Colleague Vol. 31, Iss. 1 (Spring/Summer 2014)

Spring/Summer 2014 Volume 31, No. 1

PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY Graduate School of Education and Psychology

CORE STRENGTH

Alumna Leads Way for Math Success INSIDE: Social Benefits: Identifying the Significance of Adult Friendships | From the Flight Deck to the Classroom | Bringing Clean Water to Villages in Zambia

L E T T E R FROM T HE D E A N

As an institute of higher education, the Pepperdine Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP) is a well-established champion of personal and professional development. Whether one pursues a master’s or doctoral degree, takes a class to develop a new hobby, or reads up on a particular period of history, learning should be a lifelong endeavor.

In this issue of Colleague we’ve highlighted stories of GSEP community members who demonstrate the importance of continuing education. You’ll learn about an alumna who trains educators to improve student outcomes; a faculty member who is conducting research that will provide people with a better understanding of themselves and their relationships; an alumnus who embarked on a unique experience to bring real-world examples to the classroom; and an alumna that learned to collaborate with a different culture in order to bring an essential resource to those in need.

Carrie Mitchell (EdD ‘07) worked as a teacher and school administrator for nearly 20 years. Now her days consist of training principals to support teachers as they learn to teach math in a way that pushes students to demonstrate competence in computation while articulating their reasoning. She shared with us the ways in which the program, Swun Math, complements state Common Core Standards.

We also spoke with psychology professors Shelly Harrell and Edward Shafranske about the launch of the Center for the Study and Promotion of Adult Friendship. The center is in the process of conducting research about adult friendships which they hope can be used to encourage adults to pursue and nurture more beneficial relationships.

Many of you are aware that I will be retiring as dean of GSEP at the end of the academic year. For the past 13 years, it has been an honor and a privilege to play a role in supporting the education of hundreds of students, and I have learned much from those I’ve had the pleasure of working with and teaching.

I am confident that the GSEP family will continue to develop skills that will have a lasting impact here and around the world. Wherever our paths may lead us, rest assured that I will continue my learning right alongside all of you.

Margaret J. Weber, PhD Dean

F E AT U R E S

12 Core Strength

Alumna Leads Way for Math Success

Departments 02 News 24 Class Notes 26 Dean Weber

14 Social Benefits

Identifying the significance of adult friendships

Perspectives

20 From the Flight Deck to the Classroom

By Tim Hibsman

22 Bringing Clean Water to Villages in Zambia

By Earnestine Thomas-Robertson

PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AND PSYCHOLOGY Spring/Summer 2014 Volume 31, No.1 Managing Editor Veronica Orozco Director of Alumni Relations Claudette LaCour

ADMINISTRATION Dean Margaret J. Weber Associate Dean, Psychology Robert A. deMayo Associate Dean, Education Martine Jago

Creative Director Brett Sizemore Art Director Lizabeth Waldvogel (’05) Production Manager Jill McWilliams

The Pepperdine Colleague© is published two times per year by the Graduate School of Education and Psychology and the Office of Alumni Relations. The opinions expressed in the Colleague do not necessarily reflect those of the University or its administration.

Photographer Ron Hall (’79)

Please send address changes and alumni updates to:

Copy Editor Vincent Way

Pepperdine Colleague

Contributing Writers Tim Hibsman, EdD ’00

Earnestine Thomas-Robertson, ‘69, MA ‘73, EdD ‘03

GSEP Alumni Office 6100 Center Drive, 5th Floor Los Angeles, CA 90045 Tel. 310.568.5664 E-mail: gsepalum@pepperdine.edu To contact the Colleague editor, e-mail gsepedit@pepperdine.edu.

GSEP Colleague Summer 2008 1

GSEP NEWS GSEP Named One of the 45 BEST

COLLEGES FOR ONLINE LEARNING

Last fall AffordableCollegesOnline.org (AC Online), a resource for students researching college affordability and financial aid information, released its list of the nation’s best colleges for distance learning. GSEP was noted as one of the few prestigious schools that offer doctoral degrees via online course work as part of a blended (face-to-face and online) program.

“The days of for-profit schools dominating online education are over,” said Dan Schuessler, founder of AC Online. “Many of the nation’s traditional colleges and universities have added extensive collections of online courses to their catalogs. We wanted to find the institutions where quantity, quality, and innovation truly stood out.”

Organizational Leadership Alumna Developed

ENTREPRENEURSHIP CURRICULUM FOR TEENS Last summer, as part of UCLA’s summer program for middle school and high school students from around the world, Denise Berger (EdD ‘13) launched a proprietary business course based on the premise of the reality show Shark Tank. The “Jr. Shark Tank” curriculum introduced students to various aspects of business, finance, and entrepreneurialism.

On the TV show, entrepreneurs pitch their business or product idea to a panel of potential investors, the “sharks.” Berger put the students in teams of three; each team developed a unique product and constructed pitches that touched on the lessons learned.

“The students learned about business presence and skills, leadership and management, nonprofit and for-profit business structures, and competition,” said Berger. “We also discussed market forces such as regulation, communications and marketing, product development, social responsibility and ethics, start-ups, culture and organization, passion and purpose, global corporations, and financial analysis of stock returns.”

Berger has now brought the Jr. Shark Tank course to Westside Neighborhood School and is teaching it as an elective to the middle school students.

According to AC Online, the 45 colleges and universities listed demonstrated excellence in online education through quantity of courses, academic rigor, and/or technological innovation.

To see the complete list, visit

BIT.LY/ACONLINERANK.

PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY CELEBR ATES 35 Years of Classes in Irvine On Tuesday, October 15, GSEP celebrated 35 years in Irvine with a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Irvine Chamber of Commerce. Margaret J. Weber, GSEP dean, accepted certificates of recognition from local and state government officials in honor of the anniversary, as well as the launch of two new programs: Aliento: The Center for Latino/a Communities and the Global Access Program now available to students seeking their doctorate in organizational leadership. Certificates were presented by California assemblyman Don Wagner, Irvine city councilmember Larry Agran, and representatives from the offices of California state assemblyman Alan Mansour and California state senator Mimi Walters.

To learn more about the programs available at the Irvine Graduate Campus, visit

BIT.LY/GSEPIRVINE.

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GSEP NEWS Irvine Campus Hosted Special Workplace Leadership DISCUSSION WITH

AUTHOR BARRY POSNER

GSEP’s Doctor of Educaton in Organizational Leadership program (EDOL), in partnership with the UC Santa Barbara Alumni Association, welcomed nearly 100 people at the Irvine Graduate Campus on Monday, November 4, for a discussion with author Barry Posner. Posner is an internationally renowned scholar and best-selling coauthor of the award-winning book, The Leadership Challenge.

The evening began with an opportunity for guests to have their copies of Posner’s book signed, followed by an engaging discussion on the ways in which great leadership creates great workplaces. The reception allowed students, faculty, staff, and GSEP and UCSB alumni to network and continue discussing the presentation.

To learn more about Barry Posner, visit LEADERSHIPCHALLENGE.COM.

TEN GSEP PSYCHOLOGY STUDENTS Receive Competitive Stipend from the California Department of Mental Health The California Department of Mental Health (DMH) and the Los Angeles County DMH have initiated a Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) Educational Stipend Program to address a shortage of mental-health professionals in underserved communities. This year, 10 GSEP students were selected to receive an $18,500 stipend in exchange for working 12 months at a DMH-approved site.

There were 183 applications submitted for the state stipend. Of the 24 GSEP students who applied, the following three were selected: Ji-Hyun (Jane) Kim, Jessica Muñoz, and Natalia Ewalt.

Each is bilingual speaking Korean, Spanish, and Russian, respectively.

Of the 19 GSEP students who applied for the Los Angeles County stipend, seven were awarded the funds. A total of 52 applications were submitted.

Five of the students—Feygel Barajas, Reyna Guerrero, Jessica Muñoz, Mercedes Palacios, and Sofia Alejandra Suazo—are bilingual in Spanish.

Recipient Tina Dhamija speaks Hindi and Punjabi. Hansa Prasad was the seventh recipient.

Jessica Muñoz was awarded both the state and county stipends, but may only accept one award.

To learn more about the stipend program, visit BIT.LY/MFTSTIPEND.

GSEP Colleague Spring/Summer 2014 3

GSEP NEWS

DON BR ANN of Inglewood Unified School District Named Superintendent of the Year

The GSEP Superintendent Advisory Council has named Don Brann, EdD, Inglewood Unified School District state trustee, as the 2014 GSEP Superintendent of the Year.

Brann was celebrated by a distinguished group of educational leaders including Tom Torlakson, state superintendent of public instruction, at a dinner reception on January 30 in Monterey, California.

“I am deeply appreciative and honored to have been selected by Pepperdine University to receive the Superintendent of the Year recognition,” said Brann.

Brann’s career in education spans more than four decades. Appointed to the first of four superintendencies at age 34, he has led public school districts in Lancaster, Petaluma, and Placerville before returning to his alma mater, Wiseburn, for 15 years.

His record at the Wiseburn School District is exceptional. By 1993 Wiseburn had lost two of every three students, had closed three of six schools, and its enrollment was down to 1,000 students. When Brann retired in 2008, each school in the district had been or was scheduled to be rebuilt, one closed campus was reopened, test scores were climbing, and enrollment numbers increased to over 2,000 students.

“Don is a master in the development and maintenance of a strong and productive district culture,” said Tom Johnstone (EdD ‘97), who nominated Brann and was named Superintendent of the Year in 2013. “He

attracts strong leaders and he provides the guidance, leadership, and autonomy for them to thrive.”

In July 2013 it was announced that Brann would come out of retirement to accept the role of state administrator for Inglewood Unified. At that point, the school district had been taken over by the state, had lost nearly a third of its students, and its campuses needed renovation.

“In my encore career, I have the opportunity to make a positive difference in meeting the challenges facing Inglewood Unified School District,” said Brann. “It’s a fascinating endeavor.”

Hopes are high that Brann can turn things around. In Johnstone’s nomination, he noted that Brann had a strong track record of making difficult decisions, especially during times of severe fiscal hardship.

“His strong moral compass always points to what is in the best interests of the kids,” said Johnstone. “This leadership has been reinforced through every board change and in every district that he has served.”

Torlakson provided commentary on education in California and recognized Brann and others at the reception. The event coincided with the Association of California School Administrators’ annual symposium.

Nominees for Superintendent of the Year were evaluated based on how well they demonstrated success in the following six areas:

1. Visionary Leadership 2. Instructional Leadership 3. Family and Community Involvement 4. Ethical Leadership and Building Leadership Capacity 5. Organizational Management 6. Advocacy For more information about the Superintendent Advisory Council, visit BIT.LY/GSEPSUPERS.

Learning Technologies Alumnus Appointed

NEW SUPERINTENDENT OF SOUTH PASADENA UNIFIED Geoff Yantz (EdD ‘01, MS ’96) was named the new superintendent of South Pasadena Unified School District in March 2014. The move followed more than 20 years of service to the El Segundo Unified School District where Yantz filled the roles of teacher, mentor teacher, principal, assistant superintendent, deputy superintendent, and most recently superintendent.

to-one iPad initiative at the high school, and designing progressive staff development programs. In an article in South Pasadena Now, Yantz is quoted as saying, “South Pasadena clearly places education and students as its priority… The strategic plan and goals indicate a desire to be progressive in curriculum development and I look forward to lending my expertise to that effort.”

Among his many achievements, he is credited with redesigning the El Segundo’s special education delivery model, implementing a one-

To read more, visit BIT.LY/YANTZ2014.

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GSEP NEWS GSEP Holds

FOURTH ANNUAL COASTAL 5K/10K The fourth annual Children’s Outreach: Advancing Social Transformation and Learning (COASTAL) 5K/10K Walk/Run and Kiddie K welcomed hundreds of runners and walkers back to Dockweiler Beach on Saturday, January 25, 2014. COASTAL raises funds for GSEP programs that help school-age children in underserved populations reach their full potential. California Bank & Trust was the 2014 title sponsor for a third consecutive year.

Funds raised go toward caring for homeless children through GSEP’s partnership with the Union Rescue Mission and Hope Gardens; to providing counseling to families who cannot afford it, via the GSEP Community Counseling Clinics; and for preparing K-12 teachers for service in urban areas.

For the first time, GSEP also hosted a virtual run for those who wished to support the COASTAL mission but could not make it to the race. Virtual run participants were also eligible for prizes.

“The COASTAL Walk/Run continues to grow each year and we are proud to be a part of it,” said Betty Rengifo Uribe (EdD ‘12), California Bank & Trust executive vice president and GSEP alumna. “It’s “The GSEP family extends much farther than our graduate campuses rewarding to see community participation grow each year as the in Southern California,” said Vanessa Jahn, GSEP events manager. event supports children in the Greater Los Angeles area. Service to “The virtual run was a fun and easy way to participate without others was an important element of my education at GSEP and I’m having to travel or break a sweat.” Participants and their family and pleased that it is also part of my professional career and company friends took advantage of the sunny day to enjoy the many samples available in this year’s expanded vendor area. focus at California Bank & Trust.”

To see more photos from race day, visit

BIT.LY/COASTAL2014PICS.

Maria Navarro Team Si Se Puede (Yes You Can) was running in support of Maria Navarro. COASTAL was Maria’s first race following her surgery to remove a brain tumor.

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GSEP NEWS Psychology Program Earns

TOP R ANKING IN STUDENT REVIEWS

The GSEP master’s and doctoral degree programs in psychology were rated by students through the website Graduateprograms. com. Overall, GSEP ranked in the top 20 for psychology graduate programs and in the top 10 for psychology program career support.

Graduateprograms.com compiled the reviews posted by students of over 1,200 different graduate programs. Students were asked to rate program elements such as career support, education quality, financial aid, and quality of network on a scale of 1 to 10 (with 1 being the worst and 10 being the best).

The rankings were based on reviews posted between September 1, 2012, and September 30, 2013.,

6 7

Duke University Yale University

8.65 8.64

8 9

Stanford University Washington University in St. Louis

8.63 8.58

10 11 12

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Bowling Green State University University of California, Davis

8.57 8.54 8.458

13 14

University of Minnesota Twin Cities University of Florida

8.45 8.43

15 16

Auburn University George Washington University

8.41 8.36

17

Virginia Commonwealth University

8.34

18

University of New Mexico

8.31

19 Pepperdine University

8.19

20

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 8.17

21 22

University of California, Berkeley University of Wisconsin-Madison

8.13 8.11

23

Michigan State University

8.08

24 25

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 8.07 Purdue University-West Lafayette 8.06

To see the full list of schools, BIT.LY/PSYCHRANKING.

sylvia and stephen

transform lives:

“To transform lives, I’m earning my Master of Science in Educational Administration from Pepperdine.”

—Sylvia, future graduate

“To transform lives at a higher level, I’m earning my Doctor of Educational Leadership from Pepperdine.”

—Stephen, future graduate

West Los Angeles Graduate Campus

To make the right choice, get in touch today. 310.568.2366 or 866.503.5467 gsep-recruitment@pepperdine.edu • gsep.pepperdine.edu

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GSEP NEWS

PSYCHOLOGY DIVISION NAMED

2014 Service Honoree by Union Rescue Mission On Saturday, March 8, the GSEP Psychology Division was recognized for its work with Hope Gardens at the annual Hearts for Hope benefit, Garden of Hope. One of the many services offered by the Union Rescue Mission, Hope Gardens is a place where homeless women and children can go to find shelter, food, clothing, guidance, training, mentoring, and hope for the future.

“It is an honor to receive this recognition, and we are particularly grateful for the opportunity to partner with an outstanding organization like Hope Gardens,” said Robert deMayo, associate dean and MA in Psychology program director.

“Our students have not only gained valuable field experience, but have also seen firsthand the importance of giving back to the community.”

For the past six years, GSEP graduate students have provided mental-health services in support of Hope Gardens’ goal to help women transition from homelessness to independence within 12 to 36 months. The center works with various providers to offer long-term rehabilitation programs, services, and spiritual care.

Other honorees included Roma Downey, Mark Burnett, and Guggenheim Partners.

For more information on the Union Rescue Mission and Hope Gardens, visit

URM.ORG.

Educational Technology Faculty Member Receives

WAVES OF INNOVATI N Grant

To improve the educational experience and make its operations more agile, efficient, and sustainable, Pepperdine University launched the Waves of Innovation competition in fall 2013.

Faculty, staff, and students were invited to rethink Pepperdine and share their innovative ideas to help shape its future.

Winners were announced on January 15 and education adjunct faculty member Mark Chen was one of the six finalists to receive a grant to make his idea reality.

HIS CENTER FOR GAMEFUL DESIGN WAS AWARDED AN $82,800 GRANT.

Chen’s proposal was also the audience favorite (audience members were able to text their votes), which netted him an additional $1,500.

“The competition was a fantastic opportunity to potentially establish Pepperdine as a leader in innovative games for social good and gameful learning initiatives,” Chen said. “I’m also happy that the audience was entertained by the rehearsed-todeath and carefully choreographed presentation!”

To view all the presentations, visit

BIT.LY/MARKCHEN.

GSEP Colleague Spring/Summer 2014 7

GSEP NEWS

Second Annual

WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP: WORK-LIFE BALANCE Conference Inspires Further Research and Discussion

The Women in Leadership: Work-Life Balance academic conference was held March 13-14 at the Omni Hotel in Los Angeles. The event offered scholars and business professionals the opportunity to share insights, research, and wisdom about the daily challenges women face in managing careers and private lives.

Nearly 100 women attended to observe and participate in presentations that covered such topics as work-life balance for women with and without children, the significance of mentorship for ethnically diverse women, and the implications of emotional intelligence for the career advancement of women.

Speakers included Dr. Janet Z. Giele, author of The New Faces of Feminism: Opting In, Out, and In Between; Pamela Stone, author

of Opting Out: Challenging Stereotypes and Creating Real Options for Women; and Elaine Batchlor, MD, MPH, CEO of the new Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital in South Los Angeles and the 2014 recipient of the Janet Z. Giele Award.

“Dr. Batchlor has had a tremendous impact on underserved populations in her various roles in the health care industry and through her work mentoring young adults,” said Margaret Weber, GSEP dean. “Her mother marched for civil rights with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and today Dr. Batchlor is an inspiration to anyone who has had to overcome obstacles to achieve their goals.” The award, which honors women who have overcome obstacles to achieve professional success and create meaning in their lives, was presented at a luncheon on the second day of the conference.

“I am honored to receive this award,” said Batchlor. “I have found that perfection is not a reality for today’s working women. We have learned to balance our professional and personal lives in a way that is meaningful and fulfilling by focusing on the things that matter the most. Events like this help provide us with the tools that we need to achieve that balance.”

The conference is one of three parts that make up the Women in Leadership: WorkLife Balance Project. For those unable to attend the conference, there is an opportunity to aid with the research and digital library components of the project.

Visit BIT.LY/GSEPWLBPROJECT to learn more.

To see photos from the conference visit BIT.LY/GSEPWLB2014, or search #GSEPWLB to join the conversation on Facebook or Twitter.

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GSEP NEWS

EDUCATION STUDENT AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP from the California Association for Bilingual Education

Seongin You, a student in the Master of Arts in Education Teacher Preparation program, was selected to receive a $2,000 Teachership Award from the California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE). This award is for teacher education candidates who are pursuing bilingual certification in addition to their teaching credential.

“The CABE chapter at GSEP has successfully secured teachership awards for four students in our eight years as a chapter,” said Reyna García-Ramos, education professor and faculty lead for the GSEP CABE chapter. “Seongin has raised her two children in a bilingual home and now wants to share that gift with students in our public schools.”

You is a secondary math educator in the process of obtaining bilingual certification in Korean and English. She was formally recognized at the CABE Visionary Award dinner held during the annual conference in Anaheim, CA, April 2-5.

“As an international student, I was struggling with every course during the school year,” said You. “If it weren’t for Dr. Garcia-Ramos’ help, I would not have received this award or been successful in my studies.”

Kandice McLurkin was this year’s CABE Visionary Award honoree.

She was recognized for her commitment to CABE’s mission of advancing bilingual education and providing quality educational experiences for all students.

THE ROLE OF PHILANTHROPY IN REVITALIZING L.A.’S PUBLIC SCHOOLS On February 11, GSEP welcomed two leaders from the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools: Melanie Lundquist, philanthropist and board member; and Joan Sullivan, chief executive officer. The independent, nonprofit organization manages 17 public schools, focusing on four tenets: family and community engagement, targeted student intervention, teacher effectiveness, and great school leaders. Both women offered examples of how they used these tenets to turn struggling schools around.

SEXUAL ASSAULT AND TRAFFICKING’S EFFECT ON MENTAL HEALTH AND EDUCATION In recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness month, on April 2, minister Danielle Williams, author of From Porn to the Pulpit, discussed the impact sexual assault and human sex trafficking had on her mental health and education. She also shared her work with A New You Ministries, which exists to restore, regroup, and refocus youth and women to overcome the destruction of the streets, human sex trafficking, and domestic abuse.

ROBERT deMAYO ACCEPTS AWARD

on Behalf of the California Psychological Association

Associate dean and MA in Psychology program director Robert deMayo attended the American Psychological Association (APA) State Leadership Conference (SLC) in March, which is held annually in Washington, D.C. As president of the California Psychological Association (CPA), he accepted the award for Outstanding State Psychological Association on CPA’s behalf.

“This award recognizes the efforts CPA has made to improve our governance structure, involve students and early career psychologists in our association, and advocate for access to psychological services for the people of California,” said deMayo. “It was an honor to not only represent CPA, but also to represent GSEP alongside two exceptional PsyD alumni, Lisa Osborn (PsyD ‘99) and Gitu Bhatia (PsyD ‘00).”

The SLC is an annual advocacy training conference that brings together psychologists across the U.S. and Canada to advocate for issues important to practicing psychologists.

For more information on the SLC, visit

BIT.LY/SLCMAR2014.

GSEP Colleague Spring/Summer 2014 9

GSEP NEWS FACULT Y AUTHORS Susan Hall, JD, PhD A Counselor’s Guide to Working with Men The book features insight from nationally-recognized scholars and clinicians with expertise in treating men. Hall, associate professor of psychology, contributed a chapter together with Robert Scholz, assistant director and coordinator of alcohol and drug programs of the Pepperdine University Counseling Center in Malibu. The chapter discusses the ways in which motivational interviewing can be useful for counselors, psychologists, and other mental health professionals in engaging men reluctant to seek help.

Drew Erhardt, PhD Essentials of ADHD Assessment for Children and Adolescents The skyrocketing rates of ADHD diagnosis highlight the importance of mental-health professionals being able to accurately identify ADHD and to differentiate it from other conditions that can mimic

its symptoms. Coauthored with Elizabeth P. Sparrow, this book provides comprehensive coverage of the nature and diagnosis of ADHD, giving readers the necessary tools to conduct state-of-the-art evaluations for this common but frequently misdiagnosed disorder.

Carol A. Falender, PhD, and Edward P. Shafranske, PhD Multiculturalism and Diversity in Clinical Supervision: A Competency-Based Approach Edited by Celia J. Falicov, PhD, this practical guide presents a model for developing multicultural competence within supervision. In-depth supervisory vignettes apply the model to a variety of cultural dimensions, including gender, ethnicity/ race, immigration, socioeconomic status, disabilities, religion, and sexual orientation. APA president Nadine Kaslow said it would “quickly become the leading text on multiculturalism and diversity in clinical supervision for supervisors and supervisees alike.”

ALUMNI AUTHORS Joy Evans Peterson (MA ‘72) Discovering a Dynamic Marriage The book and companion workbook, Discovering a Dynamic Marriage and The Journey, guide readers through the four compass points of a successful relationship and promises to help readers gain the confidence and skills needed to work through troublesome areas.

Paul A. Reynolds (MA ’06) Going Places Written by Paul Reynolds and illustrated by his brother, Peter H. Reynolds, this children’s book is about a girl who takes an unconventional approach to winning a go-cart competition.

Arlene Williams (MA ‘00) C Is for Change: The Story of Cesar Chavez, One Person Can Change Many Lives This bilingual (English/Spanish) book uses poetry, quotes from César Chávez, and historical resources to help readers ages two and older delve into the life of this civil rights hero. Supports Common Core Standards.

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Charles “Chaz” Austin (EdD ‘11) 101 Ways to Find Work ...and Keep Finding Work for the Rest of Your Career!

As a career-development specialist, Austin offers practical advice for mapping out a career in a business culture where people frequently change jobs.

Joe Whitcomb (MA ‘07) Reboot Your Relationship: Restoring Love Through Real Connection in a Disconnected World This book guides the reader through the steps necessary to understand their own wants and needs before moving on to how to better relate to their partner.

Justine Ruotolo (MA ’09) A.D.D. Land: The Gift of ADD This book provides examples of people in various fields that have overcome the obstacles associated with ADD and have found success. In addition to celebrity examples, Ruotolo also uses case studies based on her clients.

Your support of GSEP models for our students what it means to belong to a professional community—with its rights and its responsibilities.

Thank you for your many contributions: gifts of time, scholarly research, resources, and financial support.

Why I Give...

Dr. Margaret J. Weber Dean, Graduate School of Education and Psychology

To learn how you can give, contact your advancement officer, Kerri Cissna-Heath at 310.258.2880 or kerri.heath@pepperdine.edu.

24255 PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY, MALIBU, CA 90263

People who graduate from the Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology are passionate about and taking actions to improve our world and helping others receive a GSEP education.

pepperdine.edu/giving GSEP Colleague Spring/Summer 2014 11

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CORE STRENGTH Alumna Leads Way for Math Success

Across the country, 44 states and the District of Columbia have voluntarily adopted the Common Core State Standards for education. The goal of Common Core is to better prepare students for college and careers by raising students’ proficiency in math and literacy in language arts.

“We’re getting into the age where kids need to not only demonstrate competence with computation and procedural mathematics, but also articulate their reasoning,” said Carrie Mitchell (EdD ‘07), program director for Swun Math. “They need to be able to see mathematical relationships, and they need sentence frames to begin explaining what they know and how they know it.”

Mitchell, who was a school principal for 10 years in Garden Grove, California, saw firsthand how student performance could improve with a different style of instruction, long before Common Core was developed. When she took over at Clinton Elementary School, the district was already in the process of implementing a new approach to teaching math, a program called Swun Math.

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“Many of the elements of Common Core fit naturally within the Swun Math lesson design,” said Mitchell. “Articulating math reasoning is a big part of our philosophy and has been built into our curriculum from the beginning.”

Si Swun, a math teacher from Long Beach, California, was an immigrant English learner who struggled with math as a child.

He used his personal experience to combine American learning techniques with instructional methods used in Singapore, a leader in math achievement, to increase student success in his classes.

Eventually, Swun was asked to expand his model across several schools. In an article in The Atlantic from January 2014 titled, “The Common Core Is Tough on Kids Who Are Still Learning English,” writer Pat Wingert said, “Both Common Core and Singapore-style math emphasize a deep study of the most basic elements of math before moving on to more advanced math. Swun Math also encourages collaboration and talking through the problem-solving process.”

The lesson design is structured to ensure that students fully grasp a concept and can explain their reasoning before the teacher moves on to the next lesson. Teachers use the following model for working through a lesson plan: 1.

INTRODUCTION: Demonstrate the concept and provide two examples.

2.

STRUCTURED GUIDED PRACTICE: Students work with the teacher to walk through the steps, review the concept, and apply their knowledge to solving the problem. Collaboration and discussion with their fellow classmates is encouraged.

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3. STUDENT PRACTICE: Once 80-85% of the class has demonstrated understanding of the concept, students work independently to solve problems. This gives the teacher an opportunity to provide more individualized attention to the students who are struggling.

4. CONSENSUS BUILDING: Once all students have completed their independent practice, they work in small groups to talk through each problem and agree on the solution before continuing. Teachers then call upon random students to present their work.

“Students have to work toward precise, clear articulation, and they have to be ready to support one another and work collaboratively,” Mitchell said. “This is very much in line with Common Core mathematical practices and behaviors.”

One of the perhaps unforeseen benefits of this approach to teaching is the positive impact that it has had on students who are English Language Learners (ELL). In Garden Grove, the majority of Mitchell’s students fell into this category.

“I got to watch students who were previously struggling become very successful in math,” said Mitchell. “We had students who were too sick to come to school make their parents bring them anyway because they didn’t want to miss math class.”

The requirements to articulate the reasoning behind a solution to a math problem call for teachers to include strategies for teaching English and expanding students’ vocabularies in their math lesson plans. Due to the crossover, both ELL students and

English-only students are seeing improvements in language arts and other subject areas.

“We are a math company, but it is an easy match to many of the lessons taught in language arts and in science and social studies,” Mitchell said. “Teachers have so much success with the Swun lesson design that they figure out where else they can apply the techniques to attain the same level of achievement from their students. It’s sound instructional design.”

Central to successful implementation of the Swun Math lesson design in the classroom, is support from the Swun Math team.

Mitchell and her counterparts work closely with not only teachers but also the schools’ leadership teams to ensure success.

“I provide direct administrative support at school sites who are implementing Swun by spending two to three hours a month with the school principals,” Mitchell said. “I help principals benchmark the progress they should expect from teachers and students, and help them see the next steps they need to take.”

As a company, Swun Math also provides one full day of professional development at each school every month, specifically for teachers. Mitchell said the training sessions this year have focused on working closely with teachers to help them see that the Common Core structure is already embedded in Swun Math.

“We’ve got a job to do with helping all teachers understand mathematical concepts,” said Mitchell, “but what the Common Core is giving back to teachers is the opportunity to think big ideas again and really teach kids fundamental concepts to produce more substantial work.”

Mitchell is aware that Common Core and Swun Math require a shift in the way teachers approach their lessons. Since this may take more time than they are accustomed to, support from principals is critical. Principals are trained to be thoughtful about how they’re going to provide preparation time, provide accountability, and celebrate successes.

“LEADERSHIP IS WHAT HAPPENS BETWEEN THINKING A GREAT IDEA, MAKING IT HAPPEN, AND GETTING RESULTS,” SAID MITCHELL. “IT DOESN’T REALLY MATTER WHO TAKES OWNERSHIP, BUT SOMEONE HAS TO MOTIVATE PEOPLE TO GET Just as IT DONE, DO IT WELL, AND the lesson TO KEEP LEARNING design ABOUT IT.” encourages collaboration amongst students to find solutions to problems, Swun Math coaches encourage administrators and teachers to work with the leadership and instructors at other schools. This is accomplished through site visits or simply by fostering relationships based on this shared professional interest.

“Swun is not just a math company or a technique for teaching,” Mitchell said. “It’s about leadership, relationships, and leveraging a professional learning community model.”

In the next academic year, schools will be implementing Common Core standards across all subject areas. Mitchell understands the transition won’t be easy, but she is enthusiastic about the potential for improved student achievement.

“I’m excited that kids are going to have the opportunity to learn not just how to do something but why it works,” Mitchell said.

“In a couple years, we’re all going to be really great at it.”

To learn more about Swun Math, visit swunmath.com.

To read the aforementioned article in The Atlantic, visit bit. ly/SwunAtlantic.

“My focus is math, but it’s the same practices across the school in every content area,” Mitchell said. “Principals need to ask, ‘Where do we need to go, how are we going to get there, and how are we going to use all of our resources appropriately to get to where we need to be?’”

In the absence of buy-in from the entire team, implementation can be less effective. Mitchell has seen students suffer when some teachers are not onboard with changes. For example, if one out of three teachers for a particular grade level decides not to participate, those students will not be on the same page as their peers when they move on to the next grade level.

GSEP Colleague Spring/Summer 2014 15

IDENTIFYING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ADULT FRIENDSHIPS

16 GSEP Colleague Spring/Summer 2014

GSEP LAUNCHES CENTER FOR THE STUDY AND PROMOTION OF ADULT FRIENDSHIP

GSEP Colleague Spring/Summer 2014 17

Throughout the years, popular culture has given us a number of tributes to friendship – from Dionne Warwick’s song “That’s What Friends Are For” and Maeve Binchy’s novel Circle of Friends, to the hit TV sitcom, Friends. A quick search on Pinterest or Google will return a wide variety of quotes, both inspirational and cynical.

So when GSEP psychology professors Shelly Harrell and Edward Shafranske began their research through the newly-developed Center for the Study and Promotion of Adult Friendship, they were surprised to learn that there was a large gap in the existing research on friendships.

“When we reviewed the literature on friendship, we noted that most research and even most theory has focused on either friendship in childhood, friendship in adolescence and college age, or on romantic, intimate relationships with adults,” Shafranske said. “It’s rather interesting because we know from other areas in the field and sociology that friendships can have a great deal of effect on us as individuals.”

Through the center, Harrell, Shafranske, and their research team aim to look at the potential effects, positive and negative, of casual and close friendships in an adult’s life.

THEIR MISSION IS TWOFOLD: THE CENTER SEEKS TO ADVANCE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ADULT FRIENDSHIP, AND APPLY THAT INFORMATION TO PROMOTE THE BUILDING AND MAINTAINING OF THOSE RELATIONSHIPS. “The first thing we’re working on in the center is assessing friendship by getting a better sense of how people understand friendship, what they consider friendship, and the contexts in which friendships develop,” Harrell said. “Then we’re going to look at the different qualities of friendships and the impact of being in these relationships.”

SOME OF THE OTHER QUESTIONS THE CENTER’S RESEARCH HOPES TO ANSWER INCLUDE: How do adult friendships change and sustain over time?

What are the typical strains in relationships and how are those strains addressed?

Does the meaning and expression of adult friendship vary within dimensions of diversity such as gender, ethnicity, age, and socioeconomic status?

What is the impact if a close friendship is lost for a number of reasons?

What is the potential impact on one’s health in general, physical health, sense of well-being, or life satisfaction?

In answering these questions, the team will conduct a number of studies including surveys, interviews, and the review and synthesis of empirical and theoretical literature. The first major study, which surveyed 2,000 adults across the country, was recently completed. The responses provided information on the participants’ experiences of friendship, their attitudes toward friendship, and the personal impacts of friendship in their lives.

“From what we have seen in our initial review of the literature, this was one of the largest studies of its kind,” Shafranske said.

“Once we’ve analyzed data, our next step will be refinement of the research instrument to empirically assess adult friendship.”

THE FIRST THING WE’RE WORKING ON IN THE CENTER IS ASSESSING FRIENDSHIP BY GETTING A BETTER SENSE OF HOW PEOPLE UNDERSTAND FRIENDSHIP, WHAT THEY CONSIDER FRIENDSHIP, AND THE CONTEXTS IN WHICH FRIENDSHIPS DEVELOP.

—

18 GSEP Colleague Spring/Summer 2014

SHELLY HARRELL, PhD

ONCE WE’VE ANALYZED DATA, OUR NEXT STEP WILL BE REFINEMENT OF THE RESEARCH INSTRUMENT TO EMPIRICALLY ASSESS ADULT FRIENDSHIP.

—

EDWARD SHAFRANSKE, PhD

Harrell noted that it is only recently that there has been focused attention on studying happiness or life satisfaction in psychology. She added that, historically, psychological research in mental health has focused on psychopathology or the negative expressions and effects of human behavior and emotion. Currently, her research focuses on positive well-being in the context of cultural diversity, with an emphasis on how psychologically-informed interventions can enhance individual, relational, and collective well-being.

“The center’s work is going to contribute to an emerging body of literature in positive psychology,” Shafranske said. “We’re going to be looking at the enhancement of human life.”

Harrell and Shafranske eagerly anticipate the practical applications of the research. For example, if research reveals that supporting friendships in churches, synagogues, or religious institutions had benefits in terms of health and life

satisfaction and meaning and purpose, then programs could be developed within those communities to enhance the lives of their congregants.

“Another great application could be in the workplace,” Shafranske said. “If friendships in the workplace could enhance productivity and career satisfaction, then future action research could be developed where companies and businesses might actively encourage friendship because it could potentially benefit their employees as well as increase the bottom line.”

MORE INFORMATION ON THE CENTER FOR THE STUDY AND PROMOTION OF ADULT FRIENDSHIP, WILL BE AVAILABLE LATER THIS YEAR.

GSEP Colleague Spring/Summer 2014 19

GSEP PERSPECTIVES

From the Flight Deck to the Classroom

By Tim Hibsman, EdD ’00

Prior to finishing my doctorate at GSEP and going into academics, I spent 15 years in the aerospace industry working in computer centers and in technical writing.

In June 2013 I was selected to participate in the U.S. Navy’s Distinguished Visitors/Leaders to Sea Program aboard the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), about 100 miles off the coast of San Diego. California.

During my two days on the navy carrier, I spoke with sailors on the importance of clear communication in their fields. Daily documentation is a standard for most divisions, and performance reviews specifically cover technical communication with subordinates, peers, and superiors.

I frequently utilize real-life anecdotes in the classroom because practical applications are essential in teaching the value of strong professional and technical writing skills. My conversations with the sailors helped to answer some critical questions that are often addressed in my classroom:

How important is an eye for detail in writing technical documents?

How can writing help in critical defense issues?

How is step-by-step instructional writing used every day in our country’s military environment?

20 GSEP Colleague Spring/Summer 2014

Students often become complacent in the academic setting and fail to see how a homework assignment might have reallife application. When it comes to life-or-death situations, B, C, or D grade-level work is not acceptable. Anything less than an A could be fatal. I was grateful to be able to take several new experiences to show students the technical writing process from proposal to implementation.

Hibsman is an alumnus of the doctoral program in educational technology. He is currently an English professor at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

GSEP PERSPECTIVES

When it comes to life or death situations, B, C, or D grade-level work is not acceptable.

Anything less than an A could be fatal.

— TIM HIBSMAN, EDD ’00

GSEP Colleague Spring/Summer 2014 21

GSEP PERSPECTIVES

Bringing Clean Water to Villages in Zambia

By Earnestine Thomas-Robertson, ‘69, MA ‘73, EdD ‘03

I have an affinity for the continent of Africa and have traveled there on seven different occasions.

It is important to me that we help the continent that has enabled the development of the world.

The money, time, and support we give to other nations helps our own country.

In the spring of 2013, the Los Angeles-Lusaka Sister City Committee’s Women’s Entrepreneur Program, Clean Water Project, was completed thanks in part to the Pepperdine Waves of Service Award. Project director Lidia Mongerie-Brown spent three months in Lusaka, Zambia, completing the task of providing clean water to three villages.

22 GSEP Colleague Spring/Summer 2014

The project set the stage for three small-scale and fairly sustainable developments in Lusaka and surrounding communities where there are intensified pockets of underdevelopment, specifically related to a lack of clean water. Environmental considerations included water- and waste-treatment measures, disease reduction, and better

GSEP PERSPECTIVES

management of water resources to reduce the transmission of malaria and other vector-borne diseases.

Thomas-Robertson, alumna of the Doctor of Education in Institutional Management program, serves as president of the Los Angeles-Lusaka Sister City Committee. Sister Cities of Los Angeles Inc. is a private nonprofit organization devoted to people to people exchange between L.A.’s city government and the city governments of the sister cities. She is also a board member and treasurer for SoCal Sister Cities International, Inc. and a member of the GSEP Board of Visitors.

Lidia worked with the president of Zambia, Michael Sata, and with Zambian minister of housing and local government John Kafuna, to engage experts with a working knowledge of water and waste systems, treatment processes and mechanics to oversee the installations. Thanks to President Sata’s support, 500 families now have access to clean water.

We are grateful to everyone who contributed to this project.

The installation, transportation, lodging, and per diem funds were provided by members of the Los Angeles-Lusaka Sister City Committee, Sister Cities of Los Angeles, and SoCal Sister Cities, International, Inc. The support we received from Pepperdine University was also pivotal to our success.

SUMMARY OF OUR ACHIEVEMENTS:

The sewage dump in Chaisa Compound was cleaned and closed down. No one is collecting gutter water from the site any longer and clean water is now accessible.

Water cards have also been distributed to ensure equal access.

Faucets are now in several homes where for the first time, families will have immediate access to clean water.

The two water units purchased with funds from the Pepperdine Waves of Service Award are now at work in the villages of Kawama and Kanswa. With proper maintenance and supervision, the villages will see an increase in overall health quality, and a decrease in disease.

GSEP Colleague Spring/Summer 2014 23

G S ECPL A P ES RS SNP OE C T ET SI V E S

FACULTY ROBERT DEMAYO, PhD, was an award presenter at the Voice Awards, an event sponsored by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Agency (SAMSHA) on September 25, 2013. In March, he accepted the award for Outstanding State Psychological Association on behalf of the California Psychological Association.

DEREK PELLAND (MA ‘13) along with Organizational Leadership doctoral candidate Calvin Bonds are working on an e-Learning project designed to introduce technology and distance learning to schools in developing countries.

SHANNON CURRY (MA ‘07, PSYD ‘11) was featured in The Honolulu StarAdvertiser newspaper for her work as the head of the Hawaii Canine Assistance Network’s (CAN) public access program.

’12

RAMON FLORES (EDD ‘07) was one of three members recently added to the Ventura County Community Action Agency’s governing board.

LOUIS COZOLINO, PhD, received a positive review of his book The Social Neuroscience of Education by the Harvard Education Review.

JEFFREY THRIFT (EDD ’12) will now handle all leadership development training for Southern California Edison.

SUSAN HALL, JD, PHD, PRESENTED A POSTER WITH CELINE CRESPI-HUNT (PSYD ’13) at the Ethnographic and Qualitative Research Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada on February 10. The poster, “A Directed Content Analysis of Expressions of Social Support in Psychotherapeutic Case Studies of Trauma Survivors,” reviewed literature on existing social support constructs and presented research findings demonstrating how psychotherapy clients frequently discussed social supports in therapy sessions.

JASON VILORIA (EDD ’12) is now the Executive Director of Education Services at San Dieguito Union High School District. He was previously a high school principal at Woodbridge High School in Irvine.

CAROL FALENDER, PhD, was awarded a commendation by the American Psychological Association. President Nadine Kaslow cited Falender’s innovative contributions to the theory and practice of clinical supervision and tireless service to professional psychology locally, nationally, and internationally.

REYNA GARCIA-RAMOS, PhD, was elected by the American Educational Research Association (AERA) to serve as Member-atlarge for the Family, School, and Community Partnerships SIG, which supports the AERA mission and commitment to education research.

ALUMNI ’13 DAN AHLSTROM (EDD ‘13) was

appointed head of Beth Yeshurun Day School in Houston, TX.

CRYSTAL JENSEN (EDD ’13) was named in the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development’s (NCAIED) 2013 “Native American 40 Under 40” list. She also wrote an article titled “Career Tracks: Educational Entrepreneur,” which was published in Pi Lamba Theta’s Educational Horizons Magazine in February.

24 GSEP Colleague Spring/Summer 2014

NICOLE JOHNSON (EDD ‘12) hosted a doctoral retreat in Oahu, HI, April 11-13.

The retreat was designed to help students regain clarity in order to finish their dissertation.

’11

JILL FLORANT (MA ‘11), director of customer programs at TenMarks Education, an Amazon Company, and former senior engagement manager and customer advocate for Edmodo, led a webinar during Pepperdine’s Career Week providing advice on how to build career success in learning technologies.

KALEY ZEITOUNI (MA ‘11) was featured in a SensatioNail YouTube campaign that recognized women who make a difference. She shared the ways in which she used her health challenge as an opportunity to help others.

DAVID GREENFIELD (MA ‘07), SYLVIA MARTINEZ (MA ’99) AND BETTY WINN (MS ’97) led conference sessions at a joint dayschool leadership conference entitled: “Moving the Needle: Galvanizing Change in Day School” at the Westin LAX on January 19-21, 2014.

Greenfield, a current doctoral candidate in Learning Technologies student, also taught a six-week course on the Jewish Graphic novel at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles.

JOE WHITCOMB (MA ‘07) published his book, Reboot Your Relationship: Restoring Love Through Real Connection in a Disconnected World, in July 2013.

’06

ANGELA FIORITA (MA ‘06) was married in September 2013.

’05 JADE DEARING (MA ‘05) started a

nonprofit organization, Sober Surfers, which treats drug and alcohol addiction through travels to exotic surf locations in underdeveloped countries.

’09 BEVERLY S. QUAYE (EDD ’09) was ’04 recognized for her contributions to the nursing community in Worldwide Leaders in Healthcare.

The publication is a reference guide for patients featuring the most distinguished and desired medical professionals from every specialty.

STEPHEN HAWN (MS ‘09, EDD ‘12) recently became a professor at California State University, Long Beach.

JUSTINE RUOTOLO (MA ’09), aka Miss ADD, published a new book that explores how ADD can be a gift.

’08

TINA ROOKS (EDD ‘08) was interviewed by EdTech Digest about trends in educational technology, leadership, and how her experience at GSEP has guided her work.

’07 TRACY BEVINGTON (MA ’07) was

recently recognized by the readers of LA Parent Magazine as “Best Family Therapist of 2013.”

JODY BREMER (MA ‘04) was a guest on Military Mom Talk Radio to discuss how to maintain and strengthen relationships while separated, and how to enhance and nurture them when reunited.

MARTINE EHRENCLOU (MA ‘04) spoke at the Impact 80 Summit: Global Caregiving & Health Care Social Media Virtual Initiative on February 11, 2014.

’02

BETH PRANDINI (MA ‘02) published an article about getting a better night’s sleep for Find Bliss magazine. Prandini is a writer and YogaWorks Certified instructor.

’01

KEVIN LEE FUJIMOTO (PSYD ‘01) has developed a program called Surfrider Spirit Sessions, which works with at-risk and adjudicated youths through mentors, surfing, building cultural awareness, and community service.

G S CE PL APSESR SNPOETCETSI V E S BILL BERCAW (PSYD ‘01) and Ginger Bercaw (PsyD ‘99) published an article on HitchedMag.com discussing the potential benefits and consequences of married couples who try to use pornography to enhance their love life.

’00

DAWN LINDSAY (EDD ‘00) was a featured speaker at the BWI Business Partnership’s January Signature Breakfast in Linthicum, MD. As president of Anne Arundel Community College, she spoke about the college’s ongoing efforts to provide the educated workforce needed by businesses in the region.

’99 DEBRA FARAR (EDD ‘99) was reappointed to the California State University Board of Trustees by Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. She has served as a trustee since 1999.

BITA GHAFOORI (MA ‘99) received a Fulbright Specialist grant that will send her to Greece’s University of Crete to help Greek students and educators deal with the mental health effects of its economic crisis.

’96 ANN REITAN (MA ‘96) has contributed several articles to BrainBlogger.com. Some of the topics she has covered deal with the brain functioning of the schizophrenic and overcoming trauma.

NANCI HIBSCHMAN (MA ‘96) was named National Practice Director for Private Foundations and Public Charities at Sullivan, Cotter and Associates, Inc.

CLAUDETTE MCLINN (MS ’83, EDD ’06) presented “Serving on Children’s Book Award Committees and How They Work!” at the Charlotte S. Huck Children’s Literature Festival at the University of Redlands.

’80

GEORGIANNA JONES HICKS (MA ‘80) was the grand marshal of a Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. parade in Ridgeland, SC, on January 18, 2014.

GEOFF YANTZ (MS ‘96, EDD ‘01), who has served in the El Segundo district for 17 years, is the newly appointed superintendent of the South Pasadena Unified School District.

IN MEMORIAM

’94 JEFF MILLER (MA ‘94) had an article

DIANE N. GOODWIN (MA ’96) passed away January 26, 2014.

published on motivating employees on the Human Capital Magazine website.

’83 MINNIE DOUGLAS (EDD ’83) was

one of six award recipients honored by Sixth District Councilman Dee Andrews at the Long Beach City Council meeting as part of Peace Week.

JEANETTE M. EDEN (CER ’87) passed away December 26, 2013.

DEBRA S. HOOKS (MA ‘78) passed away January 12, 2014.

HAROLD BRUNNER (MS ’77) passed away January 9, 2014.

gabby’s goal: To transform lives.

Her game plan: A Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with an Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy with Latinas/os from Pepperdine.

Irvine Graduate Campus

Find out more about our psychology programs today. 310.568.2317 • 866.503.5460 psychology-masters@pepperdine.edu • gsep.pepperdine.edu

GSEP Colleague Spring/Summer 2014 25

DEAN MARGARET J. WEBER Dean Weber has served as dean of GSEP since 2001. In her 13 years of leadership, she has worked closely with faculty and staff to help strengthen and shape the GSEP mission and distinguish the school among its peers in higher education. During her tenure, enrollment stabilized, funding through foundations and grants increased, new programs were launched, and many programs integrated online learning.

Empowering students to effect change at local and global levels was one of Dean Weber’s strongest visions for GSEP. To this end, several new programs and initiatives were introduced to ensure GSEP remained innovative and relevant to the students’ professional goals, including: §§ Establishment of the Pat Lucas Center for Teacher Preparation §§ Launch of the Master of Arts in Social Entrepreneurship and Change program §§ Introduction of the TESOL pathway for the Master of Arts in Education program §§ Expanding international educational travel experiences §§ Development of the Superintendent Advisory Council and Superintendent of the Year Award Strongly committed to diversity, Dean Weber supported training opportunities for students to work with underserved communities. She cultivated GSEP’s culture of service by championing the following initiatives: §§ Diversity Council and the Diversity Council Speakers Series §§ Urban Initiative §§ CABE Visionary Award §§ Aliento: The Center for Latina/o Communities §§ Partnership with Union Rescue Mission (including serving on the board of directors) Equity and access to higher education have been main drivers behind Dean Weber’s diligent efforts to advance student and faculty scholarship. She was

26 GSEP Colleague Spring/Summer 2014

instrumental in increasing student scholarship funds, endowments, and support from foundations and grants. Some examples include: §§ Rosalyn Heyman Endowed Chair K-12 Leadership §§ Muriel Lipsey Chair in Counseling and Psychology §§ Founded the GSEP Board of Visitors §§ Chet McCall Scholarship §§ Pat Lucas Scholarship §§ Waves EDGE Scholarship §§ Evelyn Blake Endowed Scholarship §§ Urban Fellows Scholarship §§ Bendat Scholarship §§ Increased funding of Colleagues grants for student financial aid Recognizing the transformational nature of GSEP’s programs, Dean Weber sought to enhance the student experience outside the classroom. She implemented several initiatives to prepare students for success from their initial inquiry to the school to long after they’ve donned their cap and gown. §§ Increased student support for writing, dissertation, and IRB §§ Instituted the Assessment and Accreditation office §§ Established the Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Series §§ Expanded the Career Services department to meet increased need for services by students and alumni In addition to the aforementioned achievements, Dean Weber’s most recent research endeavor, Women in Leadership: Work-life Balance, held its second annual academic conference in March. She will continue to lead this project in support of women pursuing meaningful lives of purpose and leadership.

A simple list of accomplishments cannot accurately illustrate the level of impact Dean Weber has had on the GSEP community.

Thanks to her mindful leadership, GSEP, the students, and the communities they serve, are better positioned to meet future opportunities and challenges.

GSEP Colleague Spring/Summer 2014 27

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

As a GSEP alumnus, you are part of a powerful network that includes more than 20,700 GSEP alumni and 98,600 Pepperdine alumni worldwide.

The Pepperdine Alumni Association is here to help you stay connected to your classmates, faculty, and other alumni, through special events, University publications, and social media.

Learn how you can take full advantage of your Pepperdine University affiliation by contacting the alumni office at: 310.568.5649 or gsepalum@pepperdine.edu.

GET CONNECTED TODAY! GSEP.PEPPERDINE.EDU

Whose Life Will You Change?

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