Pepperdine Magazine Vol. 11, Iss. 1 (Spring 2019)

Volume 11 Issue 1 Spring 2019

V I S I O N A RY in Chief

Moments

SURVEYING THE CROSS Tucked just beyond Baxter Drive is a peaceful yet strenuous hiking trail that extends three miles up into the Santa Monica Mountains that surround Pepperdine’s Malibu campus.

It is well known to local adventurers as the “hike to the cross,” aptly named to describe the wooden cross that meets hikers as they reach the top of the trek. Destroyed by the Woolsey Fire that devastated the local landscape last November, the small structure was replaced on December 1, 2018, by the brothers of the Sigma Chi fraternity, who carried the 20-foot-tall cross in pieces up the trail in honor of Alaina Housley, a first-year Seaver College student who was tragically killed in the shooting at Borderline Bar and Grill on November 7, 2018.

In the foreground, Housley’s parents, Hannah (’97) and Arik (’96), who serves as the Sigma Chi alumni advisor, steal a quiet moment at the top of the hill following the reflective hike.

Video Still: Moises Barba (’18)

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Contents

F E AT U R E S

14 Visionary in Chief From his formative years in Kansas to his final days in Malibu, President Andrew K. Benton’s legacy of leadership casts a long shadow on the future of Pepperdine

20 In Case of Emergency After enduring a devastating local mass shooting and a destructive wildfire, the Pepperdine community works together to demonstrate its capacity for resilience

26 Passport to Pepperdine A decades-long passion for assisting international students inspires an administrator to develop new programming at Pepperdine to ease the transition to college life in the US

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VOLUME 11 | ISSUE 1 | SPRING 2019 Pepperdine Magazine editor

Gareen Darakjian

senior designer

Courtney Gero

writers

Sara Bunch, Amanda Pisani, Jakie Rodriguez (MS ’13)

graphic designer

SPOTLIGHT

Mallory Bockwoldt (’16)

photographers

Ron Hall (’79),

Mallory Holcomb (’15)

copy editor

Amanda Pisani

production manager

Jill McWilliams

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Published by the Office of Public Affairs

Cross Examination

Color Story

Rick Gibson (MBA ’09, PKE 121)

A young entrepreneur takes the reins of the family business and lends his own personal style to an iconic brand

Seaver College students reflect on how a nine-day Pepperdine experience for high schoolers guided them to explore their calling

Chief Marketing Officer and Vice President for Public Affairs and Church Relations Matt Midura (’97, MA ’05) Associate Vice President for Integrated

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Sweeping the Nation A logistics company founded by a group of former Seaver College student-athletes offers a first-ofits kind of service for the dockless scooter industry

Love in Limbo A relationship expert explores some of the most common struggles and solutions that singles encounter in pursuit of romance

42 Culture Chameleon Scholars examine the impact of new leadership on an organization

Marketing Communications Nate Ethell (’08, MBA ’13) Director of Communications and Brand Development Keith Lungwitz Creative Director Allen Haren (’97, MA ’07) Director of Digital Media

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Ed Wheeler (’97, MA ’99)

Screen Saver

Mauricio Acevedo

A GSEP alumna provides parents with the resources and the support to live a screenless lifestyle

Director of Digital Marketing

Senior Director of Operations

Pepperdine Magazine is the feature magazine for Pepperdine University and its growing community of alumni, students, faculty, staff, and friends. It is published three times per year by the University’s

9 Headlines

6 Inside Voices

32 Snapshot

7 Campus Notes

48 The Cut

ADVERTISING Each issue of Pepperdine Magazine contains a limited number of half- or full-page advertising opportunities for University departments and initiatives. To learn more about advertising, contact magazine@pepperdine.edu.

Public Affairs division and is produced with guidance from an advisory board representing a cross section of the University community.

Send address changes, letters to the editor, and other queries to: magazine@pepperdine.edu All material is copyrighted ©2019 by Pepperdine University, Malibu, California 90263.

Pepperdine is affiliated with Churches of Christ, of

MAGAZINE.PEPPERDINE.EDU

PA1812785

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which the University’s founder, George Pepperdine, was a lifelong member.

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Editor’s Letter

Gareen, my favorite writer!

I couldn’t help feeling like the most important person in the room when President Benton called on me to ask him about the ways he motivates the members of his staff. He was the guest speaker that day at the monthly Women in Leadership Institute luncheon in the Thornton Administrative Center where I met regularly with 18 other rising women leaders from across the University.

I could feel myself beaming and hoped it wasn’t obvious. Was I really Andy’s favorite writer? Andy, who can recall and recite stanzas of classic poetry at a moment’s notice? Well-read, Keats-loving, Frost-quoting Andy? My guess is no.

But in that moment, I felt seen and recognized and loved by someone I greatly admired while in the company of my peers and mentors and those colleagues whose leadership I aspired to. I felt special.

When I replayed the scenario to a friend later that day, she acknowledged the simplicity of the compliment and remarked, “He probably says that to everyone.”

Though I balked at the reality check, she could be right. Perhaps he does say that to everyone. But, recognizing that made me appreciate even more his commitment to elevating those around him.

My many fond memories of Andy now cast a long shadow as his time at Pepperdine’s helm comes to a close. When we greeted him at Brock House for our interview featured on page 14 of this issue, camera crew in tow, he implored us: “Please don’t make this all about me.” Sorry, Andy. This time it’s about you. It’s about your ability to relate to any member of the community, from the younger sibling of an incoming student to a board chair looking for a cause to support at the University. It’s about your grace during challenging discussions and enthusiasm for listening to all sides of the conversation. It’s about your availability and accessibility to any and all who need a moment of your time. And it’s about your commitment to higher education, not only at Pepperdine, but across the nation.

I’m incredibly proud to say Andy has inspired my leadership through his humble approach, his gentle encouragement, and, perhaps most meaningfully, his implicit confidence in my abilities. And I’m proud to celebrate him and his legacy in the pages of Pepperdine Magazine, the growth of which he has so enthusiastically empowered.

On behalf of the entire magazine staff, we thank you, Andy, for inspiring us to tell the Pepperdine story, and we are profoundly grateful for all the ways your influence will be felt for years to come.

GAREEN DARAKJIAN editor

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for sharing your Pepperdine pride during #GIVE2PEPP, the University’s third annual 37-hour giving day from March 5 to March 6, 2019 WHO REPRESENTS PEPP?

FREELY I HAVE RECEIVED, FREELY I WANT TO GIVE!

The friendly face or helpful voice from advisors to tech support, librarians, professors, or colleagues. I strive to be Pepp, that’s why I support it.

AMOR R.

NINETTE Y.

Pepperdine wouldn’t be possible for many without donations during days like Give2Pepp. I give so that others can have the amazing Pepperdine experience that I had.

PEPPERDINE GAVE ME SO MUCH.

Giving back is the least I can do.

CAROLINE W.

Give2Pepp underscores and strengthens the University’s culture of community, unity, solidarity, caring, and giving for a common cause.

TARANEH Z.

I give because I am a Wave

FOR LIFE! MARY S.

I give to Pepperdine because I benefited from the generosity of others as a student. It is the least I can do to show my gratitude and pride in alma mater!

DAWN P.

MALLORY H.

See the final results and a full recap of the day:

PEPPERDINE.EDU/GIVE2PEPP

Inside Voices

“[Suffering] provides communities with opportunities to demonstrate how much they care with true kindness and generosity.”

Video Still: CBS Los Angeles

Darkest Before the Dawn

By Andy Fox (MDR ’01) Former Mayor, Thousand Oaks Former Assistant Fire Chief, Los Angeles Fire Department

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An old African proverb says, “The night is darkest before the new dawn.”

November 7, 2018, was not a typical day in the City of Thousand Oaks. It was the day after the city council elections and the first time in 24 years that my name was not on the ballot. I would retire as mayor and councilmember at the end of the year as the second-longest-serving elected official in the history of the city.

November 7 was also the day of my planned retirement party celebrating 38 years of service as a Los Angeles City firefighter. I had retired from the LAFD as assistant fire chief in September. The day was bittersweet, as I was hit with the reality that my service to the city I love was coming to an end while looking forward to a great evening with my family, friends, colleagues, and fellow firefighters following a remarkable career with the LAFD. Little did I know that on that fateful day, Thousand Oaks, the city identified by FBI crime statistics to be one of the safest in the nation, a city with award-winning schools and majestic landscapes, would find itself on an infamous list that no city wants to be on.

Around 11:20 PM, an armed gunman walked into the Borderline Bar and Grill and in a few short minutes forever changed the lives of 12 families—indeed, the entire nation. Thousand Oaks quickly became the site of the latest mass shooting in the United States. Among the dead were Ventura County Sheriff’s sergeant Ron Helus, who was killed by friendly fire in the chaotic first moments as law enforcement rushed in to stop the killing, and Pepperdine student Alaina Housley,

a young woman with the promise of a beautiful life ahead of her. The mass shootings that we read about and see on TV happening in other parts of the country had just happened in my town.

Less than a day after the Borderline tragedy, one of the largest brush fires in the history of the state pushed through Thousand Oaks fanned by strong Santa Ana winds and tinderdry brush burning nearly 100,000 acres from the western edge of the San Fernando Valley to Pacific Coast Highway. The fast-moving fire completely surrounded Thousand Oaks and required the evacuation of 75 percent of the city. The evacuees included many of the families directly affected by the Borderline incident. Our night somehow became even darker.

Throughout history, suffering has been an inescapable part of the human condition— suffering caused at the hands of another or by the harsh elements of mother nature. In 24 hours, Thousand Oaks had experienced both in large proportion.

As Americans, we know that suffering also offers opportunity. It provides communities with opportunities to demonstrate how much they care with true kindness and generosity, and that is exactly what transpired over the next several days, weeks, and months following the combined tragedies. Examples of people of all faiths practicing the Golden Rule are too many to list, from donating food and clothes to making financial contributions and attending memorial services for people and families they did not know.

In the midst of two simultaneous tragedies that captured the nation’s attention, Thousand Oaks showed its resilience and the strength of community. The memorials have all been completed, rebuilding is underway, and the city is well on its way to recovery.

Our city, in its own small way, showed that it’s possible to turn pain and suffering into something good . . . just like a carpenter’s son did 2,000 years ago at the new dawn on a Sunday morning.

Campus Notes PEPPERDINE PEOPLE

Debby Benton Pepperdine’s first lady shares bits of Benton history from the presidential couple’s 35 years at Pepperdine

“Andy has always been a leader.

In college, he was the president of the student body government for three years. He is a good listener, which is one of his strongest leadership qualities.

But when he has an idea, he can get really noisy.”

When the Bentons first arrived in California from Oklahoma, President

Traveling and making friends all over the world is her favorite first-lady duty. One memorable moment

Benton hosted a Van Halen concert at Firestone Fieldhouse for fellow members of the Malibu Emergency Room Board, one of the Bentons’ first public outings as part of the University.

was meeting Margaret Thatcher in London.

Last year Mrs. Benton traveled to Gulf Shores, Alabama, with the women’s sand volleyball team as they competed for the national championship.

Mrs. Benton is dedicated to the Boone Center for the family, where she serves as the

president of the Friends of the Family League and has even taught courses for the Relationship IQ program. She is also committed to her work on the Center for the Arts Board and Athletics Board.

While traveling to the Dominican Republic for Project Serve,

she remembers a student who celebrated his 21st birthday on the trip. “Other vacationers were shocked that he chose to serve others on his 21st birthday, but it was much more meaningful than any other experience.”

“Our students aren’t getting everything they can at Pepperdine if they don’t take

Relationship IQ classes, especially those classes that teach safe dating practices.”

When President Benton was vice president of university affairs,

the Bentons would host students and the annual Christmas party for the Board of Regents at their home to lighten President and Mrs. Davenport’s load.

Hailey Benton (’03, JD ’08) was a Pepperdine student when her dad became president, but she was discreet

about her pedigree. “She’s a lot like Andy.

They’re both very strong, quiet leaders. But they’re both willing to fight for their beliefs.”

Community Effort Thanks to the generosity of those who contributed to #PepperdineStrong, faculty, staff, and students affected by the Borderline shooting and Woolsey Fire continue to be supported on their path to recovery and healing.

THE DAMAGE

23 73 58

DAMAGED HOMES

TOTAL

HOME LOSS

OTHER

FIRE-RELATED LOSSES

THE GIVING

THE IMPACT

1,783

135

$558,434

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NUMBER OF GIFTS

DOLLARS RAISED

STUDENTS

FACULTY/STAFF SUPPORTED

7

FLIGHTS

HOME

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ON-CAMPUS

EMERGENCY HOUSING

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Campus Notes SOUND BITES C H AT T E R The Pepperdine community near and far showed its support for those affected by local tragedies.

KATRINA WINNETT (‘18) Despite all of the tragedy our community has endured, I have been amazed by the stories of so many who have seen God clearly working in both their lives and the lives of others during this time.

“We do not have to choose between resisting hatred and resisting censorship.

Rather, these two goals go hand in hand. They are mutually reinforcing.

Non-censorial measures are more effective in countering hatred and fostering equality, diversity, and dignity.”

Nadine Strossen, Former President, American Civil Liberties Union EVENT: “HATE: Why We Should Resist It With Free Speech, Not Censorship”

“When institutions that start off being faithful to their roots de-identify, they become shiftless. It may be a place of values and it may be a place that still does a lot of good in the lives of students, but when you lose touch with your tribe, then I think it’s the beginning of the end for a sincere expression of faith through what you do.”

Andrew K. Benton, President and CEO, Pepperdine University EVENT: “Promises to Keep”

JUDITH WHITE HENDERSON Thank you, Pepperdine, for keeping our son safe and for the ongoing communication keeping us informed.

“So many people don’t understand the economic impact of hope . . . Hope is very much an asset that we have to have.”

CHRISTINA ZIMMERMAN (‘18)

Christine Simmons, COO, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Former President and COO, WNBA Los Angeles Sparks

I can’t even imagine the fear and pain that everyone is going through. I’m so proud of all the love and community action that I’ve seen.

DID

EVENT: “The Triple-Bottom Line of Social Entrepreneurship in Sports and Entertainment”

YOU KNOW

On February 23, Pepperdine faculty, staff, and their families partnered with City Plants tree service in Los Angeles to plant 40 trees at Van Nuys/Sherman Oaks Recreation Center.

“Just because something is impossible does not mean it’s not worth trying.

Who cares that the summit is unreachable if climbing that mountain makes you into one? Don’t you know that courage only comes after you do the thing that’s scary?”

Theo E. J. Wilson, YouTube Activist, Speaker, Slam Poet EVENT: “Race and the Internet: The Digital Shadow”

FROM THE ARCHIVES “Though we may not understand everything that lies before us, we must nevertheless keep our watch, remaining vigilant.

And, for us, it is imperative that we also reach deep into our motives and principles, and that we reach far into the future for a vision that will propel us forward.” —Andrew K. Benton, inaugural address, September 23, 2000

Source: University Archives Photograph Collection

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Headlines

James A. Gash (JD ’93) Named Eighth President and CEO of Pepperdine University James A. Gash, associate dean for strategic planning and external relations and professor of law at Pepperdine School of Law, has been named the eighth president and CEO of Pepperdine University. Gash is a renowned education administrator, legal scholar, global justice advocate, and attorney. Selected by the Board of Regents in February, Gash will succeed Andrew K. Benton on August 1, 2019.

“The board’s selection of Jim Gash to serve as the next president of Pepperdine is an auspicious moment in the history of this remarkable university,” said Ed Biggers, chair of the Board of Regents.

“Throughout his venerable career at Pepperdine and beyond, Jim follows in the footsteps of Pepperdine presidents before him who have demonstrated the kind of inspiration, integrity, strength, and measured leadership that have made this university into the elite academy it is today. We will be fortunate to have Jim’s guiding vision for Pepperdine as we write our next chapter and continue to be a leading university in Christian higher education.”

As president, Gash will lead major initiatives to support the University’s Christian mission and reputation, strengthen student learning and scholarship, enhance faculty research and recruitment, and develop new resources that advance its vision to become a premier, global, Christian university.

Currently Gash provides operational oversight for many of the School of Law’s signature development initiatives. He also serves as the director of the esteemed Sudreau Global Justice Program at Pepperdine Law, is a special advisor to the High Court of Uganda, and was recently named chancellor of LivingStone International University in Mbale, Uganda.

Since 2010 Gash has visited Uganda nearly 30 times with Pepperdine students to support the Ugandan judiciary and assist the country in its justice reform efforts. In 2016 he published his first book, Divine Collision, which chronicles how his life and the Ugandan criminal justice system were dramatically changed as a result of meeting a Ugandan teenage prisoner during Gash’s first visit to Uganda. The following year, Revolution Pictures released the award-winning and highly acclaimed documentary REMAND about the Sudreau Global Justice Program’s transformative work in the developing world.

“Pepperdine has always been a story of unbridled progress and never more so than under the leadership of Andy Benton, who has propelled this university to the highest echelons of Christian higher education in the United States,” said Gash. “I am both humbled and thrilled to have the opportunity to build on his administration’s legacy of growth and excellence, fueled by the imagination, innovation, and creativity of Pepperdine’s talented faculty, staff, students, and alumni around the world.”

Gash is the recipient of the prestigious Elizabeth Beckman Mentor Award and the Warren Christopher Award, which recognizes the State Bar of California’s international lawyer of the year. He is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the US District Court for the Central District of California.

Gash holds a bachelor’s degree in finance, summa cum laude, from Abilene Christian University and a JD, summa cum laude, from the Pepperdine School of Law.

ཁཁGet to know President-elect Gash: magazine.pepperdine.edu/james-gash

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Headlines Pepperdine Remembers Seaver College Student Alaina Housley Alaina Housley, a first-year student at Seaver College, lost her life in the mass shooting that took place at Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks, California, on November 7, 2018.

The 18-year-old Napa Valley native was an English major who started her first semester at Pepperdine in August 2018. During her first

semester, Housley had joined Pepperdine’s choral program and was a member of the Pepperdine Mock Trial team. She had planned to spend her sophomore year studying in Florence, Italy, through the University’s International Programs.

On November 28, 2018, Pepperdine held a memorial service at Firestone Fieldhouse to honor Housley’s life. The ceremony commenced with opening remarks from University chaplain Sara Barton, who referenced an excerpt from Harry Potter, Housley’s favorite book series. In commemoration of Housley’s love for music, the event included a special performance from the Filharmonic, a Los Angeles-based a cappella group composed of Filipino American vocalists, as well as a rendition of “On My Own” from Les Misérables, sung by Housley’s roommate, fellow first-year Lauren Drake.

Her parents, alumni Arik (’96) and Hannah (’97) Housley, also joined together to express their deepest gratitude for the

love and encouragement their daughter received while at Pepperdine, and shared the importance of remaining faithful during painful hardships.

“We are touched deeply and indelibly by this loss to our community and Alaina’s loving family,” said Pepperdine president Andrew K. Benton. “Those who knew her loved her; she completed our campus family and made us better. We hope now for peace and eventual resolution in this terrible event, and we embrace her family with all of our strength.”

Within one week of the tragic incident, Housley’s parents established Alaina’s Voice, a nonprofit organization with the mission of motivating changes in the way the media covers mass shootings. The organization also advocates for mental health care.

To honor Alaina and her brief time as a Seaver College student, the University established the Alaina Housley Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund.

Pepperdine Mourns Passing of Shirley Boone Shirley Boone, longtime friend of Pepperdine University and benefactor of the Boone Center for the Family along with her husband, Pat Boone, passed away on January 11, 2019.

She was 84.

“Shirley Boone was one of Pepperdine’s great champions,” says Andrew K. Benton, Pepperdine University president. “Her sweet spirit and strong, steadfast faith were the driving forces behind her Shirley and Pat Boone inspiring partnership with Pat. Together they were dedicated to many important causes, and their resolute belief in Pepperdine was one I am truly honored to have witnessed. I am proud to have called Shirley a friend and am comforted by the ways in which her generosity and dedication to serving the Pepperdine community will continue to positively impact generations of students.”

The Boones supported the Pepperdine School of Public Policy for many years and are founding board members, namesakes, and benefactors of the Boone Center for the Family, which was established in 1997 and named after them in 2007. In 2017 the Boone Special Collections and Archives at Payson Library was created, housing a collection of unique physical artifacts ranging from medieval manuscripts to 20th-century film reels.

Shirley is survived by her husband, Pat; their four daughters, Cherry Boone O’Neill, Lindy Boone Michaelis, Debby Boone, and Laura Boone; and 16 grandchildren, including Pepperdine graduates Ryan Corbin (’99) and Casey O’Neill (’08).

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SavvyChic XV Honors First Lady Debby Benton On November 7, 2018, First Lady Debby Benton was honored at the 15th annual SavvyChic, the premier event supporting the Boone Center for the Family at Pepperdine.

The event, which featured a luncheon, fashion show, raffle, and silent auction—all of which raise funds that benefit the Boone Center’s mission of promoting healthy relationships and strong families—paid tribute to Debby Benton, longtime president of the Friends of the Family League, for her support, advocacy, and leadership.

Alumni Tarianne (’79) and Guy Cotton (’78) were also presented with the Friends of the Family Award, which recognizes individuals for their inspiring dedication to marriage and family, and the example they demonstrate for positive relationships.

Mark Roosa and Kaitlyn Nader

GRAMMY Museum and Pepperdine Announce Affiliate Partnership The GRAMMY Museum at L.A. LIVE and Pepperdine University have announced that the University has been named an official University Affiliate. The partnership, established through the GRAMMY Museum’s University Affiliates program, will bring the museum’s lauded traveling exhibits, tailored academic opportunities, and full wealth of resources to Pepperdine students, alumni, faculty, and staff.

The partnership will enhance Pepperdine’s curricular offerings by providing students with access to music historians and professionals as guest speakers, collaboratively designed academic courses and programming, and opportunities for student enrichment outside of the classroom through exhibitions and internships. These experiences will complement Pepperdine’s robust selection of programs in music performance, theatre, and dance available to students through the Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts.

Pepperdine Libraries is leading the partnership on behalf of the University and will host its first GRAMMY Museum traveling exhibit later this year.

“Our new affiliation with the GRAMMY Museum presents immense opportunities for enriching the cultural programming that we provide to the community at Pepperdine,” said Mark Roosa, dean of libraries. “As the department leading the partnership, Pepperdine Libraries looks forward to hosting special exhibitions, guest speakers, and other programs that celebrate the musical and performing arts.”

AEG and Pepperdine Unveil Classroom and Educational Programming at STAPLES Center Esteemed members of the AEG and Pepperdine University communities gathered at STAPLES Center on October 18, 2018, to celebrate the grand opening of a branded classroom as part of an innovative partnership designed to meet the demand for graduate and undergraduate level educational offerings in the sports and entertainment industries. Regular academic programming in the new space began earlier this year.

“Pepperdine is proud to grow its presence in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles and to offer world-class educational programs in sports and entertainment management,” said Andrew K. Benton, president of Pepperdine University. “As the

exclusive education partner of STAPLES Center, L.A. LIVE, and the LA Kings, we look forward to providing our sports and entertainment students with a premier educational experience that will uniquely prepare them to shape the future of their industries.”

The first-of-its-kind classroom, located within the iconic sports and entertainment venue, provides Pepperdine students enrolled in sportsand entertainment-focused programs the opportunity to gain hands-on experience through a series of courses and events, including an AEG “best-in-class” speaker series, as they are exposed to the inner workings of one of the world’s most successful arenas.

ཁཁLearn more about the innovative partnership: magazine.pepperdine.edu/aeg-classroom

Pepperdine Celebrates 46th Annual School of Law Dinner The 46th annual School of Law dinner was held at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, on March 30, 2019.

The Honorable Clarence Thomas, associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, served as the event’s featured speaker and engaged alumna Brittney Lane Kubisch (JD ’12) in a discussion about how Pepperdine graduates can continue to thrive as advocates and peacemakers to advance the rights and liberties of people around the world.

The evening also marked the announcement of the School of Law’s rise in U.S. News & World Report rankings. Dean Paul L. Caron

took to the podium to thank his fellow deans, faculty, and staff, along with Pepperdine Law students, alumni, board of advisors, Dean’s Council, donors, and administrators, for contributing to the school’s recognized success.

Caron also offered his insights on Pepperdine’s resilience in the face of tragic events last fall. “I believe that Pepperdine Law lives on because our part in that bigger story is not yet completed,” he said.

“I believe we are doing important work fulfilling God’s call on our lives to send more and more Pepperdine-trained lawyers out into our hurting nation and world.”

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Headlines

Pepperdine Theatre Presents One-Night-Only Performance of Curtains The Pepperdine University Fine Arts Division presented the musical Curtains for one night only on November 27, 2018. Multiple performances of the show were originally scheduled throughout midNovember but were canceled due to the challenges presented by the Woolsey Fire. The play’s cast and crew were notified of the fire and the University’s shelter-in-place protocols during a dress rehearsal at Smothers Theatre.

School of Law Professors Appointed to Federal Positions in Washington, DC Babette E. Boliek and Donald Earl Childress III, law professors at the School of Law, have been selected to serve in federal government roles throughout 2019.

Boliek, a leading expert in the field of contract and economics laws, has been selected as chief economist of the United States Federal Communications Commission by chair Ajit Pai. In her new role, Boliek will advise the chair, commissioners, bureaus, and offices on economic issues.

Childress, a leading international law scholar who recently served as dean of faculty at

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the School of Law, has been selected to serve as the counselor on international law in the Office of the Legal Adviser within the United States Department of State. His new assignments will focus on litigation in American courts that raise international and foreign relations law issues. While serving as the liaison between the Office of the Legal Adviser, the Office of the Solicitor General, and the Department of Justice, Childress will additionally be involved in developments before the International Court of Justice and the Iran-US Claims Tribunal.

Spring 2019

“This one performance meant so much to us,” said Kelly Todd, visiting instructor of theatre. “The administration, staff, faculty, cast, and crew all came together to make it happen. It was a joyous celebration that we all needed at such a difficult time, and I am personally so grateful to everyone who contributed to the success of the performance.”

Industry 4.0 Conference Celebrates Graziadio Business School 50th Anniversary

To celebrate 50 years of educating students in the field of business, the Graziadio Business School hosted Industry 4.0: The Future of Humanity in the Smart Machine Age at The Novo in Downtown Los Angeles on April 2, 2019.

The full-day event featured a panel of guest speakers engaged in discussions about corporate social responsibility, women in leadership, and the renewed significance of human values and purpose in the Smart Machine Age. Speakers included Steve Wozniak, cofounder of Apple Computer; Salim Ismail, founding executive director of Singularity University; and Dalana Brand, vice president of people rewards and experience at Twitter.

“Machines are only going to do what we want them to do,” said Wozniak, referring to statistics predicting a rise in automation and decline in human innovation and interaction. “I am not afraid at all of machines taking over humans. Technology, like it has for all time, has enabled us to do a little more in our human lives than we used to before. Technology is a major driver of progress in the world.”

ANDY

AND

DEBBY BENTON

ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP Andy and Debby Benton have faithfully served Pepperdine for more than 35 years. As the University reflects on the Bentons’ lasting influence, we are asking you, the Pepperdine family, to consider the impact they have had on your life.

Maybe

YOU are

A Pepperdine PARENT who enjoyed the comfort of knowing your son or daughter was in good hands.

Or an ALUMNUS whose degree has increased in value thanks to President Benton’s leadership.

Or simply a FRIEND of the University who has been inspired by the Bentons’ faith, determination, and integrity.

Join us as we honor Andy and Debby Benton by supporting future generations of Waves in fulfilling their dream of attending Pepperdine University.

GIVE ONLINE: impact.pepperdine.edu/bentons

GIVE BY MAIL:

Pepperdine Legacy Partners 24255 Pacific Coast Highway Malibu, CA 90263-4567

Features

V I S I O N A RY in Chief

From his formative years in Kansas to his final days in Malibu, President Andrew K. Benton’s legacy of leadership casts a long shadow on the future of Pepperdine

By Gareen Darakjian

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THE YEAR WAS 1999. Pepperdine’s Board of Regents had obtained all the necessary permits to commence the development of the Drescher Graduate Campus, a 50-acre plot of land located behind the School of Law and the future home of the graduate schools of business, education, psychology, and public policy on the Malibu campus. The construction of the five-building, $80 million project was thought impossible by some of the finest attorneys and planners in Los Angeles, but Pepperdine was one step closer to becoming a global hub for executive education.

Photos: Mallory Holcomb (’15)

An air of uncertainty swirled through the Brock House board meeting held to work through the lingering challenges and doubts surrounding the project. If we build it, will they come? Can we afford it? How can we possibly borrow that much money and make it work for Pepperdine?

The University was considering walking away from the promise of a dynamic graduate campus that would indelibly transform the footprint of the Malibu campus and further position Pepperdine as an institution that offered students in all stages of life the opportunity to pursue superior higher education. Andrew K. Benton, then the executive vice president of the University, sat back, listening, squirming in his seat. It was an era, he remembers, when staff wouldn’t dare interrupt— and especially not challenge—deliberations among more senior leadership.

Unable to contain his conviction, Benton finally raised his hand. Thomas G. Bost, then chair of the board, recognized him and asked, “Would you like to speak?”

“I think I must,” Benton replied. He proceeded to illustrate to the room, in his quiet, confident candor, the urgency of the campus development and the possibility of losing the opportunity entirely due to legal challenges that were gathering force. “We must build now.”

Under Benton’s careful and intentional direction, the Drescher Graduate Campus was built six months ahead of schedule and $10 million under budget.

Shortly thereafter, when sitting president David Davenport announced that he would be stepping down from the presidency after nearly 15 years of service, Benton was presented with the opportunity to compete for the position, an offer that he believes was influenced by his sincerity and earnestness in the room that day.

In his 2000 inaugural speech entitled “Promises to Keep,” Benton boldly yet humbly uttered the phrase, “I’m seldom the smartest person in the room, but I’m often the most committed person in the room, and I think that makes a difference.”

“I was not timid that day,” he recalls, of his tenacious position at Brock House nearly two decades ago. “I might have been timid about other things, but I was not at all timid about the future of Pepperdine.”

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During the presidential search that concluded with Benton’s appointment, Board of Regents chair Edwin L. Biggers, then a member of the board and of its executive committee, received a phone call from a Los Angeles Times reporter asking what Pepperdine was looking for in an incoming president. He responded, “We are looking for a servant leader.

Someone who follows the nature of Christ. A Christian example.”

Today, after more than three decades of friendship and countless opportunities to witness his faith in action, Biggers can still count on Benton’s steady disposition.

“Andy is a humble man and a man of highest integrity,” he says. “He can be trusted no matter what.”

Benton discovered his penchant for empathetic, persuasive, and faith-driven leadership at a young age and became aware of the power of his influence early in life. An understated young man from Lawrence, Kansas, Benton’s extracurricular pursuits in high school veered toward track athlete or wrestler.

But an interaction with two friends persuaded him to take on a more public role: running for a position on the executive committee of the student senate. “‘What, really? Me? I’m not that kind of guy,’” Benton remembers thinking. It was the first time he would be required to develop a campaign that communicated his values to a large group.

Benton came of age during the fraught Vietnam War era, a time that included the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the assassination of Robert Kennedy. He recalls being required at a fairly young age to exercise maturity and to think beyond his small Kansas town.

“It was so good for me,” he remembers.

“I’m so sorry for the strife and the pain of that era, but it was very shaping for me.”

The next race that he won was vice president of the student senate, and then when the president stepped down in the middle of Benton’s junior year, he was promoted to the top spot. He went on to win the title again in his senior year, and the pattern continued in college. He transferred from the University of Kansas to a small college in Oklahoma and ran for student senate president twice and— to his surprise—won both times.

“I found, rather humorously, that I liked the view from the front of the pack rather than from the back of the pack,” says Benton. “I liked being a leader. I liked being trusted and keeping my promises and doing interesting things.”

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Perhaps it was those early experiences that influenced Benton’s identity as the “students’ president” and his passion for integrating young people in transformational experiences that consciously and observably instill values of academic excellence and a commitment to faith.

“His raison d’être of higher education is the opportunity for individuals to reach potentials they didn’t know they had and to be prepared for the exceptionally complicated world in which they are both living in now and will live in for the rest of their lifetimes,” says David Warren, president of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU), an organization that Benton has served in various capacities, most recently as chair. “He is incredibly passionate about this institution playing a critical and pivotal role for the students.”

In his three years of service to NAICU, Benton was instrumental in organizing 1,000 colleges to face a proposal by the president of the United States to reduce federal student aid by $150 billion. The hearing was part of an ongoing effort to strengthen federal higher education policies to better serve students, families, and taxpayers. While he was essential in the appropriations tax piece, Benton also testified before Congress on the issue of student data use for purposes beyond the intent of law, during which he presented a compelling testimony in front of the House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development. The spirited exchange was highlighted by Benton’s position that the security of student data is a matter of fundamental privacy and considered to be a covenant between the college and the student. He went on to say that at Pepperdine, this was essential to the relationship to learning and teaching and to the education enterprise.

“He, on a national level, made a case for all private higher education on this really critical issue,” Warren says. “As we read in the paper every day, there’s a larger and more determined reach

into the private data of individuals, and he really planted a flag in this issue for higher education.”

Throughout his tenure Benton has consistently demonstrated his commitment to the best interests of the University, including leading Pepperdine to prominence among the nation’s top universities and overseeing key initiatives such as the construction of the Drescher Graduate Campus and identifying headquarters for the Graziadio Business School and Graduate School of Education and Psychology at a new campus in West Los Angeles. Progress during his tenure is also marked by the opening of new international campuses in Lausanne, Shanghai, and Washington, DC; the completion of facilities like the Center for Communication and Business and Keck Science Center; the dedication of Mullin Town Square and the Runnels Sports and Recreation Village; and the endowment and creation of more than a dozen centers and institutes across the institution.

During his years serving in executive leadership roles at Pepperdine, including assistant vice president, vice president for administration, vice president for university affairs, and executive vice president, he played a central part in managing the University’s relations with the State of California, County of Los Angeles, and the City of Malibu, and he was an essential voice in the approval of Pepperdine’s Long Range Development Plan for the Malibu campus.

“My greatest hope,” Benton says, “is that the next president focuses on tripling our endowment. We’ve also experienced a great awakening academically, and we need more resources and research opportunities for faculty and students.

And I hope that alumni continue to come home to Pepperdine and own the future of their alma mater.”

“Ultimately,” he concludes, “I’d like for Pepperdine to be very well regarded as a place of ethics and values and that we tell the truth, but we tell the truth and we follow up on our promises. Heart and conviction are two words that I hope show up somewhere in my epilogue.”

HEART and CONVICTION are two words that I hope show up somewhere in my epilogue.

—Andrew K. Benton

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His raison d’être of higher education is the opportunity for individuals to REACH POTENTIALS they didn’t know they had and to BE PREPARED for the exceptionally complicated world in which they are both living in now and WILL LIVE IN for the rest of their lifetimes.

—David Warren

As Davenport prepared to transition out of his presidential role at Pepperdine in 1999, Currents Magazine, a student-run publication led by the Communication Division at Seaver College, published a Q&A with Benton to introduce readers to the “man behind the suit.” One question asked, “How long do you see yourself serving as president?”

“A president serves as long as his style of leadership makes sense,” he responded. “I’d like for this to be my last job—the capstone of my career.

I hope and pray that I’ll have the wisdom to know when that period of time is up.”

While Benton is the longestserving president in Pepperdine’s 82-year history, just surpassing Hugh Tiner’s 18-year term, his decision to step down from the presidency was not guided by the satisfaction of superseding that milestone.

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“What guided me was doing the right thing in the right way at the right time,” he explains, referencing the advice outlined in a congratulatory letter written to him by former president Bill Banowsky on the occasion of his appointment as the seventh president of Pepperdine.

To Benton, doing the right thing meant giving Pepperdine a chance for new leadership and handing off a healthy, thriving university to the incoming president. The right way meant allowing the University community the opportunity to prepare for and process the prospect of a Benton-less Pepperdine, and to allay any fears of change. And while he remains committed to departing at the right time, Benton is evercommitted to serving Pepperdine far beyond the conclusion of his tenure.

He jokes that if Pepperdine has no use for him after he shuts the stately

double doors at Brock House and heads down President’s Drive for the last time, he will likely pursue the path of a Bible school teacher.

Or aim for the title of world-class grandfather. Or perhaps build a killer treehouse.

As he prepares to pass the baton to President-elect Jim Gash (JD ’93), who was announced as the eighth president of Pepperdine this February, Benton remains dutifully and inexhaustibly convicted about continuing to care for the people and the place that have defined the arc of his life.

“I still have ideas, I still have energy, I still have some unfinished business,” he says. “Maybe I’ll continue to work on that.

Wherever I am, whatever I am doing, I will always look for ways to advance Pepperdine.”

Hail to the Chief of Staff Prior to assuming the position of vice president and chief of staff for President Benton 12 years ago, Marnie Duke Mitze studied music performance at the undergraduate and graduate levels and found professional success in the field of arts administration. She worked in Cambridge, Massachusetts, at a community music school and later came to California and settled into roles at the University of Redlands and University of California, Riverside. While at a conference in New York in the early 1990s, she met Tom Gabbard, the director of the Center for the Arts at Pepperdine at the time, who mentioned he was leaving his post to pursue a new opportunity. He recommended that she throw her hat in the ring.

President Benton, then executive vice president, was on the hiring committee and offered Mitze the job.

The Center for the Arts had just opened when she signed on in 1992, and she was tasked with creating the ARTSReach program, which provides free performances to more than 5,000 schoolchildren each year.

When her son entered his teenage years, Mitze shared with Benton her interest in changing careers while reinforcing her passion for the University. A few months later, following a departmental reorganization, he called her into his office to discuss the option of hiring her as chief of staff. Together they created the position and wrote the job description for the role—the first of its kind at Pepperdine. Here, Mitze shares the principles that have guided her leadership journey and offers an inside look at President Benton’s impact on Pepperdine.

On her early days in the president’s office The scariest moments were the first two or three years in my role because I had very little experience in certain areas, like working with the Board of Regents and with governance.

After all these years, my work with the board is probably my greatest contribution and the capacity through which I am most resourceful.

It takes time, and it’s complex, but I’ve developed a solid relationship with the board, and I look forward to helping the next president establish those relationships during the transition.

On her inspiration I was blessed to have grown up with a professional working mother back in the ’60s. My mother was a powerhouse. People sometimes say I intimidate them. I say you should have met my mother.

I had always aspired to a professional career and started working fresh out of college. I’ve worked every day since. I love working, and I like working with people. It’s nice to see the things you’ve worked on be successful.

On President Benton’s dedication to faculty One of the things that people really don’t know about Andy’s legacy is what he has done for the academy and to push for additional resources into faculty hiring. He insists on interviewing and hiring faculty who are experts in their fields and pursuing their own academic research while also being mission driven and caring for our students.

On women in leadership Developing women in leadership is an important aspect of my role as chief of staff. We also need to have more men directly involved in mentoring women. We need to remember everybody has a unique style and, to a certain degree, behavior. But I try not to give a lot of attention to whether you’re male or female. I just need to know what you can do.

On President Benton’s leadership qualities Two things make Andy’s leadership distinctive.

The first is his brilliant mind. He is a Renaissance man and extraordinarily well read with a broad list of interests. Second is his humble nature. He is ultimately a servant leader. Bottom line: he’s a really good guy. And I speak volumes when I say that. How many people in CEO leadership positions can you say that about?

On what makes President Benton successful Andy has an exceptional ability to listen to different voices and to give each of them equal time but to ultimately be able to make the call.

At a university, the number of differing voices is extraordinary. You are working with a very complex group of constituents and everybody wants him to choose a side, but he listens to all sides.

On the presidential transition Andy has never been in a stronger position as president, and the University has never been in a stronger position as an institution. It’s the perfect time to step aside and let someone else take the reins. In show business, you have to exit the stage leaving people wanting more. Andy’s ready for change. I couldn’t be more excited about the future of Pepperdine.

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In Case of

Emergency After enduring a devastating local mass shooting and a destructive wildfire, the Pepperdine community works together to demonstrate its capacity for resilience

By Sara Bunch and Gareen Darakjian

Thanks to the generous photographic contributions of: Cecily Breeding (’10, MA ’18) Tim Horton Grant Dillion Maura Page Nate Ethell (’08, MBA ’13)

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very August residence life director Maura Page gathers the 125 members of her staff for a training session in how to respond to potential campus incidents such as natural disasters, active shooter events, and medical and mental health emergencies.

Preparedness exercises include providing each Housing and Residence Life (HRL) student leader with a green Residential Emergency Response Team (RERT) vest to wear during an emergency and an RERT folder with emergency response protocols highlighting the recommended items to pack during an emergency relocation, like medications, passports, and legal documents.

Training protocols also dictate that in the event of an emergency, staff members should be prepared to notify their families that their roles require their presence on campus to support students through event-appropriate response and recovery processes. Because these emergency situations seldom occur, the operations planned during these training sessions remain unexecuted most academic years—until last fall, when Pepperdine was faced with a double tragedy.

At approximately 11:20 PM on November 7, 2018, a gunman opened fire at Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks, a Conejo Valley neighborhood located 20 miles north of Malibu and, statistically, among the safest cities in the nation. Twelve people were fatally shot during the massacre, including Alaina Housley, a first-year Seaver College student who had been enjoying the venue’s “college country night” with 15 fellow Pepperdine students and others from nearby colleges. It would be the first time a Pepperdine student was murdered in an act of violence.

As news of the shooting spread through the campus community that evening, HRL staff were present with students who were awake and in need of emotional support.

Members of HRL and Counseling Center staff were stationed at the Howard A. White Center (HAWC), coordinating with the University’s Emergency Operations Committee (EOC)—the decision-making body for the University during emergencies composed of administrators across the University—and members of the Department of Public Safety who were at the scene of the crime to provide on-site support.

Staff at the HAWC received the students who were arriving back to campus from Borderline, some of whom were transported by Pepperdine parents. News of Housley’s condition was uncertain at this time, and many students experienced emotional turmoil as they awaited updates about her and other classmates who had been hospitalized for their injuries. HRL and Counseling Center staff remained in the hall lounge with residents of DeBell House— Housley’s residence hall—overnight and well into the next morning as they awaited updates.

“It was touching how many people came alongside students in the residence halls and offered support that night and the following day,” shares Page, referring to staff from the Counseling Center, the Office of the President, Student Activities, Student Affairs, the Office of the Chaplain, and the Department of Public Safety, who promptly conducted welfare checks on students whose parents had called the University to confirm that their children were safe. “Building and valuing relationships is something Pepperdine does well, which was most evident following the shooting at Borderline.”

As the campus community gathered for a prayer service at noon the next day at Smothers Theatre—and in overflow spaces at Stauffer Chapel and in the Surfboard Room—Pepperdine officials received the news of Housley’s death, and President Andrew K. Benton made the anguished announcement to the somber crowd. Shortly after, members of the EOC began getting word that two

wildfires had broken out in Ventura County and were growing rapidly due to high winds.

By early Friday morning, the flames had jumped the 101 freeway and were threatening the Malibu campus.

“Historically, we’ve seen that once a fire jumps the 101, there’s not really another spot for the fire department to stop it before it hits the Pacific Ocean,” says Jon Weber (’05, MBA ’13), interim director of insurance and risk at Pepperdine. “At that point, we knew that it was likely only a matter of hours before it was at the doorstep of the Pepperdine campus.”

Within a 90-minute time frame early Friday morning, residential students were relocated to Firestone Fieldhouse and Tyler Campus Center (TCC) as University officials initiated the campus’ shelter-in-place protocol while the first plumes of smoke signaling the progress of the Woolsey Fire emerged beyond the hills surrounding campus. This protocol, determined decades prior and tested regularly in partnership with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, relocates campus occupants to safe locations on the premises and encourages them to remain there until authorities deem it safe to return to residences or offices.

“There was a lot of community building and relationship nurturing while sitting together, talking, and playing games,” recalls School of Law student Christal Porter, assistant resident director of George Page Residential Complex.

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Features For most of Friday, it appeared that the flames were going to blow west and avoid the Malibu campus altogether. As the Woolsey Fire began to take over parts of Malibu, University chaplain Sara Barton visited and prayed with students, faculty, staff, and their families during the day and slept in her office late at night. Determined to bring a sense of peace to the students, Barton walked through each space to minister to those who desired additional comfort.

“Being together was comforting for a lot of people, and we intentionally created a low-stress, relaxing atmosphere for everyone,” she shares, recalling one student who, while acknowledging that the fire was an unfortunate event, was thankful for the days he spent in fellowship with his friends, particularly as the recent shooting had weighed heavily on his mental health.

As Barton puts it, “Pepperdine is special because of its sense of community. We are a small enough group that we are all aware of each other. Because we continually develop meaningful friendships and share leadership with our students, we have the right staff and skills to lead them through such trying times.”

In the early afternoon, L.A. County Fire began air operations in Alumni Park, filling helicopters with water from the ponds to make drops on the fire in surrounding areas

of Malibu. But by the evening, the EOC was notified by local law enforcement officials that another finger of the fire had developed and was headed straight toward Pepperdine.

As evening arrived, it soon became apparent that the TCC and Payson Library, with its multi-level space and soft seating options, would be more comfortable venues for the hundreds of students who remained on campus. What University officials didn’t realize was that the library’s oversized windows, providing panoramic views of Malibu’s signature vistas, would give students a front-row seat to the flames that would batter the nearby hillside.

In the late hours of Friday and into the early hours of Saturday morning, L.A. County Fire continued running helicopters out of Alumni Park, using water from the pond to make drops in surrounding areas.

As the fire subsided near the Malibu campus by daybreak Saturday, the University announced that it was safe to return to the residence halls. “Everyone was full of happiness, thankfulness, and appreciation that we overcame the situation together,” Porter notes. “It was a realization that God is faithful in carrying us through a crisis.”

Although many students took advantage of this opportunity to reunite with friends and family off campus, especially as the University canceled all classes scheduled for the following week, Porter stayed behind to keep a watchful eye on the students who chose to

stay. Deeply inspired by Psalm 30:5 and God’s promise that “rejoicing comes in the morning,” Porter collaborated with other faculty and staff during that quiet week on campus to organize the Woolsey Talent Show at the Sandbar, encouraging all who were on campus to participate in any way they desired.

“I wanted us to celebrate by demonstrating the talents that God blessed us with. It was a great way to express gratitude for being protected during such an emotionally trying time,” she explains, adding that other students as well as Paula Marrs, wife of Pepperdine provost Rick Marrs, also kept the children of residential faculty and staff entertained each day by planning familyfriendly events, such as arts-and-crafts sessions and superhero movie marathons.

Reflecting on that time, Porter describes it as “one of my best weeks at Pepperdine because there was so much community and companionship on campus. We all supported one another, nonstop, every single day.”

We knew that it was only a matter of hours before [the Woolsey fire] was at the doorstep of the Pepperdine campus.

—Jon Weber

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Jeffrey Baker, associate clinical professor of law and director of clinical education at the School of Law, is among the faculty who resides at the Malibu campus with his family and was present throughout the 24-hour relocation.

Having developed extensive experience providing remote clinical services to victims of Hurricane Harvey in Texas and the Thomas Fire in Ventura County in 2017, Baker felt instinctively compelled to deliver these same services to those in local communities whose homes had been destroyed by the Woolsey Fire.

“When we heard helicopters battling the fires all around us, I felt vulnerable and helpless, but also full of respect for the firefighters that were helping us,” expresses Baker. “People who have just lost their homes have to navigate a scavenger hunt of forms, regulations, insurance policies, and bureaucracies. We have assisted our neighbors by helping them move through all these complex decisions in a time of heavy stress.”

With about 150 School of Law students, faculty, and staff remaining on campus once the fire subsided, Baker and his colleagues organized operations of the Disaster Relief Clinic, one of 11 clinics at the School of Law, designed to provide students with practical field experience prior to graduation.

Baker’s first initiative was to recruit a sufficient number of volunteer attorneys interested in providing limited scope services on a pro bono basis. By announcements made through Pepperdine alumni networks, the State Bar of California, social media, clinical colleagues, and pro bono websites, Baker successfully enlisted 20 volunteer lawyers in just a few days. Six weeks after the fire, the Disaster Relief Clinic had connected more than 100 clients with 80 volunteer attorneys.

Before the end of 2018, the Disaster Relief Clinic hosted a handful of large community gatherings at churches in Malibu and Oak Park, each session drawing between 20 and 80 attendees. During these group meetings, Baker and other volunteer attorneys would

lead 60- to 120-minute presentations to help neighbors make sense of their insurance policies, understand Federal Emergency Management Agency guidelines, and explore temporary housing options. As a result of its positive social impact on the local community, the Disaster Relief Clinic became an official course at the School of Law during the spring semester, allowing students to provide direct legal services under faculty supervision.

“It is an expression of the Pepperdine mission to serve our community in different ways,” says Baker. “Now our students are better equipped to help real people with real cases during real emergencies.”

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As chair of the Student Care Team, a cross-disciplinary team composed of representatives from Housing and Residence Life, the Counseling Center, and OneStop, La Shonda Coleman, associate dean of student affairs and Title IX coordinator for students, worked around the clock to coordinate campus response. This effort included corresponding with parents, ensuring students were being paired with the appropriate case management staff, and assisting students with finding help for preexisting conditions exacerbated by the shooting and fire, as well as the anxiety brought upon by the circumstances of both events.

“I remember the fear and the prayers and the trust,” Coleman says. “The students trusted that the University was going to take care of them and always had their safety in mind. We weren’t [at Borderline] with our students, and we were limited in what we could do during the fires, but I could see what God was able to do through us even during the most heartbreaking of moments.

Our faith informed everything that was done and will continue to be done for our students.”

Now several months later, members of the Student Care Team, including Connie Horton (’82), vice president for student affairs, continue to visit with the victims of the Borderline shooting and those who experienced the trauma of the Woolsey Fire, ensuring they are still receiving the care they need. While policies and practices continue to be evaluated and tested in preparation for future responses to crises, the team is engaged in discussions with students, faculty,

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and staff from around the University about resilience and how it is developed, promoted, and implemented on campus.

“When you think of resilience and what that looks like, it sometimes looks like a group of students singing in the cafeteria when there are flames behind them and smoke in the air. It looks like people sitting together and sharing a blanket,” says Coleman.

As a result of the deep and broad impact of the care delivered during the double tragedy and the positive feedback collected in the months following, plans are in place to implement ongoing, sustainable, intensive resilience programming that incorporates a range of physical, emotional, spiritual, and social curricula to increase optimism and wellbeing throughout daily life and especially through life’s inevitable challenges.

“We have been responding to immediate, major traumas, but these

RENEWAL: In the months following the Woolsey Fire, record rainfall has blanketed the scorched hillsides surrounding the Malibu campus with verdant regrowth.

skills are also critical for everyday life,” Horton explains. “How do you bounce back when your friend dies or you lose your home or your major is not working out or you had a devastating breakup or your parents divorce? Life is hard, and this cohort is struggling with these issues, but we are built to do hard things.”

Ongoing efforts to promote resilience on campus also include discussions of a service component using research that demonstrates the positive impact of outward-focused activities and the mental health benefits of helping others.

“Many individuals dealing with depression become inwardly focused and sink deeper into a dark place,” Horton explains. “Serving others in dire situations, whether that’s homelessness or a traumatic event, can inspire hope and confidence in your own ability to recover from tragedy. Staying in motion is an important part of recovery.”

While trauma and tragedy have the power to test individuals’ faith and mental health to a point of crisis, Horton identifies these moments as opportunities to reinforce the principles of resilience

and engage every member of the community in the healing process.

“There is a spiritual growth that happens in times of crisis,” she says. “Working through it often leads to growth and connections between different people who take comfort in that shared loss.”

“There is still a sadness in the air at Pepperdine, and people are still grieving,” Horton continues. “When life is at its most profound and challenging, who are we as a community? Who do you want to be as a person? How you respond to tragedy in an authentic but resilient way? We can demonstrate these principles in a classroom, but in this case, our students saw resilience in action. It was a true teachable moment.”

The students trusted that the University was going to take care of them and always had their safety in mind.

—La Shonda Coleman

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PASSPORT to Pepperdine A decades-long passion for assisting international students inspires an administrator to develop new programming at Pepperdine to ease the transition to college life in the US

By Sara Bunch

When Sheean Hanlan boarded her flight from the Bahamas to Los Angeles, she was nervously on her way to study at a university where the values instilled by her parents, both ministers, would continue to be nurtured. Determined to arrive at the first-year residence halls in style, she persuaded her parents to rent a sleek black BMW to mark the occasion. Fighting back tears as she hugged her parents goodbye, Hanlan reminded herself that Christmas was just a few short months away and that she would soon be reunited with her family in Nassau.

But adjusting to a new and markedly different life in America, especially while navigating the college experience in Southern California, presented Hanlan with challenges she had not anticipated. Her Bahamian accent, the result of a Caribbean dialect heavily influenced by British English and various African languages, presented communication barriers between her and her new friends at Pepperdine. For the first time, she found herself manipulating her speech patterns to be more comprehensible to her classmates and professors—a staggering realization for the English major.

Hanlan was also faced with the awareness of the financial inequality between her and her peers resulting from the limitations of government-based financial assistance programs for international students. When her father, upon whom she relied for financial support, became unemployed during her junior year, Hanlan took a leave of absence from school to return to the Bahamas to assist her father with his job search. While this enabled her father to re-enter the workforce—which he did, a few months later—it further distinguished her college experience from her peers’.

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President Benton welcomes students to Brock House for the “Your Home, My Home” reception.

After Hanlan returned to Malibu and resumed her studies at Seaver College, she worked on developing close relationships with friends on campus who, she was happy to discover, celebrated her unique cultural qualities.

“When you share components of your culture, you’re helping other students become more culturally competent,” says Hanlan. “It’s crucial to make friends beyond your ethnic group and engage in conversations that might initially feel uncomfortable because that’s how we stay curious, develop our cultural understanding, and expand our worldviews.”

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Brooke Cutler, director of the Pepperdine Office of International Student Services (OISS), agrees that culture is a significant component of a person’s identity and must be nurtured, especially on a college campus where a sense of belonging is vital to thriving as a member of a community.

Having visited 85 countries, a handful of which she lived in while enrolled in college and graduate school, Cutler’s travels abroad have significantly deepened her understanding of the nuances of the international student experience—a cause for which she has advocated since she was a

student-worker at Michigan State University’s Office for International Students and Scholars.

“While studying abroad, I learned that it’s one thing to learn book Spanish at home and another thing to live with a Mexican family in Oaxaca and shop at the market alone,” Cutler reveals. “That type of discrepancy is what many of our international students initially experience.”

Upon joining OISS four years ago, Cutler consulted research provided in connection with NAFSA: Association of International Educators and discovered a wide gap between what

college faculty and staff believe international students need and what that demographic actually needs. Cutler felt compelled to incorporate student voices in OISS initiatives, convinced that their feedback would be critical in restructuring the office’s range of responsibilities in a way that best serves international students.

Having launched a similar initiative at her previous university, in fall 2015 Cutler established the International Student Advisory Council (ISAC)—a group of faculty, staff, and students from all five Pepperdine schools composed of five subcommittees under the advisement of OISS and dedicated to identifying and addressing the myriad unique challenges international students encounter when first arriving in the United States. By providing their peers with a centralized platform to discuss current trends impacting international students, ISAC members strive to work as a grassroots team to resolve potential problems before they arise.

“Colleagues across the University are now communicating with their counterparts at the different schools, which allows them to share and learn from each other,” says Cutler. “It’s comforting knowing that those in other departments have the same insights or concerns.”

OISS launched the inaugural cohort of the International Student Ambassador Program (ISAP), a cadre of six international upper-division students at Seaver College selected to serve as the 2018–19 ambassadors of the various regions of the world that

they represent: Europe; the Middle East and North Africa; Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean; East Asia; South and Central Asia and Oceania; and subSaharan Africa.

Inaugurated in fall 2018, these six ambassadors—including Hanlan— support international undergraduate and graduate students as they transition from the familiar comforts of their home countries to the distinctive academic, social, spiritual, and cultural

dynamics of the American collegiate lifestyle. As the ambassadors connect with their Pepperdine peers, they maintain regular contact with OISS to express the conditions and concerns of the greater international student body. This information is discussed at ISAC subcommittee meetings, providing faculty and staff with valuable assessments to which they may not have otherwise been privy. With the ultimate goal of connecting international students

When you share components of your ‘ culture,, you’re helping other students become more culturally competent.

Sheean Hanlan Seaver College Senior

International students pin their hometowns on a map during the “Your Home, My Home” event.

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Features

at Pepperdine, the ambassadors are committed to hosting one grand-scale event each semester where graduate and undergraduate international students can meet and mingle.

During ISAP’s first semester in these leadership roles, the fall social event took place at Brock House where president Andrew K. Benton hosted “Your Home, My Home,” the University’s first-ever reception for international students.

Through social media promotion and word-ofmouth invitations, the celebration garnered the attendance of approximately 200 students across all five Pepperdine schools, many of whom met for the first time. Throughout the evening, OISS staff and ambassadors introduced themselves and their services to the crowd and encouraged international students to reach out to them for support when needed.

“Since becoming an ambassador, I have felt more comfortable on campus myself,” admits Heet Ghodasara, a native of India who had difficulty adjusting from the constant companionship of a collectivist culture to one where people prioritize alone time. “As a junior, I see what the first-year international students are going through,” she said. “It’s critical for me to prevent them from experiencing the same struggles I faced when I was new.”

In collaboration with the Office of the Chaplain, the ambassadors have also established inclusive opportunities that explore students’ spiritual foundations. For Reem Al Zubair, an Omani-British ambassador who lived in both Muscat and London prior to studying in Malibu, examining spiritual ideologies among other students on campus has proven educational and crucial to her spiritual development.

“Exposure to other religious perspectives has been tremendously eye-opening,” says Al Zubair, who identifies as Muslim. “Pepperdine lines up with my beliefs more than people realize. Here we are encouraged to actively explore our faith and to open ourselves up to the philosophy of why we believe what we believe.”

OISS will soon implement a mentorship program wherein ambassadors will coach other international students on how to reach out to those who may feel too shy or intimidated to ask for assistance. Cutler also reveals that the 2019 group of student ambassadors hopes to include a seventh member who will meet a critical need by representing “third-culture kids”—students with American citizenship or permanent residency who have spent a significant part of their lives outside of the US.

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A student performs an Afrobeat dance at Global Fest, an annual student-driven celebration of cultural diversity at Pepperdine.

Describing OISS as a lighthouse for international students who need guidance, Cutler is delighted that “there is at least one office that recognizes their unique needs and will lead them in the right direction. We want all of our international students to feel welcome here, and finding fellowship with one another is critical to feeling at home.”

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Snapshot

for the

MEMORIES Whether in quiet moments with undergraduate students or during public appearances with global figures, President Andrew K. Benton has left an indelible mark on Pepperdine history.

In honor of President Benton’s 35 years of service to Pepperdine and his leadership in the development of the Drescher Graduate Campus, the street formerly known as Via Pacifica was renamed Benton Way on March 11, 2019.

Flanked by King Neptune, Pepperdine’s mascot in the early 90s and 2000s, as well as members of the University’s advancement staff, including (from left) Lisa Cappelli Bergstedt (’85, MBA ’90), Todd Prepsky, and Claudia Arnold, President Benton celebrated his first day in office with fantastical flair.

President Benton, then executive vice president of the University, and former Pepperdine president David Davenport performed a rousing skit as Wayne Campbell and Garth Algar, characters from the 1992 comedic film Wayne’s World, at the faculty/staff banquet in 1993.

President Benton shares a celebratory moment with Jim Wilburn (MBA ’82) at the future site of the Drescher Graduate Campus, then a 50-acre plot of land located on the upper north side of the Malibu campus.

First Lady Debby Benton makes final adjustments to President Benton’s ceremonial regalia before he takes the podium to deliver his “Promises to Keep” address at his inauguration on September 23, 2000.

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A practicing lawyer for five years before moving to California to begin his Pepperdine career, President Benton frequently teaches undergraduate law courses, an opportunity that allows him to “geek out” over the Constitution and connect with a small group of students on a personal level.

In summer 2007 President Benton explored Corinthian ruins on a weekend expedition to Greece during one of his trips to Florence, Italy, as faculty family with Pepperdine’s international programs. During that trip, the students planned an intimate celebration for the Bentons in honor of their 33rd wedding anniversary that coincided with the trip.

President Benton first arrived on campus in 1984 in a legal capacity to work on University regulatory matters related to wastewater treatment associated with the development of the Drescher Graduate Campus.

In 2008 President Benton, who served as board chair of the American Council on Education at the time, trekked the historic Route 66 from Chicago to Malibu on a listening tour to get to know what Pepperdine alumni in the heartland had to say about American higher education.

His goal? To return home a better university president than when he left.

On October 30, 2008, President Benton presented former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher with an honorary doctorate to commemorate the reopening of Pepperdine’s London campus at 56 Princes Gate following extensive renovations.

A friendly sight: President Benton has been known to get around campus in his signature golf cart, smiling and waving as he cruises by.

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Spotlight

Cross

Examination Seaver College students reflect on how a nine-day Pepperdine experience for high schoolers guided them to explore their calling

By Sara Bunch

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How do we discover our life’s purpose? What were we put on this earth to accomplish? How do we live fulfilling lives?

While many adults find opportunities to ponder the meaning of life as they go about their day— during a silent evening commute, while strolling the aisles of a supermarket, or as they hit their stride on the treadmill—the examination of one’s true purpose in life is often not an intentional practice.

For teenagers, the intimidating task of determining their place in the world can spark confusion and insecurity as they navigate the twists and turns of growing up. The Pepperdine CrossWays program, a nine-day summer experience designed for high school juniors and seniors, has provided teens across America the chance to immerse themselves in reflection and interactive group activities as they examine their past, present, and future to discover their vocational calling through the lens of faith.

Launched in 2016 after receiving a $600,000 grant from the Lilly Endowment to be distributed over three years, CrossWays provides experiences for 100 students each year to learn to live, love, serve, and lead like Jesus. Through guided discovery, which includes fellowship, spiritual programming, and mentorship by Pepperdine student leaders, participants create a map of their lives that outlines their history and what they feel called to pursue.

“The goal of CrossWays is to begin to discover what God may have created us to do,” explains Jeff Walling (MS ’16), director of the Pepperdine Youth Leadership Initiative and executive director of the innovative spiritual program. “If we believe that God created us for a specific position, we can look at how he has shaped us through our experiences, passions, gifts, and skills to get some idea of what we were designed for.”

Photos: Lucy Man

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Baggage Claim “Whatever work I am called to do, I know that my past has prepared me for it, my present is leading up to it, and my future is in God’s hands,” shares Heather Chaffin, a first-year Seaver College student who traveled alone from her native Missouri to Malibu as a high school senior to join the CrossWays program. “I have a specific purpose in this life to do something for God and others each and every day.”

Along with her cohort, Chaffin participated in worship at Surf Chapel held on the beach, hiked to the cross above the Pepperdine campus, heard from guest speakers as they discussed how faith plays a role in their professional lives, and attempted to discern her vocational calling as she worked through her life map.

Beyond the enriching programs designed to provide participants with a pleasant setting for self-reflection and vision casting, the CrossWays experience also challenges youngsters’ notions of comfort and encourages them to consider the realities faced by less fortunate communities. One divergent project offers a special excursion to Hollywood, which at first seems like an entertaining break from the week’s backto-back on-campus activities. As Chaffin and the other participants learned more about their trip to Tinseltown, however, they realized that the outing was more than a tourist visit to the historic TCL Chinese Theatre and a walk across the stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It would, in fact, be a meaningful lesson in empathizing with the perils routinely experienced by the city’s destitute residents.

Divided into cohorts of 10 to 12 individuals led by Pepperdine students, participants were told that they would be living like the homeless for an entire night and were given small drawstring bags to fill with the bare necessities they may need while away from campus.

Chaffin, who managed to fill her bag with fresh clothing and a blanket in addition to basic toiletries, found herself settling in for the night inside the Hollywood Church of Christ. With the option to sleep either in the cold pews or on the hard floor, and with amenities reduced to portable toilets and plastic sinks located outside the building, students were encouraged to focus on prayer and thank God for what they still

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had. After a long night of “frustration and discomfort,” Chaffin followed her cohort to Downtown Los Angeles to volunteer at a homeless shelter on Skid Row—an area that famously hosts one of America’s largest homeless populations.

“Seeing tents laid out on every sidewalk and trash displayed like décor is when I began to sense what homelessness actually felt like,” recalls Chaffin, whose cohort gave manicures to the women at the shelter.

While socializing with the residents, she met a pair of homeless sisters who were so full of joy that their temporary living conditions did not seem to overshadow their hope for a better future. “These ladies had nothing except each other, and that was enough for them. They said you can’t be angry in a situation like this because you have to invest your energy into remaining positive.”

Thinking back to the previous night when she complained about “having nothing,” despite her clean change of clothes, a roof over her head, and a room full of supportive

peers to comfort her, Chaffin remembered a friend in her cohort who, despite enduring painful adversities, was the most positive person in the room.

“I realized that there are two ways to go through life,” Chaffin admits. “No matter how much I had or didn’t have, I decided to be positive, grateful, and hopeful during hardship. We are always going to be uncomfortable in this world, but we still have so much to thank God for.”

Reflecting on her spiritual growth since those eventful nine days, Chaffin now reminds herself during demanding circumstances that God has a plan and a purpose for her life, and that there is often a greater purpose behind every tragedy.

“Every minute of CrossWays was eyeopening, and I grew in my faith more during that one week than I have in my entire life,” she says. “CrossWays can be anything you make of it, but I guarantee it will be the best and most life-changing time of your life if you let it.”

Legal Ease “I went into CrossWays with a lot of uncertainty in my life. I didn’t know where I wanted to go to school, what type of work I wanted to do, or how I was going to get there,” recalls Jackson “Jake” Nichols, a first-year Seaver student who was introduced to the high school program while attending a convention for Church of Christ teens in Texas where Walling was delivering a presentation about the program.

In Malibu a few months later, the international business and religion major was particularly intrigued by

the construction of his life map, an exercise that required him to think about the legacy he would leave on the world and how he would be remembered. Challenged to examine his life through a Christian lens, recount moments from his past to identify what led him to Christ, and consider how his previous experiences had strategically been directed by God to prepare him for the future, Nichols was deeply moved by the new personal and professional prospects that began to unfold through his life map.

I grew in my faith more during that one week than I have in my entire life.

—Heather Chaffin During each night of the program, guest speakers representing various Pepperdine schools and departments also visited with the students, providing insights on how their current positions at the University allow them to serve God in different and fulfilling ways.

“For so long, I wanted a job that would change the world, but I always had this false notion that such a meaningful job would definitely have to have the word ‘minister’ in the title,” admits Nichols, having quietly struggled with doubts about whether traditional ministry positions were his true calling. “But I learned that you don’t have to become a minister to serve God and change the world.

You can have an impact through other channels, like law, social science, and business.”

Nichols was particularly influenced by the works and accomplishments of alumnus Jim Gash (JD ’93), a law professor, director of the Sudreau Global Justice Program, associate dean for strategic planning and external relations at the Pepperdine School of Law and, now, president-elect of

Pepperdine University. A renowned legal scholar and global justice advocate, Gash provided Nichols with a shining example of how a passion for service and ministry can be demonstrated using the tools acquired through different disciplines, in this case, the law.

“Professor Gash showed me what a Christian lawyer looks like and inspired me to pursue a career in human rights law,” Nichols shares. “I came away from CrossWays with a better understanding of what I believe God is calling me to do.”

“In every career there are people who serve God in powerful ways, and most of the time their service is not obvious. They do it not for personal gain or for others to notice them, but for the glory of God,” explains Nichols.

“That is an important message for high school students to hear. If I hadn’t heard that message before starting college, who knows where I would be?

I am certain of one thing: I wouldn’t be at Pepperdine.”

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Spotlight

Love in

LIMBO A relationship expert explores some of the most common struggles and solutions that singles encounter in pursuit of romance

By Sara Bunch

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“Hallmark doesn’t make a card that reads, ‘Sorry you’re having trouble finding a spouse,’ and your boss won’t offer you an extra few days off work because you are heartbroken about being single,” quips Kelly Haer, a licensed marriage and family therapist and director of the Relationship IQ program at the Pepperdine Boone Center for the Family. “Society doesn’t often recognize this type of loss as legitimate grief, so most people don’t know how to appropriately engage with it.”

Haer specializes in a mental health diagnosis clinically referred to as ambiguous loss, particularly as it pertains to singleness.

Caught between the perpetual hope of finding a spouse and the pervasive sadness of singleness, those experiencing ambiguous loss are in a state of complex grief, as though their desired spouse is a missing person who may or may not come home someday.

Because the outcome of finding a spouse is uncertain, singles displaying symptoms of ambiguous loss don’t go through the stages of grief commonly experienced as denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Instead, they tend to either become stuck in one of the stages or rapidly and continuously cycle through them. Grief from ambiguous loss can also be anticipatory, triggering a deep sense of sadness resulting from catastrophe that has not yet occurred but is assumed to be inevitable.

For Christian singles, focusing on God’s reliability has been shown to ease this pain, as trusting that he is good, unchanging, and all-knowing can provide a strong foundation in the midst of uncertainty. Remembering biblical characters who have famously overcome great challenges can further inspire faithfulness during uncertainty.

As Haer points out, “It’s easy for us to forget the difficulties that biblical figures endured because we already know how the stories end. But through trials of people like Sarah, Moses, Job, and Paul, we can attest that while our circumstances may be uncertain, God’s character is permanently and completely certain.”

For this reason, Haer suggests that Christian singles seek opportunities to serve their church, which can effectively produce a sense of belonging and connection.

“Being proactive in your actions will help you learn how to grieve with H O P E . ”

Singleness Stats In 2018 Haer partnered with eHarmony, a popular online dating service founded by Pepperdine alumnus Neil Clark Warren (’56), to further explore the various components of ambiguous loss among singles.

Over the course of one year, she worked with data analyst Jonathan Beber to closely examine the dating profiles of 7,000 randomly selected users in order to ascertain whether specific demographic elements—age, education, location, religion, and hobbies— influence the degree to which singles experience ambiguous loss. As part of the study, users were asked to participate in a scale of boundary ambiguity (the technical term for the perception of ambiguous loss) created

by Haer, which was analyzed alongside their dating profiles.

Haer discovered that within the broad category of single adults, the primary factor in experiencing ambiguous loss was the desire to marry. She also noticed that the more deeply a single person desires marriage, the more his or her sense of ambiguous loss is heightened.

Conversely, Haer emphasizes that singles who do not desire marriage will not feel the absence of a spouse because they do not perceive the lack of romantic partnerships as a void to be filled.

Following the eHarmony study, Haer plans to update the curriculum of Relationship IQ—a psychology- and theology-focused program that educates young adults about the dynamics of healthy relationships—to include a new module that will explore ambiguous loss. Findings from

her latest research project are also incorporated into the Boone Center’s new RelateStrong | Leadership Series, in which Haer is a guest speaker presenting on the topic of singleness.

Her expertise on singleness and ambiguous loss is also highlighted in a chapter of Vital Tools for Relevant Church Leaders: Restoring Relationships and Building Community During Difficult Conversations, the RelateStrong | Leadership Series ebook published in January 2019, which features theological and psychological analyses on a variety of topics such as anxiety, depression, addiction, sexual intimacy, pornography, marriage, and parenting.

“It’s difficult for most people to understand the dynamics of undesired singleness because our society doesn’t yet commonly use the phrase ‘ambiguous loss’ to label the experience,” explains Haer. “As a therapist, sharing this information with singles will help them feel heard and understood and give them a framework to make sense of their emotional experience.”

To help clients with ambiguous loss, therapists are encouraged to model tolerating the ambiguity and avoid clichés like “I’m sure God has someone for you” or “You will definitely find someone.” Instead, they should reinforce statements such as “I don’t know what is going to happen” and “It’s so hard not knowing what the future holds.”

Otherwise, therapists will seem to have overlooked the essence of the struggle—that we have no definite answers.

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Spotlight

Identify the dynamics Singles often experience a lack of closure, particularly in attempting to answer common questions like why they are single, how long they will be single, and what they can do to find a spouse.

They are also unsure about how their singleness is perceived by others, such as sad and lonely versus empowered and sexy.

Identifying the dynamics of ambiguous loss will better equip them to process and make sense of the emotional challenges associated with undesired singleness.

Lessons in Love For singles navigating the course of ambiguous loss, mental health professionals like Haer recommend four practical, effective methods to help better traverse the uncertainty.

Learn to accept the ambiguity Singles can learn to accept ambiguous loss through the application of “both/and” dialectics, like reminding themselves that both joy and sorrow can be found in singleness.

Learning to accept ambiguous loss, which can complicate life choices, can be aided by what is called the “family gamble.” As Haer puts it, “Singles often ponder questions like, ‘Should I buy a home or wait until I get married?’ or ‘Should I buy an expensive mixer or wait to add it to my wedding registry?’” The family gamble offers singles a way forward to make choices that are impacted by not knowing whether or not marriage is on the horizon.

Pursue meaning and hope Haer recommends applying what she calls “big H and little H hope”—“Big H hope,” referring to spirituality and hope in God, and “Little H hope,” referring to practicality and actions within one’s control such as trying out for a local recreational sports team or joining a book club. She also advises that singles pay extra attention to self-care and create a pleasing home atmosphere reflecting the lifestyle that they deserve to enjoy while single, rather than waiting to create a more comfortable home in the future with a spouse.

Find both mutual and supportive connections Singles experiencing ambiguous loss should deepen existing relationships and contact a friend on a daily basis, just as a spouse would be contacted daily. They are also encouraged to announce and celebrate significant events in the context of community, such as earning promotions at work and participating in a local sports competition.

“Being proactive in your actions will help you learn how to grieve with hope,” says Haer. “While you can’t make someone fall in love with you and marry you, you do have some control over feeling more fulfilled, especially when you value your single life and look to God for comfort.”

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Empowering Difficult Conversations Between Church Leaders and Their Congregations The Boone Center for the Family has gathered a group of experts in theology and psychology to contribute their expertise to a comprehensive eBook, three-day summit, weekly blog content, and videos designed to help Christian leaders discuss salient contemporary issues with their congregations.

Topics and experts include:

PARENTING

Connie Horton Vice President for Student Affairs, Pepperdine University

SINGLENESS Kelly Haer, PHD Director, Relationship IQ, Pepperdine University

ADDICTION

Robert Scholz, LMFT Pepperdine Counseling Center Referral Resource

MARRIAGE

Terry Hargrave, PhD and Sharon Hargrave, LMFT Executive Director, Boone Center for the Family

Explore these and other topics, including pornography, anxiety, depression, and sexual intimacy in the new RelateStrong | Leadership Series program:

boonecenter.pepperdine.edu

May 30–June 1, 2019 PRELIMINARY ROUND AND SEMIFINAL ROUND Thursday, May 30, 9 am Friday, May 31, 1 pm Smothers Theatre FINAL ROUND AND AWARDS CEREMONY Saturday, June 1, 7:30 pm Smothers Theatre | Black Tie Optional To order tickets, please call 310.506.4522 or visit arts.pepperdine.edu

Spotlight

Scholars examine the impact of new leadership on an organization

By Amanda Pisani

Can the effect of a leader on an organization be overstated? Yes and no. An organization’s strategies, as well as its plans and goals for the future, are largely determined by its chief executive and the members of its C-suite.

But any organization is much more than its strategic plan.

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“There’s an old saying: ‘Culture eats strategy for breakfast,’” quips June Schmieder-Ramirez, director of the PhD in global leadership and change program at the Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP). An organization’s culture, she says, includes a variety of components, such as values, beliefs, and even artifacts. “The celebration of Founder’s Day at Pepperdine, for example, is considered a type of ceremonial artifact,” she explains.

Miriam Lacey, a business consultant and professor of applied behavioral science at the Graziadio Business School, identifies organizational culture as an institution’s “norms and values,” underlying everything it does and how it is experienced by its constituents. Traditions, attitudes, behaviors, and all manner of implicit understandings go into the melting pot of an organization’s culture. Culture is at the crux of moving an organization in any strategic direction.

Because an organization’s culture is so foundational to its effectiveness and productivity, a new leader in an ongoing institution must endeavor to understand the business’ norms. But this is no small feat.

Lacey recommends that new executives make a significant and concerted effort to dig deep into an organization’s culture as soon as they arrive on the scene.

“You have to join them before you can lead them,” says Lacey. This means that a new leader will want to speak with multiple people at every level in the organization. If the business has a number of locations, the leader must also visit as many as possible. To collect comprehensive data, she recommends asking everyone the same set of questions, such as, “What is it like to work around here?” “What particularly helps you get your job done?”

“What do you value most?” and “What gets in your way?”

Schmieder-Ramirez agrees that developing relationships with staff and demonstrating genuine interest in their most basic needs in the workplace is crucial.

“Most of the studies I’ve seen show that the number one reason that particular leaders don’t last long is that they either don’t understand the culture or it takes them too long to learn the culture,” she says. “Many organizations are bureaucratic or they’re

siloed, so one major challenge is to get into each of those silos and dig down into the grain—not just the leaders at the top but actually talking to staff members.”

Both professors stress mastering culture in their respective academic programs.

Schmieder-Ramirez notes that the most successful students in GSEP’s doctoral programs are generally those who perceive that a new chief executive needs to have an open mind. They recognize that immersing oneself in a group’s norms is much more effective in building trust than to start off by identifying areas for improvement and forcing change.

By being open to the behaviors and values that are endorsed by an organization and recognizing how they shape it, a new leader creates an opportunity to effect change. Lacey offers the example of a product manufacturer that wants to ensure product quality by having each person involved in the process “own” the quality of his or her work. Because this type of personal accountability is not a part of the organization’s current culture, the leader will need to shift the group mind-set to one where everyone is in charge of meeting quality standards.

To effect this type of “thinking, acting, doing” change, the leader must devise

An organization’s culture is not mysterious.

It’s a manifestation of its leader’s personality.

But you have to join them before you can lead them. ­— M I R I A M LA C E Y

At Graziadio, particularly in the presidents and key executives and executive MBA programs, executive students prepare a cultural assessment of the organization that they’re running, and they create a change plan for ways to meet their goals. Lacey and her colleagues also train leaders to release the narratives and assumptions they have about how an organization “should” be. Rather than rely on their traditional decision-making criteria, they’re taught to “pay attention to what they’re paying attention to”—in other words, to examine how they create a particular narrative or mind-set and to explore information that supports a shift in that mind-set.

“The whole idea,” says Lacey, “is to be innovative and agile in their thinking.

It involves a lot of self-reflection, selfawareness, and mindfulness.”

a method and provide training for the new process to occur. But perhaps more importantly, the executive will need to also show his or her commitment to the change, to repeatedly communicate the reason(s) for and importance of the shift, and to personally demonstrate the degree of accountability that they want others to adopt. A new behavior or value will become a part of the culture only when the leader takes it on. Here again, proving oneself a member of the team is crucial for success.

And so, like seeds in the soil, once embedded in their institution’s culture, new leaders become the impetus for new growth to arise. “An organization’s culture is not mysterious,” says Lacey. “It’s a manifestation of its leader’s personality. But you have to join them before you can lead them.”

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Spotlight

COLOR STORY A young entrepreneur takes the reins of the family business and lends his own personal style to an iconic brand

By Gareen Darakjian

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Photo: Ethan Pines

I

t hits you as soon as you round the corner at Dayton Way and Rodeo Drive in

Beverly Hills: that yellow facade—“Bijan Yellow” to be exact—a not-quite-neon but veritably vibrant hue that can only be described as “rich.”

It might be the color-matched Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport and Rolls-Royce Phantom permanently planted curbside that invoke an air of luxury synonymous with the decades-old brand. Or the Baccarat crystal chandelier festooned with 1,000 bottles of Bijan cologne glistening just beyond the glossy shop windows that invites the curious gaze of thousands of passersby on the legendary strip each day.

The enigmatic House of Bijan boutique embraces and Pakzad says that being the new face of the brand and celebrates its status as the most expensive store in the stepping into his father’s shoes—and the giant Bijan world, and the golden shade is a nod to the legacy of billboard on Santa Monica Boulevard—have been both luxury cultivated by the brand’s founder, Tehran-born big learning experiences and big honors. “Assuming that Bijan Pakzad, known to most as Bijan, who opened the position when he passed away was a big responsibility,” legendary store in 1976 after refining he says. “We have a great group of his distinctive personal style in fashion people that has worked within our I'm REPRESENTING houses throughout Europe. company for the last 30-some years, When Bijan passed away in 2011, his many of whom have been working for something that's much Bijan longer than I’ve been alive. Just son, Nicolas Pakzad, a student at Seaver College at the time, stepped into the role learning from them and working with he had been groomed for his entire life.

BIGGER than myself. them have been my goals for the last As a retail mogul on the rise, the current almost eight years.”

Graziadio Business School student has big plans to plant “We’re not in the business of trends,” Pakzad says. his own flag in the luxury retail space, staying true to the “Our cut is timeless and classic, and as long as we brand’s longtime clientele while catering to a new crop of maintain that we’ll remain a successful company for the devotees with an appetite for superior style. next four decades just like we have been for the last four “He was such an incredible personality,” Pakzad decades. We stay true to the philosophies that our brand remembers. “Not just as a father, but as a marketer, was founded on: quality, exclusivity, attention to detail, designer, and businessman. I’m representing something exceptional customer service, and, of course, color.” that’s much bigger than myself. It’s a beautiful legacy, and I have to always be sure to maintain that.”

In 2018 Pakzad was named one of Forbes’ 30 Under 30, a cohort of the brightest young stars dominating such arenas as art, style, retail, health, science, and social entrepreneurship. Recognized for his vision for revitalizing the Bijan brand and extending its reach, Pakzad has already expanded its retail footprint beyond its by-appointmentonly Rodeo Drive flagship with plans to influence a new generation at the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills as well as at the newly opened boutique at the Wynn hotel in Las Vegas, famous for drawing high rollers from Latin America, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

“The Wynn store is a great way to introduce our brand to that new generation of consumers and that new Bijan client that may have never walked through the 16-and-ahalf-foot mahogany door on Rodeo Drive, never made an appointment, or never thought ‘What’s going on in there?’ but never walked in,” he explains. “In the one year that store has been open, a majority of the clients have been first-time customers.”

Pakzad points to the brand’s latest partnership with Gennady Golovkin, the former middleweight world champion of boxing, as a strategy for maintaining relevance across demographics. It is also a nod to his father’s legendary campaign featuring Michael Jordan in the 1980s—“two athletes at the top of their game who demonstrate the Bijan image,” he says.

True to the decades-long commitment to a high-touch brand experience, Pakzad remains laser focused on maintaining Bijan’s service-oriented culture for clientele accustomed to investing in a one-of-a-kind bespoke suit.

Clients include US presidents, heads of state, dignitaries, celebrities, athletes, and others with an eye for timeless design. While many may balk at the staggering price tag, Pakzad is a firm believer in the value of owning something with value, referring to the 200-some suits he inherited from his father that have been retailored and taken up residence in his own closet.

“It’s exciting to see how many young people are interested in fashion of quality because the conventional wisdom disagrees with that,” he says. “People think millennials don’t care about luxury or craftsmanship or history. That they want fast fashion and prefer shopping online. But from what I’ve seen, and of course my view is a bit biased, it’s the contrary.”

Photos: Bijan

magazine.pepperdine.edu

45

Spotlight

SWEEPING THE NATION

By Jakie Rodriguez (MS ’13)

A logistics company founded by a group of former Seaver College student-athletes offers a first-of-its kind service for the dockless scooter industry

If you live in any of the dozens of cities nationwide offering self-operated rented electric scooters, you’ve probably seen riders zipping by on brightly colored vehicles with bold labels like Bird or Lime emblazoned on their necks or driven past a collection of them parked along busy sidewalks.

Developed as a means to get city dwellers through the final leg of their journey, dockless scooters, which can be picked up and dropped off anywhere, have revolutionized the “last mile” transportation industry since 2017.

Offered as a less costly alternative to Uber and Lyft, scooter rentals typically cost users an initial fee of one dollar, plus 15 to 20 cents per minute depending on the location of pickup.

Advocates of electric scooters tout their low cost and accessibility, as well as the ripple effect they have on reducing traffic congestion and public transportation usage. The scooters also invoke in millennials—the most frequent consumers of the trendy vehicles—the nostalgia of the early 2000s Razor scooter trend. Despite their growing popularity among users, however, many city residents across the US have opposed the adoption of electric scooters in their neighborhoods because of the careless manner in which they are scattered across sidewalks.

Walking along the streets of Santa Monica, California, Seaver college alumnus Richard “Rich” Branning (’12) was struck by the

number of poorly maintained, abandoned electric scooters littering the local walkways.

As a user himself, Branning brainstormed with his former college roommates John “Johnny” MacArthur (’13) and Corbin Moore (’12) about filling a void in the market by increasing safety for users, pedestrians, and other drivers.

Sweep, Inc., founded in July 2018 by the trio, was created to provide solutions for the high levels of scooter deterioration and attrition experienced across the industry.

Described as a 24/7 company by Moore, Sweep team members start their day by dropping off anywhere from 100 to 500 fully charged and cleaned scooters at locations selected by each vendor between 4 and 7 AM. Throughout the day, the crew responds to individual maintenance and relocation requests. Nightly fleet collections and inventory checks are conducted by specialized staff who have the experience to properly ensure that each scooter is running as designed and ensure the proper handling of deployments and collections, as well as mechanical, hardware, and software repairs and updates.

“We didn’t really see an accountability layer or a logistics provider that could do a lot of the dirty work that’s necessary for the ‘last mile’ space to run efficiently and effectively,” Branning shares.

“We’re the ones that come in, organize and repair the scooters, and help educate people about our work,” Moore adds.

Despite being less than a year old, Sweep has already established teams in six cities across the nation and is planning on adding 50 more sites in 2019. MacArthur states that they are not limiting themselves to the US and are currently considering expanding to Europe, South America, and Australia.

From college roommates to business partners, the group credits Pepperdine and their experience as student-athletes for their strong work ethic and ability to adapt within an emerging and ever-shifting business.

“We believe in the future of scooters.”

— John MacArthur “Most of our staff is composed of athletes, so we have many competition-focused team members who all want to compete in the scooter space, provide value, and win the day,” MacArthur shares. “We believe in the future of scooters. We believe that there is a space for them, and we believe that they create great value for communities.”

Photo: Sweep, Inc.

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Spring 2019

Screen -

S

A

V

E

R

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A GSEP alumna provides parents with the resources and the support to live a screenless lifestyle

By Amanda Pisani

SC R E E N-FR E E PA R E N T IN G .

Yes, you read that right.

-

-

Sixty-six percent of parents worry that their children spend too much time on screens, but many parents also say that limiting screen time is a constant battle. Alumna Meghan Owenz (MA ’08), psychologist, professor, and mother of “We should spoil our kids by giving them two, has made it her mission to support parents who want to offer their kids a screen-free (or relatively time with the activities associated with screen-free) home life.

PO S I T I V E C H I L D DE V E LOPM E N T . ” The reasons for limiting screen time, or even eliminating it altogether for young kids, are Photo: Adam Owenz compelling. According to Owenz, one of the negative associations with too much screen time is loss of parents and peers to practice relating and relationship building, and P sleep. Other negative associations include an increased risk of stands for play—particularly free, fantasy play that involves sustained obesity and decreased attention. One study found that each hour per attention and problem solving, executive functioning skills crucial to day that a child under age 3 spent in front of the television correlated success in school. O is for outdoors, where time spent provides not with a 10 percent greater risk of an attention problem by the time just vitamin D and exercise, but also keeps children’s biological clocks they went to school. in good order so they sleep better. I stands for independence. Asking Excessive screen time also has the potential to increase relational children to be responsible for one or more chores around the house aggression in young children. Owenz relates a study about an episode helps fulfill their desire for accomplishment and meaning. The L in of the animated children’s TV series Clifford the Big Red Dog in which SPOIL stands for literacy. “Whereas screens have been found to delay Clifford and his friends mistreat a three-legged pooch. While the language acquisition,” says Owenz, “books enhance it. They offer new lesson at the show’s conclusion encourages viewers to be kind to ideas and new vocabulary, and because they’re slower paced than a everyone, researchers found that young viewers missed the message television show, children are likely to discuss them with whoever is entirely. Owenz explains that story lines meant to inspire feelings reading to them.” And unlike the moral of a Clifford episode, the lesson of empathy in children and enhance their social skills can move too at the end of a children’s book has a chance to resonate with a child. quickly on the screen, and without personal reinforcement of the Owenz argues that when parents hand their child an iPad to keep message by a parent, the sentiment has a low chance of resonating them occupied, they’re telling the child that they have no confidence with young viewers. in their ability to entertain themselves. “I’m going to be busy for 15 Owenz offers an antidote to the screen. She and her husband, Adam, minutes. I believe that you can find something valuable to do with your created screenfreeparenting.com, a website devoted to tech-wise time; the playroom is that way,” is a much more empowering message, parenting information and activities for kids and families that not only she says. And parents who follow her advice and make the move to keep children occupied, but encourage their emotional, intellectual, limit screen time are invariably amazed at how quickly their children physical, and artistic growth. They call their program the SPOIL system. adapt. Parents relate that they begin to draw and engage in all sorts “As humans,” says Owenz, “we can’t stay motivated by something of creative, self-directed play. SPOIL is not just a helpful acronym. It that’s negative, but we can stay motivated by an approach goal—the sums up the premise of Owenz’ parenting approach. “Parents often type of parent we want to be, the type of kid we want our kid to be.” feel like they’re spoiling their kids by giving them a lot of screen time, and I say that we should spoil our kids by giving them time with the The acronym SPOIL serves as a simple method for parents to recall activities associated with positive child development.” the most fruitful activities for children. S stands for social—time with

magazine.pepperdine.edu

47

The Cut

May the road rise up to meet you. ay the wind be always at your back. ay the sun shine warm upon your face and rains fall soft upon your fields. nd until we meet again, may

od hold you

in the palm of

is hand,

—IRISH BLESSING

itment to your comm s y a w rdine’s e h ell Peppe t For all t o t s u ed as inspir ntegrity, mission h alance, i b h t i w ons y e stor mmunicati remarkabl keting Co r a M d e t a ... Integr and truth u. thanks yo

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Spring 2019

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