Graziadio Dean's Report 2026

2025—26

PEPPERDINE GR A ZIADIO BUSINESS SCHOOL

Dean’s Report

PREPARING LEADERS FOR GREATER PURPOSE At Pepperdine Graziadio Business School, purpose is not an abstract ideal. It is the foundation of how we teach, research, lead, and serve. Rooted in Pepperdine’s

Christian mission and strengthened by a rigorous commitment to academic excellence, Graziadio prepares business leaders who understand that success is measured by more than profit alone. Here, students learn to think strategically, lead ethically, and make decisions that create lasting value for organizations, communities, and the world.

CULTIVATE A MEANINGFUL LIFE In a rapidly changing marketplace, the world needs leaders who bring both competence and character to the challenges before them. Through values-centered education, applied learning, and close mentorship from accomplished faculty, Graziadio equips students to become principled professionals prepared to lead with clarity, courage, and conviction.

MAKE A LASTING IMPACT Across classrooms, boardrooms, research centers, and global industries, the Graziadio community is building something that lasts. Our faculty produce scholarship that shapes conversations in business and society. Our students solve real-world challenges through experiential learning. Our alumni launch companies, lead organizations, strengthen communities, and model the kind of leadership the world needs now.

Seeing students grow in the classroom, in their careers, and as people of purpose are what drew me to this work and continue to inspire me every day.

DAVID SMITH Interim Dean

2026

TOP 50

#1

BEST BUSINESS SCHOOL IN THE NATION The Princeton Review

PART-TIME MBA IN THE NATION U.S. News & World Report

MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO STUDY U.S. News & World Report

R2

PREMIER GLOBAL

#33

PRESTIGIOUS RESEARCH DESIGNATION Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education

DOCTOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION CEO Magazine

BEST ONLINE MASTER’S PROGRAMS FOR VETERANS U.S. News & World Report

Graziadio Business School Dean’s Report

3

STUDENT BODY ETHNICITY

White

35.8%

Black

Hispanic

23.1%

Two or More Races 7%

Asian

17.2%

Unknown

Gender

2.2

GENDER 45.3

52.5

Male

4.7%

Citizenship

2.2

Female

12.2%

13.6

CITIZENSHIP

Male

52.5%

Domestic

84.2%

Female

45.3%

International

13.6%

Unknown

2.2%

Unknown

2.2%

Unknown

84.2 International

Domestic

Unknown

ENROLLMENT UPDATE

4

38.3%

29.7%

5%

6.4%

20.6%

Master of Business Administration Programs

Master of Science Programs

Online Bachelor of Science in Management Program

Executive Doctor of Business Administration Program

Online Master’s Programs

bschool.pepperdine.edu

FACULTY PUBLICATION HIGHLIGHTS FT50 Publications

Top-Tier Discipline-Specific Publications

ORGANIZATION SCIENCE The Refugee Journey: An Exploration of the Role of Organizations and Psychological Processes

by Cristina B. Gibson

ACADEMY OF MANAGEMENT DISCOVERIES f The Crisis of Dignity at Work: Dehumanization during Digital Transformation, Societal Upheaval, and Workforce Uncertainty

by Cristina B. Gibson and Jaclyn Margolis

ACADEMY OF MANAGEMENT ANNALS Community Inside and Out: Moving Community Front and Center in Management Research

by Cristina B. Gibson JOURNAL OF FINANCIAL AND QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS Agency Conflicts in Securitization: Evidence from Ginnie Mae Early Buyouts

by Dongshin Kim JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES Situational Antecedents of CEOs’ Intrapersonal Constructs: The Case of Regulatory Focus

by Cole E. Short

f Virtual Nature, Real Consequences: How Immersive Virtual Work Environments Shape Pro-Environmental Behavior, Performance, and Employee Well-Being

by Cole E. Short NATURE HUMAN BEHAVIOUR Analysis of demographic variation and childhood correlates of financial well-being across 22 countries

by Cristina B. Gibson NATURE MENTAL HEALTH The Global Flourishing Study: Study profile and initial results on flourishing

by Cristina B. Gibson JOURNAL OF ADVERTISING Sharing the Spotlight: Understanding Consumer Response to Joint Advertising

by Clark D. Johnson

Editorial Highlights ACADEMY OF MANAGEMENT ANNALS Cristina B. Gibson | Editor ORGANIZATIONAL DYNAMICS Jaclyn Margolis | Editorial Review Board

ACADEMY OF MANAGEMENT DISCOVERIES and STRATEGIC ORGANIZATION Cole E. Short | Editorial Review Boards ACADEMY OF MANAGEMENT REVIEW Dana Sumpter | Editorial Review Board

RESEARCH AND APPLICATION IN MARKETING (RAM) Cristel Russell | Associate Editor

Graziadio Business School Dean’s Report

5

IMPACTFUL SCHOLARSHIP NATURE: HUMAN BEHAVIOUR The Long Economic Shadow: How Childhood Shapes Adult Fortune

by Cristina B. Gibson We view financial health as a matter of current earnings, but data from 202,898 adults across 22 countries proves it is tethered to our past. Childhood adversity and early financial strain cast a decades-long shadow over adult economic stability, proving that true financial security is a lifelong developmental journey.

BRITISH JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT The Corporate Smoke Screen: Balancing Lobbying and Ethics

by Agus Harjoto When corporations spend millions lobbying, they face immediate reputational risks. Analyzing 1,362 US firms, this study reveals how companies strategically use political risk disclosures to safeguard their moral capital and navigate the delicate tightrope between political influence and public accountability.

JOURNAL OF CONSUMER RESEARCH How to Sustain Sustainable Practices? The Journey Toward Zero Waste Lifestyle

by Cristel Russell Sustaining a Zero Waste lifestyle is challenging because consumers must navigate interconnected daily habits within market infrastructures that favor unsustainable options. By studying this journey through a practice-theoretical lens, the research demonstrates how shared core values and pooled adaptive capabilities help individuals stabilize eco-friendly habits and drive long-term sustainable change.

ALUMNI FEATURES GENE EIDELMAN (MBA ’19, PKE 142) Waves of Service Alumni Award Gene Eidelman is the cofounder of Azure Printed Homes, a pioneer in eco-friendly, 3D-printed modular construction that reduces building time by 70 percent and costs by 30 percent. Prompted by wildfire recovery efforts, Azure provides rapid-deploy housing solutions to help displaced families rebuild resiliently.

Recognized as one of Pepperdine’s Most Fundable Companies and featured on TIME magazine’s Best Inventions list, Azure is expanding its factories globally. Eidelman is also an Amazon international best-selling author and a TEDx speaker whose talk on the future of housing has surpassed one million views.

6

bschool.pepperdine.edu

RODRIGO GONZALEZ (MBA ’11) Outstanding Alumni Winner Rodrigo Gonzalez is the founder and managing partner of DEODATE, one of the largest real estate–focused management consulting firms in the western US. Across offices in California and Missouri, DEODATE has advised on nearly $5.5 billion in international engagements spanning corporate, private equity, and government sectors. A recognized national strategist, Gonzalez has earned accolades from the Los Angeles Business Journal and GlobeSt.com. He is highly active in executive networks like YPO and PREA, and serves as president of the Our Lady Queen of Angels Housing Alliance for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

Beyond the Classroom FROM HONOR TO OWNER: E2B PARTNER SPOTLIGHT Demonstrating the power of values-centered education, Pepperdine Graziadio Online MBA student Paul Ocampo led a student consulting team in a high-impact partnership with VetFran. Through the signature Education-to-Business (E2B) program, the team tackled critical transition barriers for veterans, such as gaps in business acumen and program awareness. By conducting deep-dive market research across 10 major states, the students delivered a data-driven marketing roadmap and local partnership framework. This collaborative project highlights the core of the Graziadio E2B experience, equipping future leaders with the analytical tools to solve real challenges while driving meaningful social impact.

BLOG POSTS

Full-Time MBA Student Cesar Martinez Reflects on the Northern California Career Trek

Full-Time MBA Student Namya Sandal Explores Business and Leadership in Spain

How Cameron Badger (MBA ’22) Is Redefining Commercial Intelligence in Life Sciences

MARQUEE EVENTS

Fundable MOST

ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY AND HEALTHCARE:

C O M P A N I E S® 2025

THE AGE OF AI

FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE SYMPOSIUM

MOST FUNDABLE COMPANIES SHOWCASE

GEORGE AWARDS

SEER SYMPOSIUM

Graziadio Business School Dean’s Report

7

PepperdineGraziadioBusinessSchool GraziadioSchool Pepperdine.Graziadio Graziadio.School