Parris Institute Report
Pepperdine is a Christian university committed to the highest standards of academic excellence and Christian values, where students are strengthened for lives of purpose, service, and leadership.
Carrol and R. Rex Parris A
Parris Institute Report August 2026
Parris Institute Report
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Carrol and R. Rex Parris gifted the Pepperdine Caruso School of Law $1 million toward the establishment of the Parris Institute for Professional Excellence in 2014. The institute was endowed in 2019 with the intention of preparing students for a rapidly changing legal environment and challenging them to emerge as leaders in the professional world. The 2025–26 academic year marked a new chapter for the institute, as we welcomed Stephen White as codirector to lead alongside Arnold Barba and Allyse Wesolowski. This past year reflected our ongoing dedication to honoring the institute’s core values while elevating our programming to enrich our students’ professional formation. Preserving a high-caliber, transformative experience for every student remains our central priority. To that end, we welcomed esteemed guests and industry leaders to share their insights, ensuring our students gain exposure to a broad spectrum of legal perspectives. Moving forward, we remain steadfast in our commitment to fostering growth, innovation, and integrity across all our initiatives.
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Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law
2025–26 Parris Institute Offerings Professional Formation Course Building on the seamless consolidation of our three sections into a unified professional formation course, we have continued to refine our pedagogical structure to maximize impact. This streamlined, high-energy approach has proven remarkably effective, empowering our team to channel greater resources and creativity into expanding our growth initiatives and delivering an even more robust, enriching experience for every student within the institute.
Fall 2025 Classes Academic Excellence in Law School
Practice Area Panel Discussion
Introduction to the Career Development Office
Understanding Professional Cover Letters
Introduction to Preceptor Program
Symplicity and other CDO Tech Introductions
Communicating Professionally
Interviewing Professionally
Professional Legal Résumés
Understanding the Role of Attorney as Fiduciary
Knowing Thyself
Understanding the Role of Attorney as Negotiator
Introduction to Practice Areas
Professional Ethics
Financial Literacy
Wellness and the Legal Profession
Spring 2026 Panels and Presentations How to Network Successfully and Other Select Topics on the Pursuit of Professional Excellence Litigating Groundbreaking Cases: A Conversation with Paul Clement Resiliency and Other Select Topics on the Pursuit of Excellence
Public Speaking with Excellence with Alex Wheeler Civility Matters in the Practice of Law with the American Board of Trial Advocates How to Succeed in Your Summer Job and Other Select Topics on the Pursuit of Excellence
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12th Annual Parris Awards On April 16, 2026, we hosted the 12th annual Parris Awards ceremony, combining the presentation with the Belonging Awards. This expanded celebration brought together students, faculty, staff, and alumni for one of our most anticipated and well-attended gatherings of the year. The joint ceremony created a memorable atmosphere as our community came together to recognize the exceptional achievements, leadership, and contributions of all honorees.
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Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law
Student Awards Evan T. Carthen 1L Inspirational Leadership Awards Section A: Maddie Goodpaster Section B: Alan Beard Section C: Brandon Colechio
Excellence in Peacemaking Isaac Rabbanian
Excellence in Professionalism Denis Bogatin Juliette Kashani
Excellence in Leadership Ashley Pae
Excellence in Service Emma Joy McArthy
Excellence in Courage Joel Alexander
Excellence in Character Isaac Zwerling The Pepperdine Award Mitchell Brost
Faculty, Staff, and Community Awards Staff Parris Award Emily Doneen Preceptors of the Year Awards Janette Blair Jemuel Gascon The Steve Schultz Upper Division Professor of the Year Award Victoria Schwartz 1L Professor of the Year Ahmed Taha
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Parris Endowment 2025–26 Academic Year Expenditures Launch Week
$82,506.73
Personnel
$64,873.99
Lunch Panels and Presentations
$3,832.70
Parris Awards
$5,997.46
Student Support
$300.00
Supplies
$589.93 TOTAL EXPENDITURES
$158,100.82
2025–26 Events
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August 11–14, 2025
Launch Week
September 26, 2025
A Conversation with Kannon Shanmugam, Partner, Paul, Weiss
January 21, 2026
2026 Mentor Jet Event
April 16, 2026
12th Annual Parris Awards
Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law
Looking Ahead As we begin this new academic year, we are focused on enriching every facet of the student experience. Based on valuable feedback, we are introducing strategic updates to Launch Week to better support our incoming students as they transition into law school. We are also deepening our partnerships across the law school, aiming to co-host events that will bring in scholars of different backgrounds. We remain committed to fostering an environment of excellence and integrity. Our heartfelt thanks are extended to our donors, whose steadfast support and vision make these initiatives possible and ensure our students continue to thrive.
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“ Freely ye received, freely give.” Matthew 10:8
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Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law
Parris Institute Report
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