Department of Facilities Services
August 1, 2024 – July 31, 2025
LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR
This year the Department of Facilities Services and Campus Operations has faced extraordinary challenges with grace, resilience, and positivity.
The night of the Franklin Fire, I was the first to report to our command center. Immediately, I began calling our critical support personnel with instructions to report to campus and, in essence, to drive toward the flames. Every single one of them rose to the challenge, put on their safety gear, and reported to campus. In the face of danger, disruption, and uncertainty, our team responded with courage and grit. I witnessed firsthand how our staff rallied together—supporting one another, working around the clock to protect our campus, and stepping up wherever they were needed. They restarted a failed generator, relocated shuttles, turned off water to burned irrigation lines, and cleaned bathrooms to support hundreds of students and staff while sheltering in place—all while the fiercest blaze alighted nearby. Their bravery and determination ensured not only the safety of our physical spaces but also the continuity of essential services during a time of crisis. It was a true demonstration of what it means to serve with purpose.
Beyond crisis response, this year has also been marked by significant innovation. As utility costs continued to climb, our department took proactive steps to mitigate the impact through strategic and sustainable approaches. From energy-efficient upgrades and smarter controls to new monitoring technologies and data-driven usage analysis, we have made measurable progress in managing resources more effectively.
Perhaps most transformative of all, we successfully united the previously separate teams of facilities and campus operations into one integrated department. This merger has both expanded our team and deepened our collective capacity. With more people working collaboratively across functions, we are now better positioned to share knowledge, leverage resources, and provide comprehensive service to our campus community.
As we look to the future, we carry with us the lessons learned, our expanded friendships, and the pride of having faced adversity together. I extend my deepest gratitude to every member of our team. Our accomplishments this year are a reflection of their hard work and heart.
With appreciation and respect,
Marilyn Koziatek Senior Director, Department of Facilities and Campus Operations
ADVANCING EFFICIENCY
The Department of Facilities Services completed a pilot initiative in select rooms demonstrating the effectiveness of integrating the heating and air conditioning with the University scheduling software. This practice conserves energy by returning the temperature to an unoccupied setting when the room is not in use and automatically heating or cooling before a room is used. Additional spaces were added this year, resulting in nearly 600,000 kilowatt-hours saved in six months; that’s comparable to powering a home for 380,000 hours. Similarly, the University was able to save more than 75,000 gallons of water by identifying anomalies in a billing cycle and rapidly conducted piping repairs.
HEARING WE MATTER
“I can’t thank you enough for all your staff members did leading up to the graduation ceremony and the day of. The unexpected heavy rain (we knew rain, but not like this) was one for the books! All of your crews and teams were amazing, as we all had to endure the rain for three hours straight. You were helping us direct guests, keeping them away from the slippery, muddy areas, willing to escort them through those areas, handing out towels as they came in, wiping down chairs once the rain stopped, and just being there to do whatever was needed. You are our true unsung heroes, and I am honored to work alongside each of you. Thank you for your loyal, unwavering dedication to excellence. We could never do this without all of you!”
Tami McKelvy Assistant Vice Chancellor, University Events and Advancement Initiatives
COMMENCEMENT KUDOS!
This year’s six graduation ceremonies were unusually challenging with weather conditions ranging from heat waves to downpours.
THE POWER OF A SECOND CHANCE
Second chances are powerful—not just for those who receive them, but for those who give them. They open the door to growth, empathy, and a culture of kindness. Enjoy this story from an alumna and former student shuttle driver who learned this valuable lesson:
I had been driving for four years without an accident—until my first shift as a student shuttle driver at Pepperdine in October 2022. After a week of training, I was excited to get started. I even sent my mom a photo, joking, “Who let me drive the shuttle?” A few hours later, I wasn’t laughing.
While practicing the route, everything went smoothly. But during the next loop, a new cone appeared. I adjusted my turn to avoid it— and slammed the shuttle into a gate control box. I tried to drive free, but the damage was done: a long, deep dent, and the shuttle was stuck. I was sure I’d be fired.
I called the Office of Public Safety, filled out a report, and went home devastated. But I wanted to take responsibility, so I called my boss that night to tell him myself.
The next day, I walked into the office expecting the worst. Instead, he told me, “It was an accident. You’re not losing your job. Let’s do some extra training and get your confidence back.”
That second chance transformed me. I became a stronger, more capable driver—and a better teammate. More than that, I learned how meaningful it is to lead with understanding and grace.
My boss didn’t just spare me the consequences—he modeled a culture of trust and forgiveness. That moment taught me to value growth over perfection and to offer others the same compassion I was given.
Second chances don’t just help people try again—they help them become who they’re meant to be.
EXPANDING OUR REACH
The Department of Facilities Services expanded into the Calabasas campus to provide custodial and maintenance services to support the inaugural College of Health Science. Services will include maintaining the new 30,000-square-foot facility that houses cutting-edge technology in laboratories and classrooms. At full capacity, Facilities Services will have 11 professionals supporting the entire campus as the school offers nursing, speechlanguage pathology, and physician-assistant programming.
BEFORE AND AFTER
The plumbing team repaired corroded air vents in critical plumbing infrastructure that maintains the performance of the piping by eliminating air pockets in the line. Air can create the risk of a concussion in the line that would damage the lines if not prevented.
LEADING WITH COURAGE
This wildfire season brought two fires that impacted the campus—the Franklin Fire, which I discussed in my letter, and the Palisades Fire. Throughout the duration of the fires, the department had 50 to 90 critical support personnel report day and night to execute essential duties for the students residing on campus. The courageous work of the fire departments ensured the safety of the campus and protected the campus facilities. Immediately post-fire, facilities and campus operations made quick work of the remediation with resuming normal duties, cleaning surfaces and ventilation, changing air filters, replacing burned irrigation and plants, repairing wind damage, and more.
ADVANCING THE STAFF
We believe that investing in the development of our staff is key to our success as we prepare for emerging trends and continuing the pursuit of excellence—while prioritizing the safety, skills, and satisfaction of our employees.
Landscape and irrigation technicians attend the Landscape Expo to learn about emerging technologies and best practices in the industry.
HVAC technicians received specialized training in VFD installations and commissioning and refrigeration.
Plumbers attended an exposition to learn new methods for solenoids in the water systems, techniques of equipment use, and identified new sensors and flappers for efficiency.
“What sculpture is to a block of marble, education is to the human soul.”
Joseph Addison
Facilities student worker, David Liu, was nominated for undergraduate student excellence in technology and innovation for his high-impact work in energy efficiency and conservation.
Employees attend a session on collaboration in the workplace and how to show appreciation for colleagues.
Department of Facilities Services employee of 30 years, Juana Ventura, was awarded the Presidential Award for Missional Excellence for serving the community faithfully.
of critical supplies and materials procured by Warehouse Services million $1.7
165 + maintained by Automotive Services vehicles
per month to set up or move items, tables, chairs, and umbrellas by the Move and Setup Crew requests
180 for repair or maintenance by Facilities Services work orders
30,000
around the world in total miles logged for the shuttle fleet trips
3 of mail processed by Mail Services pieces 200,000 delivered to campus packages 62,000
on shuttles in Malibu riders 345,000
2,300
5K square feet
8,600 linear feet
of new drought-tolerant, water-saving landscaping planted—a little under two basketball courts of burned irrigation lines— twice the height of the Empire State Building sand and gravel bags
weighing nearly 67 tons deployed during and after the Franklin and Palisades Fires
22
average decrease
26% roof structures 9 generators powered
in water intrusion incidents over the past four years due to waterproofing and building material upgrades by structural services
repaired after 90+ mph winds during the Palisades Fire
portions of campus and were supported by electricians throughout the 34-hour outage caused by the Franklin Fire
