freedom of conscience and belief.”
Thames kicked off the discussion by addressing an important bipartisan law, the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA). He shared how the IRFA, which condemns violations of religious freedom and assists other governments in the promotion of this right, came to fruition. He also shared the critical role both ambassadors played in its passage.
“It was a remarkable moment in US advocacy because, for the first time, Congress had created tools and
mechanisms within the State Department to ensure that religious freedom became a foreign policy priority of the United States,” said Thames.
Thames also emphasized that countries that do not prioritize religious freedom suffer from terrorism, abuse human rights, and are prone to instability. “The United States is the key actor in promoting religious freedom internationally,” Thames said. “It is something we should be proud of as Americans. It reflects who we are as a people, that we devote significant resources to ensure that everybody everywhere can pursue truth as their conscience leads.”
Brownback then shared his insights on the evolving challenges to religious freedom globally, citing the rise of Hindu nationalism, ongoing Christian-Muslim conflicts in Nigeria, militant Buddhism in Myanmar, and invasive surveillance technologies in China. Brownback stressed the urgency of addressing these issues, noting, “The religious freedom movement is the most important movement on the planet. Now is the time to engage.”
Brownback argued that in order to achieve human rights across the globe, politicians should instead narrowly focus on international religious freedom. “I view this as a cornerstone of human rights,” he said. “If you get this one right, you can build on others. But we’ve been losing ground on human rights throughout the world for 15 years [because we have been focused] on [a] broad agenda.”
In contrast, Saperstein emphasized the importance of promoting democratic values and human rights both in the US and globally to advance religious freedom. “You cannot fight for religious freedom narrowly if you exclude fighting for other human rights as well,” he said. “If you do not have freedom of speech, you do not have freedom of the pulpit.”
2024 Saturday Salons: A Forum for Timely Political Insight and Civic Reflection
Amid a charged and defining election season, the Pepperdine School of Public Policy launched a series of Saturday Election Salons in the fall semester. Curated by adjunct faculty members Joel Fox and Dan Schnur, the salons convened an array of political minds to engage with students, alumni, and the community in real time, fostering a space for nuanced analysis, crosspartisan insight, and meaningful civic engagement.
Designed to offer an informed look at the complex political landscape of 2024, the series launched on September 14 with former California state senate majority leader and state assembly speaker Robert Hertzberg. In a session dedicated to breaking down the season’s first presidential debate, Hertzberg offered incisive analysis on the candidates’ policy stances and strategic choices. Attendees were encouraged to examine the interplay between messaging and policy substance, which proved particularly illuminating. With just weeks remaining before Election Day, the second salon, held on October 19, brought a media perspective through the eyes of Elex Michaelson, coanchor of Fox 11 News. In a discussion that examined the final stages of campaigning, Michaelson explored the media’s unique position and discussed his own show, The Issue Is
The culminating session, titled “Looking Back at Campaign Season, Results, and What It Means Going Forward,” featured Kevin Faulconer, former San Diego mayor and visiting professor of community leadership and government innovation for the School of Public Policy. Faulconer, Fox, and Schnur dissected voter trends, expected and unexpected outcomes, and the broader implications of the country’s choice for a Trump administration.
Ivory Towers or Temples?: A Recommitment to Freedom of Speech in Higher Education
In a thought-provoking Charles and Rosemary Licata Lecture, Mike Shires, chief of staff and vice president for strategic initiatives at the University of Austin, called for a renewed commitment to free speech in American higher education. Shires discussed the evolving landscape of academia, the challenges to open discourse, and the key principles of humility and humanity that must guide universities in fostering an environment where free expression can thrive.
Drawing attention to the expanding role of universities in society, Shires noted that higher education institutions have become not only places of intellectual pursuit but also key gatekeepers of opportunity in contemporary society. “Everyone needs a degree,” he explained, and as a result of this, the university has been granted a tremendous amount of influence.
Shires expressed concern about the shift in universities’ role in society, especially in the context of modern political and social divides. “While influence was flowing out of the university, politics was flowing into the university,” he noted.
He argued that moral relativism now grips university culture and there is no longer a clear basis for one truth to remain higher.
“Today we have universities that are no longer ivory towers or pedestals for economic opportunity, we have ivory temples,” said Shires.
“To
change, you have to change the culture of the institution, you have to change the theology.”
In an environment where ideological purity often overshadows intellectual diversity, Shires said that the events of October 7 exacerbated the political and cultural impact of this imbalance. And in a world increasingly defined by technology and social media, he warned that people are more isolated than ever from those with whom they disagree.
In a call to action, Shires emphasized that the students, faculty, and staff of a university must confront these issues head on. “It’s only as good as its people,” he remarked, underscoring that a university must foster environments that encourage the inclusion of differing perspectives and a commitment to intellectual growth.
While Shires acknowledged the struggles that many universities are facing in today’s polarized world, he emphasized that institutions like the University of Austin and Pepperdine University have a unique opportunity to forge an alternative path. “There is real movement in the free speech space,” he said.
“This is the time for the University of Austin and for Pepperdine to be leaders in this important conversation.”
In closing, Shires stressed that the challenge of preserving free speech is ultimately about changing the culture. “To change, you have to change the culture of the institution, you have to change the theology,” he said. “At the end of the day, it’s about humility and humanity.”
Energy and Environmental Policy Workshop Conducted by Professor Steven Hayward
In the fall, SPP hosted its first Energy and Environmental Policy Series, offering three workshops on energy and environmental policy analysis. Created to complement the elective course, Designing and Writing Research Proposals, the 90-minute workshops were open to all students and addressed growing interest in this interdisciplinary field. Led by Steven Hayward, SPP’s Edward L. Gaylord Visiting Professor, the series explored key questions on energy and environment, data sources, and potential capstone topics. The first workshop examined energy through three domains: energy/power density (comparing energy yields of different sources), cost (energy cost per unit delivered), and scale (reliability of providing large amounts of energy). These domains provided a framework for
analyzing energy trends, consumption patterns, and electricity costs.
The second workshop acquainted students with original energy data sources and analysis techniques. Hayward illustrated these using the Rosenfeld Curve—a graph showing California’s stable per capita electricity consumption versus rising national usage. While the graph suggests California’s policies are exemplary, Hayward invited students to consider other factors, like economic shifts and climate differences, noting that only 22 percent of California’s lower energy use was due to its policies.
“Learning how to do energy analysis well is to ask those second-order questions—What are the other important variables you need to have in mind to understand what’s really going on?” asked Hayward. “That informs
what policies are going to work, what policies may partly work, and what policies may not have much effect at all.”
The final workshop outlined principles of environmental policy making, such as assessing environmental risks, analyzing data trends, and defining decision-making values. Hayward emphasized three guideposts: economic growth precedes environmental improvement, technological advances resolve prior environmental issues, and property rights foster environmental stewardship.
“The point of the course is to develop your own powerful analytical tools to do serious original work either as part of the capstone project or generally,” Hayward said. “I like to create energy ninjas.”
Constitution Day 2024: How the Four Cups of Redemption Forged American Freedom
On September 11, the Pepperdine School of Public Policy hosted its annual Constitution Day Lecture featuring Rabbi Stuart Halpern, assistant director at the Zahava and Moshael Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought. Halpern explored how the story of Israel’s exodus from Egypt shaped the story of the United States—providing Americans with heroes, symbols, values, and virtues still treasured today—and its timely relevance to the 2024 election season.
The four cups of wine drunk at the Passover seder commemorate four biblical expressions of redemption taken from Exodus 6: “I will bring you out,” “I will deliver you,” “I will redeem you,” and “I will take you as my people.” In his lecture, Halpern traced how these four expressions serve as thematic pillars in the American story.
The first cup’s expression, “I will bring you out,” inspired the earliest travelers to the Americas. Halpern highlighted Christopher Columbus’ comparison in his diary of the stormy Atlantic Ocean to the formidable Red Sea. Puritan leader William Bradford drew similar parallels in his journal, likening the Puritans’ flight from religious persecution to Israel’s Exodus. Halpern also noted Puritan John Winthrop’s comparison of his journey to New England to that of God leading his people into the wilderness.
Halpern argued that the second cup’s expression, “I will deliver you,” influenced the American Revolution. He likened the colonists’ struggle for independence to Israel’s escape from Egypt, viewing King George III as Pharaoh. Revolutionary writer Thomas Paine referred to the king as the “hardened, sullen-tempered Pharaoh of England,” while minister Elijah Fitch compared British oppression to Pharaoh’s schemes. Halpern also noted how George Washington was portrayed as a Moses figure, and highlighted how Washington’s name was even embedded as an acrostic in a Hebrew prayer for government leaders.
The third cup’s expression, “I will redeem you,” Halpern contended, resonated during abolitionism, the Civil War, and the modern Civil Rights movement.
“Not surprisingly, the story of freed slaves inspired those who were enslaved,” Halpern stated. African Americans sang spirituals such as “Go Down, Moses” and “Didn’t Old Pharaoh Get Lost,” while Harriet Tubman was also known as the “Moses of her people.”
At an abolitionist rally on July 5, 1852, Frederick Douglass reminded Americans of the responsibility inherent in their freedom by evoking themes of Passover. Halpern also noted how Martin Luther King, Jr., in
his final speech before his assassination, envisioned reaching the “Promised Land.” Halpern concluded with the fourth cup’s expression, “I will take you as my people,” exploring how the biblical concept of covenant has shaped America’s identity and helped articulate its highest ideals: freedom and liberty for all. Quoting author Bruce Feiler, Halpern described Moses as “America’s true Founding Father.” He noted that the Exodus story has emboldened America, despite the recent rise in antiSemitism, to protect those of all faiths and cultures by challenging Americans to view their nation as a land of covenant and responsibility.
“We’ve seen how the four expressions of redemption that inspire the four cups drunk by Jews at Passover have also forged the freedom of America.” Halpern said. “This story has unified America, and hopefully, can and should be something that all Americans are reminded of. If we can remember what unites us and how the story of the Exodus has always united Americans, I think that’s something that we can raise a glass to.”
General H. R. McMaster Addresses the Need for Strategic Competence in National Security
For the fall 2024 Augustus and Patricia Tagliaferri Dean’s Distinguished Lecture, the School of Public Policy turned its attention to the national security conversation by welcoming United States army lieutenant general and 25th United States national security advisor H. R. McMaster. The evening event, titled “Cascading Crises: The Challenges America’s President Will Confront In 2025 and Beyond,” anticipated the November presidential election and served as a timely reminder of the significant leadership role that America continues to play amid various unresolved international questions.
McMaster began by sharing his abrupt journey to the White House—from receiving an invitation to interview for the national security advisor role in the Trump administration at the Mar-a-Lago residence and starting work the very next day. “It was quite a surreal feeling realizing that now I’m responsible for the national securitymaking and decision-making process that I criticized from a perspective as a historian in connection with the decisions that led
to the American war in Vietnam,” said McMaster.
Using his more than 34 years of experience in the US Army, as well as his graduate level study of military history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, McMaster’s first action as security advisor was to truly understand the current problems facing the country and set clear goals and priorities based on historical lessons.
Among these priorities, McMaster held that a person in political or military leadership should always make their assumptions explicit when evaluating foreign policy. He supplemented this argument with examples such as Putin’s offensive strategies and the Middle East’s reaction to US sanctions. “I really think that 90 percent of the flaws in US policies and strategies have to do with implicit assumptions,” proposed McMaster. “And because they are implicit, they don’t get challenged.”
For the remainder of his remarks, McMaster addressed the foreign policy threats on the horizon for America and spoke about the countries that he called “the axis of
aggressors”—China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. He explained that in his opinion, the presumption of weakness is provocative and often leads to a security crisis. To combat this, McMaster proposed three key responses. First, the US needs to value hard power and restore a partnership of deterrence across the country. Second, the US ought to lessen our country’s vulnerability from aggressors’ use of economic leverage. And finally, leadership requires the mastery of strategic competence along with the need for a unified confidence in America.
“They are trying to weaken our confidence in who we are as a people, our confidence in our common identity as Americans, and our confidence in our democratic principles, institutions, and processes,” said McMaster.
“So we have a lot of work to do in restoring our confidence in who we are. I believe that Pepperdine University is a place that does that,” he added.
The evening event concluded with a lengthy question and answer dialogue between attendees and General McMaster.
Ronald Reagan Honorary Distinguished Professor
Robby George Explores the Cure for Campus Illiberalism
In April Pepperdine’s School of Public Policy welcomed Robert “Robby” George, Ronald Reagan Honorary Distinguished Professor, to discuss ideological challenges in higher education and propose solutions during the “Is There a Cure for Campus Illiberalism?” event. Fittingly held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, the event featured a keynote address by George, as well as opening and closing remarks from Pete Peterson, dean of the School of Public Policy.
In his opening remarks, Peterson highlighted the shared values of Pepperdine and the venue’s namesake, president Ronald Reagan, emphasizing their mutual commitment to the pursuit of freedom and the betterment of society.
“Freedom is what grounds both of our institutions, the School of Public Policy and the Reagan foundation and institute,” shared Peterson. “While Pepperdine’s relationship with President Reagan goes back over half a century, more than the personal ties between him and many of Pepperdine’s founders and supporters, the foundational commitment to freedom, its direction toward human flourishing, and the fight against the forces of illiberalism are what truly connects us.”
Introducing the event’s keynote speaker, Peterson characterized the current state of American higher education as both challenging and contrary to the principles of freedom. Citing the COVID-19 pandemic and the October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks on Israel as key events shaping the prevailing climate and exposing ideologies on college campuses, Peterson called on George to “help us understand the scope and scale of the challenges we are facing in American higher education, while also showing us how we can remain hopeful that freedom can return to our educational institutions.”
In his keynote speech, George explored the mission of liberal arts colleges and universities, emphasizing their core purposes—the pursuit, preservation, and
imparting of knowledge. He argued that the greatest threats to these ambitions are the increasing politicization and groupthink on college campuses, which stifle intellectual growth that is sparked by viewpoint diversity and open debate.
George argued, “The problem is most vividly manifest in the phenomenon I call campus illiberalism . . . the unwillingness of so many members of college and university communities to entertain or even to listen to arguments that challenge the opinions that they happen to hold.” He added, “The toxic thing that provides an environment in which illiberalism flourishes . . . is the phenomenon of groupthink.”
George explained that such an environment, where individuals unconsciously adopt the dominant views around them, fosters intolerant thinking, leaving students ill equipped to understand or critically assess different perspectives.
“Even if the opinions the students acquired in groupthink happen to be true, their ignorance of the arguments of dissenters will prevent them from understanding the truth as deeply as they should.”
Additionally, he underscored the importance of intellectual humility and openness to criticism in the pursuit of truth, stating, “We owe it to our students, whether they like it or not, to ensure they are confronted with and have the opportunity to engage with the best that has been thought and said on competing sides of questions.”
In conclusion, George urged the whole of society to take responsibility for reversing these trends, promoting a healthier, more intellectually diverse academic environment. He called up schools to combat groupthink by “teaching students to question dominant and prevailing opinions and equip them with the tools of critical thinking and logical reasoning that will enable such questioning to be intellectually fruitful for them.”
He added, “It’s got to be turned around, and it’s up to us as citizens and taxpayers to turn it around.”
To close out the event, Peterson joined George on stage and invited questions from the audience. One question explored the importance of civic virtues, such as humility and courage, and asked how these virtues can be effectively encouraged. George emphasized that while preaching these virtues is valuable, the most effective way to teach is by modeling these behaviors.
“We don’t have enough adults in positions of authority or positions of public prominence who really model the virtues that we need to see in our young people,” explained George. “Students learn even more by the example of teachers, coaches, parents, pastors, than they do by precepts. We have to preach, and we have to model.”
LUISA BLANCO
Professor of Public Policy
Luisa Blanco cowrote and published the paper, “MivacunaLA (MyshotLA): A Community-Partnered Mobile Phone Intervention to Improve COVID-19 Vaccination Behaviors among LowIncome, Spanish-Speaking, and Immigrant Latino Parents or Caregivers,” in the Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute’s Vaccines May issue. The paper evaluates MivacunaLA/MyshotLA, a community-informed mobile phone intervention designed to combat COVID-19 vaccine misinformation and build trust among Latino parents in underresourced Los Angeles areas. The study found that MivacunaLA significantly increased vaccination rates and intentions for minors, highlighting its effectiveness in promoting health equity in marginalized communities.
Blanco received the 2024 Stephen D. Davis Award for Scholarly Achievement from Pepperdine University for her research on financial literacy, retirement preparedness, and health disparities, particularly among people of color and immigrant communities in the United States and Latin America. This award, presented annually at the Pepperdine Faculty Conference, recognizes two faculty members for their significant contributions to academic research, aligned with Pepperdine’s mission of purpose, service, and leadership.
In addition to her research, Blanco joined the board of directors for Women’s Institute for Science, Equity, and Race in 2024.
JOEL FOX
Adjunct Professor
Joel Fox published a number of opinion pieces in newspapers of the Southern California Newsgroup, chiefly the Los Angeles Daily News and Orange County Registrar on the topics of California politics and policy. He was also quoted a number of times on political issues including presidential candidate fundraising in Southern California.
ROBERT KAUFMAN
Robert and Katheryn Dockson Professor of Public Policy
In June 2024 Robert Kaufman signed a contract to write a biography of the late Senator Joseph Lieberman. Kaufman sees the book as a companion volume to his biography of Senator Henry Jackson, whom Lieberman had considered one of his heroes. Lieberman had long urged Kaufman to write his biography, based on his great admiration for Kaufman’s previous work. Kaufman coauthored a number of articles with alumnus Todd Royal (MPP ’15) including “On Energy, Voters Must Decide Between Trump Successes, Harris Risks” and “Tilting at Windmills,” a three-part series. The articles critically examine the Biden-Harris administration’s energy policies and their implications for America’s future.
DAYEA OH
Assistant Professor of Public Policy
Dayea Oh presented her work, “Behavioral Transmission: Evidence from a Public Health Campaign in Bangladesh,” at the American Economic Association / Allied Social Science Associations conference at the beginning of the year. Her other research paper “When Women Run: Double-Edged Effects of Political Representation” was accepted for presentation by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management conference in November.
JAMES PRIEGER
Professor of Public Policy
In June of 2024 James Prieger published his three-volume book with Sam Hampsher and Sud Patwardhan, Tobacco Regulation, Economics, and Public Health: Clearing the Air on E-Cigarettes and Harm Reduction
Drawing on economics, policy analysis, and regulatory science, the work demonstrates how evidence can guide targeted and riskproportionate measures to reduce smoking harms. Pepperdine Libraries hosted a book talk with Prieger in the fall.
Prieger also published “E-cigarettes and Smoking: Correlation, Causation, and Selection Bias,” in the Journal of Consumer Policy in August. In it, he analyzes the impact of e-cigarettes on smoking cessation in Korea, finding that their use promotes cessation, increasing the chances of quitting smoking by 16.2 percentage points, challenging public health policies discouraging their use by smokers.
Finally, he presented his paper, “Economic Freedom and Minority Entrepreneurship in the United States,” at the Association of Private Enterprise Education’s 48th meeting in April, the Western Economic Association International’s annual summer conference, and the Southern Economic Association’s annual meeting in November.
JONATHAN REICHENTAL
Adjunct Professor
Jonathan Reichental released two popular books: Data Governance for Dummies and Cryptocurrency QuickStart Guide. He also produced several online video courses including Building a Data-Driven Culture and Introduction to Generative AI with GPT. In 2023 Reichental completed a world speaking tour on topics such as the future of cities and data culture in locations that included Switzerland, Estonia, New Zealand, and Guatemala. Reichental was awarded the Outstanding Faculty Award at the Graduate School of Management at the University of San Francisco.
KIRON SKINNER
Taube Family Chair of International Relations and Politics
In addition to her extensive media publications and appearances this year, Kiron Skinner joined the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine public affairs experts in publishing the 2024 report “International Talent Programs in the Changing Global Environment,” making government recommendations on the recruitment of foreign talent.
Skinner joined Foreign Policy, in partnership with Stand Together and the European Council on Foreign Relations, as a panelist on “NATO in a New Era,” covering the critical reassessment of NATO security strategies and investments. In the fall semester, she spoke at the College of William & Mary Global Research Institute’s discussion on the future of foreign policy and interviewed congressperson Jane Harman at Pacific Council in an off-the-record event.
ABRAHAM SONG
Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Education and Psychology
Abraham Song participated in a research workshop and the inaugural “Beyond Dynamic Competition” conference held in April. He was a discussant to a paper, “Dynamic Competition and Antitrust: The Past, the Present, and Recommendations for the Future,” presented by Jorge Padilla, chair, Compass Lexecon EMEA and senior fellow, GW Competition & Innovation Lab at George Washington University.
Kiron Skinner Named Inaugural Taube Family Chair of International Relations and Politics at Pepperdine School of Public Policy
Kiron Skinner, renowned scholar, diplomat, cybersecurity expert, and former State Department and Defense Department official, has been named the inaugural Taube Family Chair of International Relations and Politics at the Pepperdine School of Public Policy. The chair is a historic, first-ever distinguished position at Pepperdine and creates the single largest newly endowed position at the University. Skinner has served as the Taube Professor of International Relations and Politics at the School of Public Policy since 2022 and provided her expert insights on international relations, US foreign policy, political strategy, and cybersecurity both in the classroom and with external audiences.
“Dr. Skinner embodies the caliber of faculty most institutions can only aspire to recruit,” said Pepperdine president Jim Gash. “She is a highly regarded instructor and mentor who earns rave reviews for her high-impact classes and willingness to mentor a new generation. She elevates our academic offerings and inspires our students to engage deeply with the critical issues facing our world today.”
Through the scholarship and thought leadership exemplified by Skinner and future holders of the position, the chair aims to firmly establish a more balanced view of international affairs and politics and embraces the view that the US plays a critical, leading role on the global stage. The holder of the chair will prepare the next generation of leaders in national security, international affairs, and politics from a Judeo-Christian perspective. The endowment of the chair also establishes an enduring partnership between Taube Philanthropies and Pepperdine and advances the Taube family legacy at the University.
The chair’s endowment will support Skinner’s work in developing and implementing new initiatives, such as plans already being explored for an Institute for Diplomacy, Security, and Innovation. The position also furthers her reputation among peers in academia and the policy world and grants her new opportunities to disseminate research and policy recommendations. As
chair, Skinner will be afforded the flexibility to serve as a public intellectual, external representative, and international convener of a range of voices in fields like diplomacy, national security, foreign policy, and cybersecurity.
“Public policy, national security, and international relations need leaders who believe that the United States has been and will continue to be a guiding force for global security and prosperity,” says Skinner. “As chair, I look forward to advancing meaningful discussions about America’s role in the world and the positive role that other nations play as well. I am grateful to the Taube family and Pepperdine University for the honor of being named to this position.”
For more than 40 years, the Taube family has leveraged the principles of collaborative giving to bolster American values and help ensure that all citizens have an equal opportunity to reach their greatest potential. Tad and Dianne Taube direct their Bay Area-based family foundation to fund programs throughout the US, Poland, and Israel. They are longtime supporters of leading collegiate, archival, and public policy institutions, including the Hoover Institution at Stanford, where the Tad and Dianne Taube Directorship is currently held by former US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, and Stanford Libraries’ Taube Archive of the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg, 1945–46. They also established and fund the George P. Shultz Postdoctoral Fellowships at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and support health and wellness initiatives with a focus on youth, including the Santa Clara University student wellness program.
“This wonderful gift from Tad and Dianne Taube in support of Dr. Skinner’s chair here at the School of Public Policy demonstrates not only their gracious commitment to preparing future leaders in international relations and national security, but also a specific appreciation of Kiron’s remarkable scholarship and teaching,” said School of Public Policy dean Pete Peterson. “For more than a quarter century, the School of Public Policy has placed an emphasis on these
disciplines, and this gift takes our work to a new level—academically, and as a convener of distinctive conversations about America’s role in the world.”
Prior to coming to Pepperdine, Skinner served as the Taube Professor for International Relations and Politics at Carnegie Mellon University’s Institute for Politics and Strategy, where she started several centers and institutes, including the Carnegie Mellon University Washington Semester Program.
Skinner’s past government service includes membership on the US Department of Defense’s Defense Policy Board as an advisor on the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars, the Defense Department’s Defense Business Board, the Chief of Naval Operations’ Executive Panel, the National Academies Committee on Behavioral and Social Science Research to Improve Intelligence Analysis for National Security, and the National Security Education Board. From 2012 to 2015 she served on Pennsylvania governor Tom Corbett’s Advisory Commission on African American Affairs. Skinner is an award-winning and best-selling author with particular scholarship focused on the life and public policy of former president Ronald Reagan. Her coauthored books Reagan, In His Own Hand (2001) and Reagan, A Life in Letters (2003) were New York Times best sellers. The former won the Hoover Institution’s Uncommon Book Award in 2002.
She is a lifetime director on the board of the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC, and serves on the board of the Pacific Council on International Policy in Los Angeles. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations in New York City.
SPP Joins Truman Scholarship Program as Graduate School Partner
In 2024 Pepperdine School of Public Policy joined a respected group of graduate programs as a Graduate School Partner of the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation. As a partner, SPP will provide matching scholarships with funding from the foundation to selected Truman Scholars each year.
Formed by an act of Congress in 1975, the stated mission of the Truman Scholarship Foundation is to “award scholarships to persons who demonstrate outstanding potential for and who plan to pursue a career in public service.” Each year hundreds of college juniors apply for the 55 to 60 available scholarships intended to support enrollment in a graduate public policy program. Truman Scholars demonstrate a passion for public service, serving in government at all levels (including elected office) and nonprofit organizations.
As the foundation notes, “Today, Truman [Scholars] work in the West Wing, sit on the US Supreme Court, and serve in federal and state legislatures. They are transforming nonprofits, delivering crucial services, and organizing for change in local communities. And Truman Scholars are leaders in academia, research, and health care. They can be found in every branch of the armed services. And many make a difference far beyond the borders of the United States.”
Joining a group of two dozen distinguished graduate programs, School of Public Policy dean Pete Peterson noted, “As a program dedicated to preparing the next generation of public leaders, we’re both honored and excited to join the Truman Scholars program—an organization that performs such important and unique roles in promoting careers in public service, recruiting students, and helping to fund their
New Board of Advisors Members
Charlotte Florance Day
enrollment in graduate programs.” He concluded, “We look forward to welcoming Trumans to Malibu for years to come.”
“I am grateful dean Pete Peterson and his colleagues share our mission to meaningfully invest in leaders seeking to serve,” said Terry Babcock-Lumish, executive secretary of the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation. “The Pepperdine Policy Partners Program demonstrates the University’s commitment to innovative problem solvers tackling society’s toughest challenges.”
Charlotte Florance Day is a dynamic leader with a profound commitment to transformative finance and women’s economic empowerment. She is currently spearheading a catalytic finance platform affiliated with Peacock Capital Advisors Group. Previously Day managed the US government’s $300 million Women’s Global Development and Prosperity Fund at USAID, developing impactful co-investment partnerships with Fortune 500 companies and supporting women farmers and digital inclusion globally. Her career also includes roles at the US Department of State and the US Department of Energy, and she has been a leader in innovative enterprises such as To The Market. Day holds an MA in conflict, security, and development from King’s College London and a BA in international relations from the University of Southern California. She and her husband, Ramsey Day, reside in Orange County, California, with their two children.
Ramsey Day
Ramsey Day is a seasoned strategist in healthcare technology and international development. He is currently the head of strategy and business development for Lumenix USA, an AI-based healthcare technology firm. Previously Day served as the Senate-confirmed assistant administrator for Africa at USAID, directing foreign assistance policy and program operations across sub-Saharan Africa. His extensive experience includes roles at the International Republican Institute (IRI), the US Department of State, and in the media industry. Day holds a BA from the University of Mississippi and an MPA focusing on international affairs from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
Alex Duff
Alex Duff is a managing partner of Fortius Ventures, a venture capital firm he cofounded with businessman and CEO coach Matt Mochary in 2022. Duff began his career in investment banking at Morgan Stanley in New York before transitioning into the principal investing business, working at the Bechtel family office in San Francisco. Over the past 25 years, Duff has invested in a number of startup companies and venture capital funds. He holds a BA in history from Duke University and is a chartered financial analyst (CFA) charterholder. Duff resides in Lafayette, California, with his wife, Samantha, and three daughters. A man of faith, Duff also serves as a deacon at his local church.
A Night of Reflection and Inspiration: Reagan Screening at the Lido Theater
On August 27 the Pepperdine School of Public Policy hosted a private screening of Reagan at the historic Lido Theater in Newport Beach, California. The sold-out event featured a conversation between School of Public Policy dean Pete Peterson, film writer Howard Klausner, and director Sean McNamara followed by an advance screening of the film.
The biographical movie, which stars Dennis Quaid as Ronald Reagan and Penelope Ann Miller as Nancy Reagan, tells Reagan’s story through the eyes of Viktor Petrovich—played by Jon Voight—a KGB agent tasked with surveilling Reagan from his early years in Hollywood through his meteoric rise to the presidency. Notably, the film includes a cameo from Pepperdine University Board chair (and Pepperdine household name) Pat Boone.
Based on Paul Kengor’s 2006 book The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism, the film highlights Reagan’s commitment to freedom, his steadfastness in the face of criticism and adversity, and his sense of a divine calling on his life. The evening concluded with a standing ovation from an audience that included many longtime friends of Pepperdine.
Reagan was himself, of course, no stranger to Pepperdine. In 1970 he delivered the keynote address at Pepperdine’s “Birth of a College” dinner, which launched the creation of the Malibu campus. Nearly two decades later, in 1989, Reagan gave his first post-presidency public address at Pepperdine, reflecting on his administration’s achievements and America’s future. Bookended by these two monumental speeches were many other visits to the University–from formal speaking engagements to horseback rides from his nearby Rancho Del Cielo. It is with good reason that, at the time, Pepperdine was dubbed “Reagan’s school.”
The film screening provided a poignant moment to reflect on the qualities that
defined Reagan’s presidency—character, strength, and vision—and to consider his enduring legacy at Pepperdine and beyond.
In his conversation with Klausner and McNamara, Peterson underscored the importance of the School of Public Policy’s mission: “At SPP, we are raising up the next Reagan generation, and we are thankful for the partnership of so many of you here tonight whose support makes that work possible.”
Reagan once reminded Americans, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.”
Pete Peterson Joins Karsh Institute for Democracy Advisory Board
School of Public Policy dean Pete Peterson was welcomed to the advisory board of the Karsh Institute of Democracy at the University of Virginia. Peterson joins leaders from across the country in guiding the mission of the institute to “work tirelessly to understand, defend, and invigorate the institutions, practices, and cultural underpinnings that are the foundations of democracy.”
“I’m delighted to join this bipartisan group of scholars and activists promoting greater civic engagement through improved processes and education,” noted Peterson. Peterson also serves on the board of the Jack Miller Center, the Scholars’ Council for the bipartisan dialogue organization Braver Angeles, the Los Angeles World Affairs Council board, and he remains involved in the Commission on the Practice of Democratic Citizenship, which is hosted by the American Academy of Arts & Sciences.
SPP Welcomes Patrick Etcheverry
as the New Office Manager
The School of Public Policy was pleased to welcome Patrick Etcheverry at the beginning of the year as the school’s new office manager. Etcheverry, a native of Florida, graduated with a degree in political science from the University of Houston. He later came to California to earn his master’s degree in commercial real estate from Pepperdine Graziadio Business School and has remained a part of the Pepperdine community since graduation. Etcheverry brings his management and customer-service skills to the role, drawing from his experience at Pepperdine’s Center for the Arts and Trust and Estate Services offices. With a deep interest in policy, systemic issues in society, and theology, Etcheverry has become an active part of the day-to-day life and work of the School of Public Policy.
SPP Selected for New Service to Service Initiative
In October Pepperdine’s School of Public Policy was chosen to participate in the Service to Service Initiative, a collaborative consortium with the Volcker Alliance and We the Veterans. This innovative program serves to connect veterans and military families with pathways to public-service education, preparing them for impactful careers in leadership and governance.
Selected as one of 12 schools that offer a master of public policy and affairs-related degrees, SPP will welcome Service to Service fellows into the policy program, where they will be supported from the recruitment phase to career placement.
Ellen Gustafson, cofounder and executive director of We the Veterans explains the natural fit for the veteran community to the field of public service. “Public trust in veterans is universal and unwavering across America. Importantly, that trust extends to military family members who share a strong commitment and sense of duty to
this country. As Service to Service fellows, veterans and military families will embark on postgraduate studies that build on their leadership skills, tap into their patriotism, and position them to bring that trust to influential civic roles.”
SPP is eager to continue fostering the veteran community at Pepperdine while simultaneously expand the needed presence of veterans in state and local government roles.
“I couldn’t be more excited to have SPP selected to join this respected group of service-focused policy schools from around the country,” said SPP dean Pete Peterson. “Our successful application was no doubt due to the involvement of Pepperdine’s PeppVet initiative in the process along with our own Davenport Institute, which leads our local government education and co-curricular programming. While SPP has always welcomed veteran students to Malibu, through Service to Service, I’m
looking forward to seeing even more of them this fall!”
Individuals interested in the Service to Service Initiative are encouraged to reach out directly to the SPP Office of Admission for further enrollment details at 310.506.7493.
The 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.
The School of Public Policy is proud to recognize the 2024–25 endowed scholarship recipients:
LASZLO
AND MILKA AMBRUS ENDOWED SCHOLARS
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.
Richard Barnes
BA, Political Science Azusa Pacific University
Joy Kemunto
BA, Political Science Catholic University of Eastern Africa
Jonathan Tejeda
BA, English and Political Science Westmont College
WILLIAM S. AND GAY BANOWSKY ENDOWED SCHOLAR
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 who are in good standing in all areas of the University.
Alissa LaRue
BS, Sustainability Studies
Arizona State 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.
Asmaa Latifi
BA, Political Science
California State University, Northridge
BOB AND AMY CLARK FAMILY ENDOWED SCHOLAR
The Bob and Amy Clark 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.
Baely Gulbins
BA, Economics and Spanish Temple University
CONSERVATIVE LEADER ENDOWED SCHOLAR
Established by School of Public Policy board member Maureen Grace and supported by a circle of friends, the Conservative Leader Endowed Scholarship Fund shall be restricted to students with financial need pursuing a degree at the School of Public Policy who are in good standing in all areas of the University.
Aidan Kohnke
BA, Political Science Butler University
DR. FRANK W. AND MRS. SHERRY R. CORNELL ENDOWED SCHOLAR
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.
Isabel Flatley
BA, Political Science
San Jose State University
DAVID AND SALLY DAVENPORT ENDOWED SCHOLAR
The David and Sally Davenport 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.
Matthew Martens
BA, University Scholars
Baylor University
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 shall be restricted to 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.
Christian Mayer
BA, International Politics
The Pennsylvania State University
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.
Drew Aguas
BA, International Relations and Criminal Justice California Baptist University
LINDA M. GAGE AWP ENDOWED SCHOLAR
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.
Liam Murphy
BS, Political Science Arizona State University
BRUCE HERSCHENSOHN ENDOWED SCHOLAR
Established by Vi Logan, sister to Bruce Herschensohn, the Bruce Herschensohn Endowed Scholarship was created to support students pursuing a degree at the School of Public Policy who are in good standing in all areas of the University.
Chris Carroll
BS, Political Science Manchester University
HISPANIC ALUMNI SCHOLAR
The Pepperdine Hispanic Alumni Council scholarship was designed to support the needs of Latino students through the generosity of the Hispanic Alumni Council.
Kamila Campos
BA, Political Science California State University, Los Angeles
RUSSELL AND COLENE JOHNSON ENDOWED SCHOLAR
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.
Ramon Moreno
BA, Education and Early Childhood Development California State University, Los Angeles
THOMAS P. KEMP ENDOWED SCHOLAR
The Thomas P. Kemp Endowed Scholarship was established in 2006 as a memorial legacy to the Pepperdine regent and avid supporter of the School of Public Policy, Thomas P. Kemp.
Aidan Kohnke
BA, Political Science Butler University
LIEBERMAN/WEXLER FOUNDATION SCHOLAR
The Lieberman/Wexler Foundation 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.
PETER AND VERONICA JOHNSON ENDOWED SCHOLAR
Mery Bagdyan
BA, Political Science
California State University, Northridge
Ramon Moreno
BA, Education and Early Childhood Development
California State University, Los Angeles
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 who remain in good standing in all areas of the University.
Eve Velasquez
BA, Political Science California State University, Long Beach
Torie Lynch
BA, Broadcast Journalism
California State University, Northridge
MALDONADO FAMILY ENDOWED SCHOLARS
The Maldonado Family Endowed Fund, established in 2011 by a gift from Ernest and Mary Maldonado, is used, at the direction of the dean of the School of Public Policy, to fund a merit fellowship for a student working in, or planning to work in, a national intelligence agency or in the criminal justice system.
Scott DiPanni
BA, Law and Society
California State University, Northridge
Vanessa Rice
BA, History Berry College
JACK McMANUS ENDOWED SCHOLAR
The Jack McManus Endowed Scholarship was established by former Pepperdine presidents David Davenport and Andrew K. Benton and former School of Public Policy Dean Emeritus James R. Wilburn to honor the memory of long-time SPP faculty member Jack McManus. The McManus Scholarship is designed for students pursuing a degree at the School of Public Policy who are in good standing in all areas of the University.
Drew Aguas
BA, International Relations and Criminal Justice California Baptist University
WILLIAM AND NANCY MORTENSEN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY SCHOLARS
The William and Nancy Mortensen Christian School of Public Policy Scholarship was established for students with a denominational background other than Churches of Christ who are in good standing in all areas of the university.
Russell Bivins
BA, Communication Arizona Christian University
Tori Michaelian
BA, Political Science Point Loma Nazarene University
WILLIAM AND NANCY MORTENSEN ENDOWED MINORITY SCHOLARS
The William and Nancy Mortensen Endowed Minority Scholarship was established for minority students pursuing a degree at the School of Public Policy who are in good standing in all areas of the University.
Marvin Arevalo
BS, Fraud Examination and Financial Forensics
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Baely Gulbins
BA, Economics and Spanish Temple University
JASON AND OLENA PATES ENDOWED SCHOLAR
The Jason and Olena Pates 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.
Faith Chang
BA, Political Science Pepperdine University
PETE AND GINA PETERSON
ENDOWED SCHOLAR
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.
Wyatt Greco
BA, History and International Relations Creighton University
WALTER AND NANCY POSER ENDOWED
SCHOLARS
The Walter and Nancy Poser 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.
Russell Bivins
BA, Communication Arizona Christian University
Joseph Manacmul BA, History University of California, Los Angeles
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 who are in good standing in all areas of the University.
Connor Merk
Jordan Buenafe
BA, Economics Pepperdine University
Chris Carroll
BS, Political Science Manchester University
Avery Causey
BA, History and Art History Texas Christian University
BA, Business and Political Science Virginia Wesleyan University
Rudy Torres
BA, Political Science Biola University
McCall Zeutzius
BA, Political Science Azusa Pacific University
HARRY E. AND IZELLE C. 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.
Emily Daniels
BS, Public Health Hawaii Pacific 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 who are in good standing in all areas of the University.
Vanessa Rice
BA, History Berry College
MAURICE H. STANS ENDOWED SCHOLARS
Established in 1999 by the Stans trust, the Maurice H. Stans Endowed Scholarship was created to provide support for African American students.
Courtney Logie
LaMontria Edwards
BA, Legal Studies and Criminology
Paul Quinn College
Michael Henry BA, Political Science Morehouse College
BA, Political Science University of California, Riverside
Lestian McNeal
BA, Political Science Francis Marion University
Jordan Payton BA, Foreign Affairs Hampden-Sydney College
STANS FAMILY FOUNDATION ENDOWED SCHOLARS
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.
Francisco Moran
BA, Economics and Political Science
Purdue University
TERRALYNN AND EARL SWIFT ENDOWED SCHOLARS
Established in 2006 by Terralynn and Earl Swift, the Terralynn and Earl Swift 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 interdependency.
Wyatt Greco
BA, History and International Relations
Creighton University
Christian Mayer
BA, International Politics
The Pennsylvania State University
FLORA L. THORNTON ENDOWED SCHOLARS
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.
Faith Chang
BA, Political Science Pepperdine University
Alessandro Bastien
BS, Business Administration Pepperdine University
John Scoggins
BA, Sociology
Margaret Taylor
BA, English and Political Science
Westmont College
TOCQUEVILLE SCHOLARS PROGRAM ENDOWED SCHOLAR
Established by the School of Public Policy Board of Advisors and friends, the Tocqueville Scholars Program Endowed Scholarship shall be restricted to students at the School of Public Policy who have been referred to the program through a P4 partner organization and possess an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.7. Applicants must complete an essay discussing classical liberalism, natural law, and/or the founding of the United States of America, and describing the student’s understanding of and personal response to the same. Recipients must be in good standing in all areas of the University.
Connor Merk
BA, Business and Political Science Virginia Wesleyan University
LYDELL WARD ENDOWED SCHOLAR
Established by 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.
Sophie Collins
BA, International Studies Pepperdine University
Logan Lee
BA, Political Science and Corporate Communication
Baylor University
Matthew Martens
BA, University Scholars
Baylor University
Vanguard University
Torie Lynch
BA, Broadcast Journalism California State University, Northridge
J. McDONALD AND JUDY WILLIAMS SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY SCHOLAR
Established by J. McDonald and Judy Williams in 1999, the J. McDonald and Judy Williams School of Public Policy Scholarship is designed to assist deserving School of Public Policy students who are members of Churches of Christ
Liam Murphy
BS, Political Science
Arizona State University
Washington, DC, Panel Talks Online Free Expression and International Religious Freedom
On January 31, 2024, the School of Public Policy partnered with the Oversight Board, an independent advisory organization for Meta on free expression, and the Institute for Religion and Democracy to host “Elections, Conflicts, and Crises: Anticipated Challenges to Online Free Expression and International Religious Freedom” in Washington, DC. The discussion addressed the issues of free speech online and international religious freedom in the context of assaults on religious minorities. The event featured respected religious liberty expert Knox Thames, senior fellow at the Pepperdine School of Public Policy and director of the Pepperdine Program on Global Faith and Inclusive Societies. Thames was joined by Pete Peterson, the dean and Braun Family Dean’s Chair at the School of Public Policy, as well as Paolo Carozza, human rights scholar and professor at Notre Dame Law School.
“The salon was another in the series of events we’ve organized in the nation’s capital that offer our unique perspective on American exceptionalism and the role of faith in shaping public policy and future leaders,” said Peterson. “Our nation’s capital remains an important location for the School of Public Policy—for both our curricular and co-curricular programs,” he added.
Thames addressed the importance of engaging governments to consider their ability to promote international religious freedom in a manner that defends the right of everyone to pursue truth. “Governments
Roundtable on Immigration Policy
are raising walls to either protect their societies from certain political ideas or religious ones,” said Thames. He reminded the audience that “God calls us to advocate for all who are persecuted.”
“We live in a context in which it is increasingly difficult, if not impossible, for people, especially young people, to judge what is true and to discern what is right.”
The conversation also covered the impact of government censorship on American companies operating abroad. American companies simply cannot disobey a foreign country’s laws but they do have the choice, argued Thames, to not operate in countries that actively suppress and censor those in religious minorities. If freedom of speech and religion were true priorities,
the companies would not aid oppression through their silence. Carozza countered that American companies, such as social media platforms, can be a positive voice by advocating for the freedom of religious minorities. But by pulling the company out, you eliminate the power its voice could exert.
The appreciation and necessity for truth was a key theme during the discussion. “The fundamental problem is the desire for the truth,” said Carozza. “We live in a context in which it is increasingly difficult, if not impossible, for people, especially young people, to judge what is true and to discern what is right.”
When virtuous judgment is not properly cultivated, citizens are left unequipped to discern truth amid the flood of information they face online. Carozza argued that we must first have a stable citizenship capable of parsing a truth from a lie before we can debate the impacts of social media influencing governmental actions, such as elections.
In the summer, the bipartisan engagement organization Braver Angels and the School of Public Policy cohosted an off-the-record half-day conversation about US immigration policy. The discussion was held at Pepperdine’s campus building in Washington, DC. The 15 participants, including former federal government officials and individuals from various academic organizations, activist organizations, and think tanks, represented diverse perspectives on immigration.
School of Public Policy dean Pete Peterson was part of the organizing committee and helped structure the meeting to include both conversation and relationship-building elements. “Immigration is one of those topics that suffers from deep distrust between activists, scholars, and policy makers on all sides of the issue,” said Peterson. “It was vital that SPP serve in the role of unbiased convener, making sure that there was viewpoint diversity in the room and engaging a respected small-group facilitator in David Blankenhorn from Braver Angels,” he added.
Conversation questions focused on values and common ground among the participants, who noted the importance of having multiple viewpoints on immigration policy represented.
Moral Sense in Politics and Policy: Democracy and Solidarity
As part of The Moral Sense in Politics and Policy Lecture Series, the School of Public Policy and The Trinity Forum hosted “Democracy and Solidarity” in September in Washington, DC. The event featured James Davison Hunter, sociologist and author of Democracy and Solidarity: On the Cultural Roots of America’s Political Crisis, alongside David Brooks, a political and cultural opinion columnist for The New York Times They discussed the themes of Hunter’s book, focusing on the erosion of American solidarity around its founding ideals and shared insights on how to restore what has been lost.
“Most of what unites people is not a rationalist consensus as much as it is a sense of being part of a shared project, a sense of something at stake quite apart from our differences,” explained Hunter. He said that solidarity plays a critical role in sustaining democracy. “Every institution, from a family to a government, requires some agreement, some cohesion; otherwise, institutions fall apart.” Solidarity serves as the adhesive that binds families, organizations, and nations together. Yet, its erosion has left American society increasingly fragmented and disconnected.
Hunter and Brooks attributed this erosion to a shift in the nation’s view of human nature. A “hybrid enlightenment”—the blend of classical republicanism, Lockean individualism, deism, and reformed Christianity—informed the Founding Fathers’ ethical vision. Mankind was fundamentally egotistical and sinful and thus required morally formative institutions for democracy to survive. However, as Brooks highlighted, a new belief emerged in the mid-20th century: humans are inherently good and can create their own morality. Consequently, the coherent moral order began to disintegrate, giving rise to moral relativism and internal moral chaos.
“At the heart of a culture are the answers to five questions: What is the nature of reality? How do we know reality? Who is a person and a member of the human community, worthy of its privileges and protections? How do we treat other people? What is the point, what is the direction of it all?,” said Hunter. “There is no longer any agreement about the answers to the five questions.”
Brooks described the resulting “internal moral chaos” as a psychological and spiritual crisis that has contributed to a loss of meaning.
He argued that addressing the epistemological crisis—the fundamental disagreement on what is real and true—was essential for rebuilding solidarity.
“Every epistemology implies an ethic,” he said. “The way you look at the world determines who you are in the world.”
Hunter also examined the rise of nihilism and the shift from a flawed yet selfcorrecting democratic vision to a culture marked by a narrative of injury and an ethic of revenge. He identified nihilism as the true enemy, infiltrating both sides of the political spectrum. Ending with a hopeful vision for a renewed moral imagination, Brooks concluded, “Moral social renewal and personal renewal are intertwined and begin with that first act of attention—of seeing the other person with the eyes of Jesus.”
Pepperdine Switzerland Campus Welcomes Former Ambassador Robert C. O’Brien and
Ambassador Jacques Pitteloud
On Friday, May 17, 2024, the Pepperdine University School of Public Policy hosted an evening dinner and reception at the Château d’Hauteville in Blonay - Saint-Légier, Switzerland, Pepperdine’s newest international campus, featuring a lively discussion with former national security advisor and School of Public Policy Distinguished Senior Fellow Robert C. O’Brien and the ambassador of Switzerland to the United States Jacques Pitteloud. The event convened a unique gathering of prominent diplomats, policy experts, local government leaders, and Pepperdine students and alumni.
The conversation, later described by guests as both “candid” and “brave,” was mediated by SPP dean Pete Peterson and explored pivotal themes across three key domains:
• The Evolving Landscape of Higher Education: Exploring the role of academia in nurturing future public leaders, the discussion shed light on challenges and opportunities facing educational systems worldwide. Pitteloud expressed concerns about the spread of free speech issues on campuses, noting their potential emergence into Switzerland and Europe at large.
• Harnessing the Power of Technology: Amid obvious technological advancement, panelists discussed the imperative to thoughtfully navigate the challenges progressing technology brings to international governance. Discussants particularly examined the acceleration of information on social media and the impact of cybersecurity threats.
• Navigating Geopolitical Uncertainties: This portion of the conversation was devoted to the influx of international tensions, especially seen in the Middle East, and addressed the potential threats and opportunities on the current global stage.
Peterson commented on the significance of the occasion as it marked the first public event for the School of Public Policy at the Pepperdine château. “Our vision is for the new campus in Switzerland to serve as a home to important and open conversations about issues of public policy—particularly in the national security arena. The conversation with two of the world’s top diplomats demonstrated our commitment to thoughtful and provocative discussion about the policy and cultural issues facing the West,” stated Peterson.
Guests also heard from former president of the National Council of Switzerland and current state councilor and head of the Department of Economy Innovation, Employment, and Heritage (DEIEP) of the canton of Vaud, Isabelle Moret. Moret underscored the historical significance of Pepperdine’s contribution to the region’s restoration, emphasizing its role as a hub for constructive dialogue and intellectual exchange.
Second Annual National Security Dialogue Hosted at Pepperdine’s Switzerland Campus
In September Pepperdine’s Château d’Hauteville in Blonay - SaintLégier, Switzerland, once again became an important meeting place for transatlantic leaders to discuss global security policy.
The intimate gathering of foreign heads of state, think-tank leaders, and government officials, served as the second conference hosted by Pepperdine School of Public Policy and partners Heritage Foundation and the Danube Institute.
The two-day conference consisted of expert keynotes and panels that addressed a primary policy matter each day–China foreign policy and the Israel-Middle East conflict, respectively. Centered in a location known for international diplomacy, the Pepperdine Switzerland campus provided a welcoming space for political thought leaders to challenge current policies and discuss innovative, forward-looking ideas.
On the second day, Pepperdine president Jim Gash delivered welcoming remarks in which he shared how the conference played a crucial role in expanding Pepperdine’s mission to “expose the world to Pepperdine students and to expose Pepperdine students to the world.”
Kiron Skinner, recently named the Taube Family Chair in International Relations and Politics at the School of Public Policy, provided the vision and leadership in making Pepperdine an intellectual home base for key global leaders.
“Pepperdine’s second annual national security dialogue at the Switzerland campus continues the University’s commitment to facilitating conversations about America’s role in the world,” she stated.
As moderator of the final day-two discussion titled “Ideas and Initiatives: Policy Proposals for the Way Forward,” Skinner encouraged participants to reiterate the key themes that were discussed during the conference.
KASSY (DILLON) AKIVA (MPP ’21)
In recognition of her reporting on the war in Israel and coverage of anti-Semitism on college campuses across the United States, Kassy Akiva was awarded the Media Research Center’s Bulldog Award for Outstanding Blogger. Since October 2023 Akiva has been a reporter for the Daily Wire, following her role as a digital journalist at Fox News. In March of last year, Akiva married her now husband, Isaac Akiva.
PETER WARDA (MPP ’16)
Peter Warda launched PolicyFrame Consultants, his government affairs and lobbying firm, in February 2024.
Based in Sacramento and Los Angeles, California, the firm’s areas of practice include advocacy, issue campaigns, stakeholder engagement, public affairs, and public relations.
MAURICE JAMES WILLIAMS JR. (MPP ’10)
Maurice Williams has nearly 13 years of experience in the public K–12 sector, having served as a teacher, head of middle and high schools, and chief academic officer at varying public charter schools in the Bay Area. As an innovative educator, Williams has earned numerous awards, including the prestigious California Department of Education Distinguished Schools and California Pivotal Practice Awards, AP Honor Roll Gold Schools, and the California Charter School Association Network of the Year. Most recently, Williams earned his certificate of school management leadership from Harvard Business School (online) and is currently seeking to establish a rigorous Christian-based TK–12 private school for traditionally underserved youth.
AOTIAN ZHENG (MPP ’19)
Upon graduation from SPP, Aotian Zheng became a journalist and worked as a political and social correspondent for World Journal in Los Angeles, California. After moving to Beijing in 2021, he began work as an international journalist for Global People magazine, one of the most influential political journals in China.
Zheng with Carlos Gutierrez, the former United States Secretary of Commerce, in April 2024.
Office Hours with Victor Davis Hanson
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a student of Victor Davis Hanson? Find out by enjoying this second edition of “Office Hours with Victor Davis Hanson.” In this special short series of interviews led by School of Public Policy dean Pete Peterson, Hanson explores key themes from his Leadership and Key Decisions of World War II course.
Surfing Political Waves Podcast Explores America’s 2024 Election Landscape
Leading up to the 2024 November election, the School of Public Policy launched Surfing Political Waves, a short-series podcast providing analysis and commentary on local and state issues as well as the presidential race. The program was hosted by Pepperdine School of Public Policy adjunct professors Joel Fox, former editor in chief of Fox & Hounds Daily, political campaign consultant, and author; and Dan Schnur, professor at the University of Southern California Annenberg School of Communications; University of California, Berkeley; and leading political strategist.
Each episode touched on an influential aspect of the political electoral process with an expert on the respective topic. Featured guests included Mark Baldassare, the Miller Chair in Public Policy and statewide survey director at the Public Policy Institute of California; Robert Greene, former Los Angeles Times editorial writer; and Mike Madrid, political consultant and author of How America’s Largest Minority Is Transforming Democracy
With an eye toward fostering a more informed citizenry, Surfing Political Waves will continue to be available as an existing resource as a part of the School of Public Policy’s commitment to a public discourse rooted in both freedom and responsibility.
“We should have debate, we should have freedom, we should have freedom of expression, and we should not allow intellectual fascism to contaminate our universities.”
JACQUES PITTELOUD
Former Ambassador of Switzerland to the United States of America
Confronting the Major Challenges Facing the West May 17, 2024
“I really fundamentally believe that democracy is the system, when it works best, where we are creating space for people to live fully and follow the true beliefs that they have authentically, and where they can live side by side with others who have different beliefs.”
NICOLE BIBBINS SEDAKA
Interim President Freedom House
Ending Persecution with Knox Thames and Nicole Bibbins Sedaca September 6, 2024
“Agency is the force of your free will guided by moral discernment.”
IAN V. ROWE Senior Fellow
American Enterprise Institute
The “F.R.E.E.” Program to Promote Economic Opportunity February 19, 2024
“People of faith have hope, and this is something that is profoundly important and takes us into another realm of hope beyond happiness. Hope keeps people going even in the midst of difficult situations.”
BYRON JOHNSON
Distinguished Visiting Professor of Religious Studies and the Common Good Pepperdine University, School of Public Policy
Faith and Human Flourishing October 18, 2024
“Stories do echo in history, and I think you need to pay attention to them.”
KATHLEEN
OSBERGER
Author and Humanitarian
I Surrender: A Firsthand Account of Chile’s Military Dictatorship in 1975 March 5, 2024
“[The news media] doesn’t like to talk about the bills that both sides agree on . . . they like to talk about controversial bills. Typically, the way a bill is going to get passed is by both sides coming together.”
MIMI WALTERS (R-CA)
US Representative
Congress to Campus: The Value of Healthy Partisanship January 22, 2024
Pepperdine University School of Public Policy
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Malibu, CA 90263-4494
DEAN’S REPORT
PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY
Pete Peterson (MPP ’07)
Dean
Braun Family Dean’s Chair
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Ed Feulner
Steve Forbes
Robert Hertzberg
Frederick Ryan
BOARD OF ADVISORS
Carol Wallace, Chair
Viggo Butler (MBA ’80)
Frank Cornell (MBA ’78, EdD ’04)
Charlotte Florance Day
Ramsey Day
Alex Duff
Doug De Groote
Maureen Grace
Peggy Grande (’89)
Cynthia Guerrero (MPP ’04)
Jay Hoffman
Colene Johnson (’68)
Jeffrey Jones (MPP ’02)
Jonathan Kemp (’94, MBA ’07)
Cathryn Kingsbury (’97, MPP ’99)
Donald R. Knabe
Jong Lee
Darrell Levonian
Ernest Maldonado (’76, MP ’80)
Chandra Duistermars
Melton (’99, JD ’02)
Nicole Neily (MPP ’06)
Gary Oakland
Stephen Olson (MBA ’73)
Nishan Partamian
Jason Pates (’95, MPP ’99)
James Piereson
Kasey Pipes
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
Charity Wallace (’97)
Michael Y. Warder, Sr.
Lisa Smith Wengler
Barry L. Wolfe
Johnny Zamrzla
DEAN’S REPORT EDITORIAL TEAM
Editor:
Lena Pacifici
Copy Editors:
Sheryl Covey (MDR ’20)
Amanda Pisani
Writers:
Natalia Barba
Rebecca Christensson
Jessica Curtis-Castillo
Coby Dolloff
Zoe Hunt
David Holden
Joshua Lee
Lena Pacifici
UPCOMING EVENTS
For more information and additional events, visit publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu/events
