SPP Dean's Report Vol. 19, Iss. 1

VOLUME 19 | ISSUE 1 | 2021

“OUR COMMON PURPOSE” Report Proposes Reforms for Government and Civic Participation

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n June Pete Peterson, dean of the Pepperdine School of Public Policy, announced that a nationwide bipartisan commission, convened by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, has issued ambitious recommendations to help a nation in crisis emerge with a more resilient democracy.

Since its release, educational and promotional efforts for the report include several presentations to members of Congress and an interview on PBS’s Amanpour & Company.

Our Common Purpose: Reinventing American Democracy for the 21st Century, is the final report of the Commission on the Practice of Democratic Citizenship, which includes 31 recommendations to strengthen America’s institutions and civic culture. While the project began in 2018, recent events—including the Our Common Purpose continued on page 2

First Virtual Professional Certificate in Leading Smart Communities

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riginally planned as an on-ground program, the Pepperdine School of Public Policy and Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership offered the first virtual professional Certificate in Leading Smart Communities in the fall. The certificate is geared toward local government leaders and consists of a series of two-hour modules held over the course of five afternoons. The program was developed through the school’s membership in the Public Interest Technology-University

Network, a group of more than 30 academic institutions exploring the intersection of government, technology, and the public interest.

From social media strategies for the government to blockchain records, technology is fundamentally changing the government/public relationship. The impact of technology is felt across all departments in municipal governments, from public safety to planning. Given the pace of change, it’s time for public

policy schools to incorporate graduatelevel education in the essential area of government technology (govtech).

This wide-ranging seminar was led by Jonathan Reichental, the CEO of Human Future, a global business and technology education, advisory, and investment firm. He is the former CIO for the City of Palo Alto, and a multiple award-winning technology leader whose 30-year career has spanned both the private and public sectors.

Leading Smart Communities continued on page 13

DEAN’S MESSAGE The School of Public Policy’s fall semester will be remembered for many things, but the headline would have to be something like, “SPP Responds to Historic Crises Inside and Outside the Classroom.”

In this issue of the Dean’s Report, you’ll learn about our alumni doing incredible work on the frontlines of the pandemic—from federal agencies to local governments to regional healthcare systems. Shifting our events online, we were able to welcome experts from around the country to explore COVID19-related policy issues from the economic impact on small businesses to the budget challenges of local governments.

Our major program areas also led provocative discussions on the pandemic and the national protests on public policies related to race. Our Education Policy and Impact initiative hosted a series of online conversations with leading educators on how COVID-19 has upended America’s K through 12 schools, and it held a wideranging and viewpoint-diverse panel on the role race plays in our school systems.

Our American Project transitioned its planned on-ground Quest for Community conference to an online webinar series throughout the fall. Over five sessions, we welcomed policy makers, pundits, and scholars to discuss the significance of loneliness. The last session of the year focused on the incredible work local civic leaders are doing to address gang violence, addiction, and poverty, and how America’s great tradition of civil society points a way to an encouraging future.

Finally, our HSAC@SPP program engaged directly in the distribution of PPE (through the generous support of Peter Lowy) to Los Angeles-area hospitals, as it cohosted webinars on “building back better” after the pandemic as well as the issue of race in public safety and policing.

No review of this historic semester would be complete without a salute to our students, faculty, and staff. It has been a difficult semester—one that has included the loss of one of our beloved students. As a graduate program that places a strong

emphasis on the “conversation”—the face-to-face learning that happens in small classroom settings—the move to online programming has demanded much from everyone. Through it all, by persistence, creativity, and kindness practiced by each of us, I know we’ve come out of this experience stronger as an institution, and for that, I’m humbled and thankful.

PETE PETERSON

Dean, Braun Family Dean’s Chair School of Public Policy

Our Common Purpose from page 1

devastating pandemic and massive nationwide protests for racial justice—underscore the urgency of identifying what is breaking and charting a bold path forward.

The multipartisan commission, chaired by Danielle Allen, James Bryant Conant University Professor at Harvard University; Stephen Heintz, president and CEO of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund; and Eric Liu, cofounder and CEO of Citizen University; convened leaders in academia, civil society, politics, and business who brought an array of ideological views and diverse expertise to their joint effort. The commission held listening sessions with hundreds of Americans from all corners of the country to develop the recommendations in the report, which include: • Invest in civic educators and civic education for all ages and in all communities • Expand the breadth of participatory process opportunities at municipal and state levels • Support, through state legislation, independent citizen-redistricting commissions in all 50 states • Increase the size of the House of Representatives to reduce the size of Congressional districts

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Advancement Message What a year it has been! 2020 has brought a continuous wave of unique and serious challenges to our nation.

It has been a time of dramatically increasing polarization in our politics and our society . . . and there is no indication that things will improve any time soon.

In this challenging environment, the Pepperdine School of Public Policy continues to play an essential role in showing how civil discourse and viewpoint diversity can work. While most campuses continue to shut down free speech, we consistently provide forums to discuss the tough issues facing our state, country, and the world. We are the place that many people go to hear robust and balanced discussions about important topics. I have been told many times that “nobody else is doing balanced, honest, and fair events like you do at the School of Public Policy.” Our country needs serious solutions to tough problems, and we are at the forefront of that effort.

This important work is made possible by the generous gifts of friends like you. Your generosity allows us to provide scholarships to our students, host events with top national speakers, and

Peterson was selected for the commission due to his work in promoting civic participation through the Davenport Institute for Public Engagement at Pepperdine’s School of Public Policy, and his prior leadership of the bipartisan organization, Common Sense California.

Peterson has also been involved in election reform issues as the Republican candidate for California Secretary of State in 2014 and his ongoing board service to California Forward—a bipartisan political and economic reform organization.

“Our Commission came from different backgrounds, political views, and areas of expertise, and it wasn’t always easy

engage in efforts to expand our reach and impact across America.

In 2021, I would like to note several opportunities to get involved:

• Contribute toward the newly established Tocqueville Scholars Endowed Fund. This new scholarship provides assistance to top conservative students who come to SPP through our Pepperdine Policy Partners Program (P4). The P4 program is a network of right-of-center organizations that refer students to the School of Public Policy.

• Become a Public Policy Associate for an annual gift of $1,000 or more. These annual gifts go directly to helping students currently enrolled in the program.

• Name and endow a scholarship at SPP for a gift of $10,000 or more (which can be given over three years).

• Contribute to our SPP Student Emergency Fund to assist

students who are experiencing hardships as a result of the ongoing pandemic.

To learn more about the School of Public Policy, and additional opportunities to become involved, please feel free to contact me any time at matt.cutler@pepperdine.edu or 310.506.6513. You can also give a gift at any time on our website.

Thank you for your support and encouragement!

MATT CUTLER

Director of Development impact.pepperdine.edu/spp

to agree, but it was important to do the work, find consensus, and put a shared vision of a better America first,” said Peterson. He noted that the final set of recommendations was distilled down from more than 100 original proposals. “The comprehensiveness of the effort—from regular meetings of the commissioners to numerous focus groups hosted around the country—all informed what is a remarkable report.”

David Oxtoby, president of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, stated, “This commission worked for two years across divides, across disciplines, and across the country.” He added, “These

comprehensive reforms are necessary to make America more representative, more responsive, and more united.” The American Academy of Arts and Sciences was established in 1780 by the country’s founders to help guide a young nation through challenges and emerge stronger.

Peterson is pleased with the outcome of the commission and looks forward to continuing to work to achieve significant progress on these recommendations by 2026, the nation’s 250th anniversary. publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu/commonpurpose

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ERIC DUARTE-McDERMOTT NAMED ASSISTANT DEAN FOR ADMISSIONS AND PROGRAM RELATIONS

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ric Duarte-McDermott assumed the role of assistant dean for admissions and program relations at the School of Public Policy on June 1, 2020.

“I’m excited to be joining a great team at the Pepperdine School of Public Policy and to have the opportunity to work with a program that is helping to create impactful leadership,” said Duarte-McDermott.

Duarte-McDermott brings a successful student recruiting background to SPP from his previous role at the Paul Merage School of Business at the University of California, Irvine. At the Merage School, he launched the master of science in business analytics and master of finance programs before joining the recruitment and admissions team. He oversaw

the full-time master of business administration program and assisted with admissions and recruitment for the joint JD/MBA, MD/MBA degrees, master of biotechnology management, and engineering management programs. Previously, Duarte-McDermott worked in recruitment and admissions at Anderson School of Business at the University of California, Riverside; the University of Miami School of Business; and Claremont Graduate University Drucker School of Management. At all three schools, he was the face of each program’s admissions efforts.

Duarte-McDermott earned an MBA from Claremont Graduate University, a JD from Southwestern University School of Law, and a BA in recording arts from Loyola Marymount University.

“I’m really looking forward to working with Eric as we recruit the next generation of public leaders,” said Pete Peterson, dean of SPP. “He brings an obvious passion for students at such a crucial time in the history of our program, and also in the history of our nation,” he added.

RACIAL EQUALITY IN EDUCATION

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acial equity in education was the topic of a July 15 webinar at the School of Public Policy. Derrell Bradford, executive director of NYCAN, a New York-based organization focused on helping disadvantaged students succeed, moderated a panel that included Patrick Dobard, CEO of New Schools for New Orleans, a nonprofit organization; William Hite, superintendent of the School District of Philadelphia; Ian Rowe,

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the then CEO of Public Prep, a system of charter schools in New York City’s lowerincome neighborhoods; Gisele Shorter, program officer, education, at the Raikes Foundation; Phyllis Lockett, CEO at Leap Innovations; and dean Pete Peterson of SPP. The goal of the webinar was to find common ground on the issue of racial disparities in educational offerings.

Dobard began the discussion by observing that the racial unrest we are currently experiencing in the US provides an opportunity to rethink educational opportunities for students of color. He continued that the work was “complex, nuanced, and difficult,” and needs more intentional policies in addressing educational inequities. While acknowledging that there are many systems that contribute to educational disparities, Shorter then contended that

resource inequity was the single most important driver, citing the 2019 EdBuild finding that US schools attended by predominantly white students receive $23 billion more per year than schools attended predominantly by students of color. She stressed that while policy was important, organizing and advocacy were equally relevant in producing the necessary changes.

Lockett stressed that the inherit inequity of property taxes for school funding was critical to the issue of equality in education. Hite agreed that funding inequity and unequal access to quality education were major issues. The webinar concluded with a summation by Rowe that “we need to work on a dual track,” focusing both on structural change and on empowering students to explore a variety of choices in their pursuits.

THE LATEST FROM

The Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership has continued to serve as a tremendous resource for communities all across California during the past year. By offering a robust set of training programs and planning resources for navigating public engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Davenport Institute has continued to foster meaningful relationships between local governments and their constituents.

The institute has demonstrated resilience and adaptability in its program offerings and ongoing relationships with local partners in response to the pandemic. For instance, the transition to remote work gave rise to two webinar series with its partner Engaging Local Government Leaders: Connectivity and COVID-19 and Engagement During Pandemic Uncertainties. In addition, we were proud to offer our first virtual Certificate in Advanced Public Engagement for Local Government program and launch our inaugural virtual Certificate in Leading Smart Communities program as a way to equip local governments with resources and a support network for navigating the dynamics of the global pandemic in their respective communities.

The Davenport Institute has enjoyed multiple opportunities to cosponsor a variety of informational webinars to assist local leaders in managing the challenges of this season of social distancing. Topics included: Partnering for Creative Engagement, Building Community and Rebuilding Connections, Connecting Local Government and Education, and Engaging Along the Road to Reopening. Each of these offerings allowed the institute to further expand its reach while strengthening existing partnerships, for which we are immensely grateful.

The Davenport Institute has also developed a robust collection of resources to inform our partners of innovative practices and leading strategies for creative engagement. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mercatus Center at George Mason University published senior advisor Ashley Labosier’s (MPP ’09) “Crisis as Opportunity: Fostering Inclusive Public Engagement in Local Government.” Additionally, assistant director Pooja Di Giovanna published two articles, “As school goes virtual, what gets left behind?” in the Washington Examiner and “Creative Engagement During Pandemic Uncertainties” published by the Catalyst project. In addition to these informative, thoughtprovoking resources, senior fellow Ed Everett published an article in the International City/County Management Association’s blog, “This Fiscal Crisis Requires Bold Actions in Local Government.”

None of these achievements would have been possible without the outstanding leadership of the Davenport Institute team. Just

days before the Pepperdine School of Public Policy announced its planned transition to remote learning and remote working, we were pleased to welcome Pooja Di Giovanna as the newly hired assistant director of the institute. To say that she has “hit the ground running” since the very beginning of this season of transitions would be an understatement. As part of Di Giovanna’s dedication to strengthening the Davenport’s partnerships with organizations such as #WeavingCommunity, she launched a digital yard sign initiative to spread positive and encouraging messages across all major social media platforms. It is our hope that this initiative brought communities together during this challenging season.

The Davenport Institute was pleased to welcome back Abigail Scott to her second year serving as a graduate research assistant.

Scott is focusing her studies on public safety and policecommunity relations. We were excited to hire two additional graduate research assistants to support the mission of the Davenport Institute: Michael Huling is interested in exploring the relationship between federalism, localism, and civil society, and Robert Jordan, who is passionate about environmental issues and finding solutions to the homelessness crisis. We are pleased that they are helping spread the message that inclusive public engagement is vital to solving the challenges facing our communities. publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu/davenport-institute publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu | 5

Hosts

THE QUEST FOR COMMUNITY WEBINAR SERIES

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n July the School of Public Policy hosted the first of a series of five webinars centered on the topic of The Quest for Community: A Future for American Conservatism.

antidemocratic and unaccountable to voters, and that has allowed for the imposition of federal standards on communities throughout the nation.

The initial event focused on the question of whether “communitarian conservatism” is relevant in an age of social distancing and political polarization and featured New York Times columnist Ross Douthat and writer Gracy Olmstead. The discussion was moderated by dean Pete Peterson.

Mac Donald echoed a similar sentiment, further arguing that the combined forces of the media and bureaucracies have been on display throughout 2020, with responses to COVID-19 and social justice directly leading to lockdowns across the country.

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Douthat contended that communitarian conservatism is rooted in a flourishing social fabric composed of churches, voluntary associations, and local institutions. However, various cultural changes and challenges have led to the erosion of this communitarian bedrock, with the increasing polarization and the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic combining to exacerbate its breakdown.

McAllister contended that Americans traditionally understood that community is prior to government and creates government, but a loss of this understanding has coincided with a growing dependence and deference to the federal administrative state.

Broadly, the panelists supported the prospect of restoring local autonomy so that neighbors rely on one another—rather than bureaucrats. In many ways, our prosperity has made us complacent, but it also equips us with the necessary tools to revive our communal attachments if we work diligently to do so.

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Olmstead agreed, pointing to the deterioration of mediating institutions and civil associations that we’ve historically relied on to foster stability and purpose. Regarding solutions, both panelists maintained that the state must play a crucial, yet limited, role in reinvigorating civil society. Individuals and institutions must also step up and actively engage in the moral renewal that our communities need to prosper. The focus, they believe, should not be transforming what conservatism has long stood for, but reviving what it once stood for and became complacent about.

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The second installment focused on how decadence and the administrative state weaken the community, with dean Peterson serving as moderator. He was joined by Claremont Review of Books senior fellow Christopher Caldwell; Manhattan Institute fellow Heather Mac Donald; and Edward L. Gaylord Chair, professor of public policy at SPP, and academic director for the American Project Ted McAllister.

The growth of the administrative state has long been a topic of focus and frustration for conservatives. Caldwell characterized the contemporary administrative state as a “qualitative transformation of the executive branch” that is fundamentally

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The third installment of the series focused on a policy platform for communitarian conservatism, and featured Manhattan Institute director of state and local policy Michael Hendrix, George W. Bush Institute executive director Holly Kuzmich, Manhattan Institute senior fellow Andy Smarick, American Enterprise Institute director of domestic policy studies Ryan Streeter, and dean Pete Peterson.

The panelists addressed the role of government in supporting civil society, the appetite for localism, how the constitutional separation of powers strengthens communitarian conservatism, and the complex balance between community freedom and civil rights.

Bringing attention to prior social and policy movements devoted to communitarianism, Streeter explained the importance of the “recovery of the idea of local integrity, local responsibility, and local agency at the heart of our policymaking, both at the state level and at the federal level.” Peterson recognized policy issues ranging from policing and public safety to education and housing, identifying the role of local governments as the most responsive and accountable bodies.

Kuzmich noted the decline of faith and confidence in American institutions ranging from Congress to church, which has also contributed to feelings of loneliness and detachment. She added that as demonstrated in public opinion data over the last few decades, the policy response to this erosion of institutional trust has been insufficient.

Transitioning to the question of whether policy should support civil society, Smarick answered with an emphatic yes. He argued that “communitarianism seems to be in our bones” and that the collapse of community is largely due to the weakening of mediating bodies, which government has repeatedly failed to fortify.

Hendrix clarified his understanding of the proper ordering of public institutions, prioritizing local and state accountability, while acknowledging the need for a “federal government that sets the ends through which civil society is the means.”

This structure, he contended, runs contrary to the political centralization that has become the default in the United States, but it’s a necessary reversal that empowers communities to address the problems that only they understand.

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American Identity Post-2020 Elections featured four panelists in a conversation moderated by American Project cofounder Rich Tafel.

Like Wood’s efforts, the work of Angela Sailor, vice president of the Feulner Institute at the Heritage Foundation, is focused on how to build a common vision of American identity that is responsive to localities. Sailor noted that she asks, “What words resonate in these different communities?” and then draws on that local research as part of the larger project of “restoring American civic culture.”

Panelist Rachel Barkley of RK Barkley Consulting shared that a mere three weeks after the birth of her first child, she received a life-changing diagnosis of a cancerous tumor. She explained how the experience was a true paradigm shift for her: “At 29, I was a marathon runner, mountain climber, capitol hill staffer. At 30, I was a disabled cancer survivor.” The experience of disability and of dependency on her husband, her family and friends, and her local community, challenged Barkley’s understanding of what it means to be a citizen. She observed that “Independence can be a blessing, but interdependence is a reality.”

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Panelist Timothy Carney, resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), cited the AEI Survey of Community and Society, which confirms that active involvement in local associations like a church is correlated with less loneliness and a greater sense of belonging. Carney warned about worrisome trends in which Americans are less connected locally and more invested in national politics. He noted that while identity politics and tribalism tend to have negative connotations, humans are a tribal species. “A healthy tribe,” he said, “is one that emerges organically over time, that serves a purpose for a local community.”

Panelist John Wood, Jr., a former a vice chairman of the Republican Party of Los Angeles County, echoed Carney’s comments on the need for local community, which he stated

is “the salient source for our identity.” Wood, an organizer of workshops that bring together conservatives and liberals for productive dialogue, noted that people usually come to his workshops to learn how to repair relationships that have suffered because of political disagreements and to discover how to contribute to political discourse without the toxicity that often comes with it.

The last webinar in this series, Communitarianism in Practice, featured a panel of civic leaders who are having an impact on local issues such as addiction and homelessness.

Evan Feinberg, executive director at Stand Together Foundation; Jesús Gerena, CEO at Family Independence Initiative; Antong Lucky, national engagement director at Urban Specialists; Joe Nail, CEO at Lead for America; Scott Strode, founder and national executive director of the Phoenix; and Dean Peterson explored a variety of ways to understand a reimagined communitarian movement in the United States and how the ideals of civicminded conservatism actually manifest.

The American Project argues for a conservatism of connection, which promotes the nation’s revered civic institutions as ways of providing opportunities to connect with one another and to engage in the hard work of citizenship. Project advocates contend that if conservatives are going to support limited government, then they must support a more robust form of civic engagement—both individually and corporately through nonprofit institutions.

Toward the end of a polarizing political season, the project’s inspiring panelists of leaders are making a difference from the ground up and sharing how to create community across the nation. publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu/quest-for-community

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LIVE FROM MALIBU: FRIDAY SHORT COURSES

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n response to the pandemic, the School of Public Policy hosted a four-week series of live and interactive short courses in April.

The short courses were taught by three of the school’s leading historians. When asked about this first-ever set of online classes, dean Pete Peterson noted, “While the pandemic has created many challenges to our work at SPP, it also provides an opportunity to open our classrooms to the public so that hundreds and thousands of people can learn from our terrific faculty.”

Wilfred “Bill” McClay, the 2019–2020 Ronald Reagan Visiting Professor of Public Policy, taught Land of Hope: An Invitation to the Great American Story. McClay discussed four eras that had a defining impact on American history based on his best-selling book, Land of Hope.

The Roots of Capitalism vs. Socialism was the topic presented by Gordon Lloyd, Robert and Katheryn Dockson Professor Emeritus of Public Policy. The course was a distillation of Lloyd’s political economy class, which he taught here at the school for two decades.

Robert Kaufman, Robert and Katheryn Dockson Professor of Public Policy, taught Trump’s “Principled Realism” and the Major

Themes in US Foreign Policy. This class detailed the history of American foreign policy and how President Trump’s global engagement with countries from China to Syria fits within its larger historical trends. publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu/live-from-malibu

SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY DONATES THOUSANDS OF PROTECTIVE FACE SHIELDS TO LOS ANGELES HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS

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he Homeland Security Advisory Council at the School of Public Policy (HSAC@SPP) donated 3,000 reusable face shields to LAC+USC Medical Center following an onsite press conference on April 14, 2020. The face shields were designed to protect medical staff involved in procedures that may expose them to infectious fluids while treating patients diagnosed with COVID-19.

“One of the great honors derived from our new HSAC@SPP initiative is the opportunity to work with Greater Los Angelesarea civic leaders like our board chair, Peter Lowy,” said dean Pete Peterson. “For many years, Peter has led and supported efforts that focus on the safety and resilience of this region. This gift of face shields given on behalf of HSAC@SPP will go directly to protecting our healthcare heroes on the frontlines of this crisis.”

Developed by Northridge-based movie prop producer Arete, the donation was made in partnership with the Emergency Supply Donor Group, a nonprofit organization that raises funds to provide personal protective equipment to Los Angeles hospitals encountering extreme shortages.

Founded by local philanthropists and other leaders to help support the city’s efforts to prepare for and respond to a crisis— whether man-made, pandemic, or natural disaster—HSAC@SPP provides technology platforms and opportunities for engagement,

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capability building, and partnerships for the public, private, and civic sectors. The goal of the organization is to provide a platform for safety agencies, businesses, city leaders, and communities to enable smarter and more capable decision-making.

THE PATH BACK TO SCHOOL WEBINAR SERIES The Path Back to School webinar series was cohosted by the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), Bellwether Education Partners, The Line, and the School of Public Policy’s Education Policy and Impact initiative. Each episode brought together a different set of education practitioners and thought leaders to provide diverse perspectives and ideas on the issues and opportunities facing the K–12 community in this uncertain time.

The goal of the webinar series was to find common ground, as well as a path forward, as we consider the means through which a return to school unfolds and the contributing factors at the federal, state, and district level.

Episode One: A Blueprint for Back to School

Episode Four: Best Practices and Special Education

Episode Two: Academics and Talent

Episode Five: Social and Emotional Learning

Panelists discussed a blueprint for back to school following the COVID-19 quarantine and the related school and community shutdowns.

Moderator: Hanna Skandera, Editor in Chief of The Line and Visiting Professor of Education Policy and Impact at SPP Panelists: John Bailey: Visiting Fellow, AEI Wayne Lewis: Dean and Professor of Education, Belmont University; former Kentucky Commissioner of Education Phyllis Lockett: CEO, Leap Innovations Andy Rotherham: Cofounder and Partner, Bellwether Education Tresha Ward: Partner, Bellwether Education Experts conversed about the continuity of learning plans as well as teacher vulnerability in connection with a return to school following COVID-19. The panel was followed by a fireside chat with Dan Cogan-Drew, cofounder and chief academic officer, Newsela; Mark Gruzin, CEO, Frontline Education; and Shalinee Sharma, CEO and cofounder, Zearn Math.

Moderator: Hanna Skandera Panelists: John Bailey Derrell Bradford: Executive Vice President, 50CAN John Deasy: Founding Editor, The Line; former Superintendent, Stockton Unified School District, California Jason Froelich: Vice President, Frontline Education Candice McQueen: CEO, National Institute for Excellence in Teaching Tresha Ward

Episode Three: Operations and Health Registration

Andy Rotherham led a discussion focused on practical guidance for schools in maintaining critical operations throughout challenging circumstances.

Moderator: Andy Rotherham Panelists: Rajeev Bajaj: Partner and CEO, Kitamba Kevin Haugh: Chief Product Officer, Frontline Education Simon Johnson: Ronald A. Kurtz (1954) Professor of Entrepreneurship; Professor, Global Economics and Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management Duncan Klussmann: Superintendent Emeritus, Spring Branch Independent School District, Texas; Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Houston College of Education Mike Miles: Former Superintendent, Dallas Independent School District, Texas; Cofounder and CEO, Third Future Education Consulting Katie Rouse: Senior Associate Partner, Bellwether Education

This panel looked at best practices during distance learning as well as the issues and opportunities facing special education.

Moderator: Hanna Skandera Panelists: Bill Kurtz: CEO, DSST Public Schools Robert Pasternack: former Assistant Secretary of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; RTI Action Network Contributor, National Center for Learning Disabilities Lauren Morando Rhim: Cofounder and Executive Director, National Center for Special Education in Charter Schools Gregg Vanourek: Founder, Gregg Vanourek LLC and Speaker, Author, Leadership and Executive Trainer Panelists looked at the need for increased social and emotional learning and whole-child support. They further considered the creation of equitable learning environments and how we assess and address the trauma of not just one, but what can be viewed as two concurrent pandemics—COVID-19 and systemic racism in educational opportunity.

Panelists: Ary Amerikaner: Vice President, P–12 Policy, The Education Trust Cami Anderson: Managing Partner, Third Way Solutions; former Superintendent, Newark Public Schools Hattie Mitchell: Founder, Crete Academy; Visiting Professor of Education and Policy, Pepperdine School of Public Policy Ian Rowe: Resident Fellow of Domestic Policy Studies, AEI

Episode Six: How Have Schools Fared in the Midst of a Pandemic?

The final episode explored how schools have fared in the midst of a pandemic, discussing what we’ve learned and what the new administration in Washington will need to do in its first 100 days.

Moderator: Hanna Skandera Panelists: John Bailey Wayne Lewis Andrew J. Rotherham publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu/back-to-school

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LUISA BLANCO AND TED MCALLISTER NAMED PROFESSORS OF PUBLIC POLICY The Pepperdine School of Public Policy is pleased to announce the promotion of both Luisa Blanco and Ted McAllister to professor of public policy on August 1, 2020.

Blanco has dedicated more than 14 years of academic service to SPP. She teaches a wide array of economic courses, such as: Global Economics, Latin American Economic Development, Applied Economic Analysis for Public Policy II (macroeconomics), and Policy Research Seminar (capstone).

Students compete for entry into her classes because she brings real-world experiences to life, such as scheduling class tours through the Federal Reserve in Downtown Los Angeles.

“As a Latina economist, it is an honor and a privilege for me to be granted the title of full professor,” stated Blanco. “We need more diversity in the economics profession, and particularly at the full-professor level, where according to the latest statistics by the American Economic Association, only 5 percent are from a minority group.”

Blanco specializes in developing and international economics, with a focus on Latin America; her research focuses on the wellbeing of Latin Americans at home and abroad. She is a Robert Wood Johnson Fellow and a board member at the University of California, Los Angeles, Resource Center for Minority Aging Research-Center for Health Improvement of Minority Elderly.

Blanco’s current work is in the area of consumer and household finance with a focus on minorities in the United States.

Since the start of her career at Pepperdine in 2007, Blanco took one sabbatical leave in the fall of 2015. She also was a senior visiting scholar at the Opportunity and Inclusive Growth Institute at the Federal Reserve of Minneapolis in 2017–2018.

“I’m delighted to see Dr. Blanco’s promotion to full professor here at SPP,” noted dean Pete Peterson. “A noted and original researcher, her groundbreaking scholarship focuses on improving the well-being of those with the fewest resources. She’s a deeply respected professor by her students, and I remain honored to have her on the faculty here,” he added.

Blanco has published 33 articles in peer-reviewed journals in diverse fields, such as the European Journal of Political Economy, the Journal of Consumer Affairs, the Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Latin American Economic Research Review, and World Development, among others.

Blanco’s recently published research includes “The Racial/ Ethnic Differences in Financial Literacy in the Population and

by Income,” “A Community-Based Randomized Controlled Trial on an Educational Intervention to Promote Retirement Saving Among Hispanics,” “Household Responses to the Escalation of Violent Crime in Mexico,” and “Synergies and Competition: Export Survival in Africa and Latin America.”

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She recently received a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation as part of the Interdisciplinary Research Leaders Program to conduct a community-based mobile intervention, “Mind Your Money.” The purpose of this study is to improve financial knowledge and money-management skills among the Latino community through a mobile educational program.

Ted McAllister began teaching at Pepperdine in 1998 and has dedicated more than 22 years of academic service to the University.

McAllister teaches the core class Ethical Dimensions of Public Policy: Great Books and Great Ideas, as well as a variety of elective courses that put policy debates in larger historical and philosophical contexts, including such classes as Comparative Federalism, Public Policy in Modern America, and American Democratic Culture.

“A two-time winner of Pepperdine’s highest teaching award, Ted’s scholarship and teaching are appreciated by students and colleagues alike,” said Dean Peterson. “This promotion is a partial, but important, recognition of his two-plus decades’ work here at the School of Public Policy,” he added.

McAllister, an intellectual historian, brings a historical imagination to the public policy curriculum, a perspective not typical of such programs. His training well equips him to press students to ask the foundational moral questions concerning public policy, leading them back to first principles. A graduate of Oklahoma Christian College, he earned his master’s degree from Claremont Graduate School before completing his doctoral degree in American intellectual and cultural history at Vanderbilt University. A recipient of the Woodrow Wilson Foundation’s Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship, he also received the Leland Sage Fellowship as well as several additional grants, including one from the Earhart Foundation. He served as the 2012–2013 James Madison Program Visiting Fellow at the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University.

McAllister is the author of Revolt Against Modernity: Leo Strauss, Eric Voegelin, and the Search for a Postliberal Order; a textbook on American history, The Promise of Freedom: A History of the United States; and the coauthor with Wilfred McClay of Why Place Matters: Geography, Identity, and Civic Life in Modern America. McAllister also wrote “Reagan and the Transformation of American Conservatism,” a chapter of The Reagan Presidency.

He lectures frequently on the nature and future of American conservatism, including recent presentations at Oxford University and at Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg in Germany. In addition to his research into conservative philosophy, he is currently working on a history of the baby boomers. With Wilfred McClay, McAllister coedits Rowman & Littlefield’s series, American Intellectual Culture, which produces books that examine the intersection of culture and politics in American history.

Faculty/Fellow Update LUISA BLANCO

Professor of Public Policy

Luisa Blanco recently published a study in the Journal of Family and Economic Issues.

The research found that adding a financial education component to governmentsponsored retirement savings programs can help Latinos increase financial knowledge, raise awareness about the need for retirement planning, and solve the retirement crisis in the Latino community exacerbated by the pandemic. The community-based study led by Blanco in collaboration with Kenrik Duru, professor of medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles; and Carole Mangione, division chief of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research at the University of California, Los Angeles; conducted research in neighborhoods in Los Angeles County including: Canoga Park, City of Commerce, Downtown Los Angeles, and Van Nuys. The study is one of the first to consider the impact of an educational program toward promoting retirement savings among Latinos who researchers say tend to lag significantly in retirement preparedness when compared with other racial and ethnic groups. It evaluated the impact of an education component in promoting retirement savings among low- and moderate-income, predominantly Spanish-speaking Latinos living in Los Angeles who lack access to an employer-sponsored retirement account.

SPP WELCOMES NEW BOARD OF ADVISORS MEMBER Our board of advisors is composed of a collection of national policy, business, and community leaders who support our mission and share our commitment to a more expansive approach to public policy, an approach that recognizes the central importance of civil society, faith, and free markets. Most importantly, board members share our strong belief that public leadership, perhaps more than any other field, requires a strong moral and ethical paradigm.

MAUREEN GRACE lives in Pacific

Palisades, California, where she’s a devoted mother to her two sons— one of whom is a junior at Seaver College—and serves as an intern on SPP’s American Project.

Professionally, Grace has retired from a career as a clinical psychologist specializing in medical psychology, with a large veteran clientele. Grace comes from a family with a long history of public service, and she appreciates the approach of Pete Peterson and the School of Public Policy to educating our next generation of leaders and communicating the founding principles that make our country a great one.

ANDREA MIHAILESCU

State Department Fellow in Residence

Andrea Mihailescu is on sabbatical from the US Department of State and is currently serving as the State Department fellow in residence at the Pepperdine School of Public Policy. Mihailescu teaches a course in political risk and recently published an article in Foreign Policy titled “A North Korea Strategy for the Next Administration.” In the article she advises the need for the next presidential administration to understand how North Koreans view the United States and its new policies. Voice of America broadcast an interview wth her about the topic in North Korea.

MICHAEL SHIRES

Associate Dean for Strategy and Special Projects, Director of Assessment, Associate Professor of Public Policy

In October of 2020 Michael Shires completed his three-year tenure as a member of the executive council of the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA), the organization’s governing board. During his tenure on the executive council, Shires also served as chairman of the NASPAA data committee, supporting the group’s efforts to collect and report data on the state of the field of public affairs, including new surveys of program alumni, undergraduate programs, and doctoral programs.

He also oversaw the development of the network’s new badging program, which identifies programs demonstrating distinction in targeted areas, including diversity and inclusion, sustainability, civic engagement, and globalization. During Shires’ time on the executive council, NASPAA significantly expanded its global footprint to include some 40 international institutions and to convene conferences around the globe.

Reflecting on his experience on the council, Shires said, “It is truly inspiring to work beside so many creative and visionary leaders whose passion is not only to serve but to equip a new generation of public servants who will lead us into the future.

NASPAA continues to get better and better at telling the story of the field of public policy, helping to brand the field, promote our schools of public policy, and inspire high-quality students to step into leadership in our public-serving institutions, both private and public.” publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu | 11

Alumni Notes CHRISTIAN DALY (MPP ’16)

Daly ran for the US Congress as a representative of California’s 27th congressional district.

KELSEY JAE NUNEZ (JD ’07, MPP ’07)

Jae Nunez recently opened the Vervain Collective, a plant-based apothecary in partnership with a licensed naturopathic physician near Boise, Idaho. The business supports the natural and holistic health community with a treatment room, educational space, and a well-curated retail selection. In addition to this new venture, she continues to manage her solo law practice dedicated to social entrepreneurship and collaborative culture.

VIANEY LOPEZ (MPP ’12)

Lopez was recently reelected to the Oxnard City Council in California, representing District 6.

CLIFF SMITH (MPP ’07)

Smith and a colleague have completed an investigation of USfunded evangelical international aid charity World Vision’s partnership with a US terrorist-designated charity in Sudan. He has published several articles about this work and was also interviewed by the Investigative Journal about the story.

ELI STEELE (MPP ’11)

Steele recently completed a featurelength documentary called What Killed Michael Brown? The film has trended in the top five for New Releases and Best Sellers on Amazon since its release in October.

HANS ZEIGER (MPP ’09)

Zeiger was elected to the Pierce County Council representing District 2 in Washington State.

SPP CONGRATULATES NEW PARENTS REBECCA CAMPOS (MPP ’15) SUSAN ALLEGRETTI PATENA (MPP ’12, MBA ’12)

Patena is working toward her PhD in political science at Claremont Graduate University.

TODD ROYAL (MPP ’15)

Royal recently coauthored his second book, Just Green Electricity: Helping Citizens Understand a World Without Fossil Fuels.

NATALIE MEDVEDEV (MPP ’16) KODY SMITH (MPP ’15) HANS ZEIGER (MPP ’09)

What’s new with you To share your alumni news, please submit to jaclyn.ramirez@pepperdine.edu.

SALUS - THE CRISIS HUB WAS A FINALIST IN TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION CHALLENGE In July 2020 SALUS - The Crisis Hub, created by the Homeland Security Advisory Council at the Pepperdine School of Public Policy (HSAC@SPP), was a finalist in the 2020 Technology Innovation Challenge, a project of the Los Angeles County Homeless Initiative.

The challenge was created to build partnerships with the technology sector around Los Angeles to encourage innovation, creativity, and sustainable solutions that will have an impact, create solutions, and prevent homelessness in the county.

SALUS uses geographical information systems to help track homelessness throughout Los Angeles County and provide useful information to manage and track encampments in real time, visualize 12 | School of Public Policy Dean’s Report

spatial trends, share information across departments, and deploy resources. SALUS has also been used to plan such events as the Los Angeles Marathon and to monitor the Woosley Fire in 2018.

SALUS was one of three finalists in the Geo Mapping Hub and Resources category. This category was designed to award a system with real-time and accurate decision-making, the ability to forecast strategic plans with geo-mapping, and increase current and future housing opportunities for the homeless population within the county of Los Angeles. publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu/hsac

WHEN POLICY IS PERSONAL: RACE AND PUBLIC SAFETY

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n June 25 the School of Public Policy hosted an online discussion of the experience of people of color as protectors of public safety and how their stories related to policy concerns.

Moderated by dean Pete Peterson, the panel consisted of Angela Averiett, deputy chief of the San Francisco BART Police Department; James Featherstone, former firefighter and executive director of Homeland Security Advisory Council; Darryl McAllister, former chief of police of Union City and course coordinator with the California Police Chiefs Association; and Kurt Wilson, a government advocate, educator, and consultant.

Averiett began by explaining how she was drawn to policing in her twenties as a record clerk for the Hayward Police Department. Seeing a dearth of officers of color, she decided to become a police officer. She explained that she had experienced systemic racism in both her workplace and in her personal life. As an example of the former, she related that she had not been covered by her white male co-officers when doing dangerous work. In her personal life, she had been pulled over by a police officer while off duty for allegedly speeding when she was not. In that respect, she said, “I am a Black woman before anything else,” and further reflected that these types of harassment do not appear in data collected about police interactions and are not taken into account by those who research race and policing.

She lamented that today, it is very difficult to be a Black police officer, and she feels like she has to make a choice, “I either have to be Black, or I have to be blue, but I can’t be both.” She feels, she said, that she has her “ancestors on [her] back and the weight of law enforcement on [her] shoulders.”

Featherstone explained that he joined the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) to have a job with purpose. “While a lot has changed,” he said, with respect to the LAFD culture, “a lot hasn’t.” He also related that as a leader in the fire department, he was very conscious of leading by example: he was committed to showing junior firefighters of color that it was possible to be in a command position. Featherstone also stated that recent events had required him to reflect on instances of racism in his career and he stressed the importance of treating people the right way.

McAllister shared that he knew he wanted to be a police officer ever since he was eight years old, and was inspired by his interaction with a Black officer who, watching him play ball with a friend, told him that he was proud of him for his sportsmanship. He expressed that he saw the police community as a sort of microcosm of the larger community—and that within the police community they have not gone very far in recognizing how issues of race play into fear and misunderstandings and reluctance to engage. He also pointed out that those

recruited as police officers are members of our larger society, and accordingly, the character traits and values of the population are invariably going to show up in the police force. He agreed there was much work to be done, mentioning that out of the 333 police chiefs in California, only 14 are Black.

Wilson described how his experiences as a Black man, always wary of being accused of wrongdoing, inspired him to get into public service. He related that he learned while researching the police department and citizens of Ferguson, Missouri, that the police, comparing themselves with agencies around them, felt that they were quite racially neutral and sensitive, while the residents felt the police to be extremely insensitive. His point was largely that one’s truth is very much a reflection of where one sits.

Dean Peterson asked the participants how their experiences could be quantified in order to be incorporated into policy options, and while they agreed that it would be difficult to do so, they collectively agreed that the difficult conversations regarding race and law enforcement would have to be had if there was hope for change.

McAllister summed up the consensus perfectly when he stated that it was “necessary to have tough conversations that make us uncomfortable.” publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu/policy-ispersonal

Leading Smart Communities from page 1

Leading this course alongside Reichental were Kamran Bakhtiari (MBA ’13), executive vice president of marketing at PennyMac Loan Services, LLC; Charla Griffy-Brown, an accomplished professor at the Pepperdine Graziadio Business School and consultant who leads transformational change; Alexander Kouts, who spent his career building and scaling startups as a founder, head of product/marketing, and UX designer; and Pete Peterson, dean of the School of Public Policy.

This certificate was designed to help non-tech savvy local government leaders and students to better understand current and future govtech platforms. The program analyzed how to

use online tools and social media to better engage residents in the local area. Additionally, understanding game-changing technologies such as blockchain, IoT, AI, and others were discussed, as such an understanding is critical to interfacing with corporate communities and being an effective leader.

Reichental believes that it is vital for government workers to be able to run data analytics and work with cyber security to protect data from attack. In addition to how to use and take advantage of new technologies in government, the certificate challenged attendees to think about “techethics,” the ethical concerns and responsibilities arising from technology. publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu | 13

Politics and Pandemic Webinar Series The Federal Government’s Response to COVID-19 On April 16 the School of Public Policy hosted The Federal Government’s Response to COVID-19 to provide the community with an online conversation about the impact of this pandemic on today’s public policy-making process.

The school welcomed David Mansdoerfer (MPP ’11), former deputy assistant secretary for health at the US Department of Health and Human Services, who offered his unique and highly informative perspective on the federal government’s coordination of a national response to the crisis.

Moderated by Michael Shires, associate professor and associate dean for strategy and special projects, he centered the conversation around the opportunities and challenges that come with a whole-of-government approach to addressing the pandemic. Mansdoerfer expressed confidence in the progress coming from the federal level on a rapidly developing basis. He cited the then current White House coronavirus task force’s commitment to an “outcome-oriented” focus in order to achieve its goals as one of its key assets and expressed confidence that this intentionality will remain beneficial in times of crisis.

The conversation also highlighted the federal government’s role in coordinating public-private sector collaboration in order to strengthen the national response. Mansdoerfer emphasized the importance of consulting with diverse advisory groups consisting of various industry leaders in order to fully understand how and where significant progress can be achieved.

Mansdoerfer argued that one of the biggest challenges facing the government in the future was the need for “a huge communication effort to convince a consumer population . . . to feel comfortable to go back into their community.”

Undoubtedly, this remains a pressing challenge for elected officials at all levels of government to overcome, but strong public leadership has the potential to bring healing and recovery back to the American people.

COVID-19 and the Calling to Public Service Dean Pete Peterson hosted a webinar in late April, COVID-19 and the Calling to Public Service, in which he reflected on how 9/11 called a new generation to public service, and why he believed the pandemic was attracting a new generation of public servants across the government, nonprofit, and business sectors. Peterson shared his understanding of calling or vocation as “a way of thinking about one’s career or what one is doing professionally.” After establishing this framework, he encouraged the audience to think through the lens of who they are as individuals and apply it to their professional decisions.

As the events of 9/11 engaged millions of Americans in new careers in national intelligence, the military, and crisis management, Peterson opined that COVID-19 was bringing in many young citizens in new careers in public health, disaster response, and national security.

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Throughout the interactive conversation, Peterson reflected on many of the turning points in his own life that compelled him to reexamine his own purpose. On a personal level, he noted that his (external) interactions with the criminal justice system showed him the limitations of government, as well as the impact such inefficiencies have on those navigating the system. As he reflected on the way this period of his life shaped the way he thought about his calling, Peterson shared that “Those who engaged most directly in trying to learn the story [of others] and trying to help, were the ones that matured the most through that experience.”

Shortly after, he found himself constantly seeking out answers, which ultimately led him on his personal journey to faith. When faced with one of his generation’s greatest crises, the attacks on 9/11, Peterson came to understand the importance of responding to one’s calling, which may indeed come from external events outside of one’s control.

The conversation concluded with an emphasis on the ways to understand one’s calling, especially the calling to public service. Peterson encouraged the audience to “create environments where not only you, but the people who are in the public, have the ability to flourish.” He emphasized one of the greatest responsibilities that comes with embracing this journey, which is that “calling asks each of us to speak into the lives of others, as we learn from them.”

The 2020 Election and the Pandemic On May 12, Dan Schnur, adjunct faculty at the School of Public Policy, hosted a webinar, The 2020 Election and the Pandemic, in which he shared his predictions as to the many ways the COVID-19 pandemic would impact both the 2020 presidential campaign and the pandemic’s long-term impact on campaign and election operations.

Schnur began the conversation by acknowledging the ways in which the pandemic had already shifted the focus of the campaign at that time, which was three months before Election Day. He highlighted the reality that, “not only will this election be a referendum on President Trump—but more specifically—a referendum on his handling of the challenges presented by the virus.” This, he suggested, was one of the many factors that distinguished the election from previous presidential races.

Schnur also emphasized the influential role of the “rallyaround-the-flag effect,” which he identified as the immediate reaction of the populace to rally around its leaders when the country faces some significant adversity.

As the conversation shifted to the ways the pandemic was changing how campaigns are run, Schnur observed that President Trump had been enjoying a noticeable presence through the White House COVID-19 task force briefings, his domestic travels, and on social media. On the other hand, Joe Biden, “through no fault of his own . . . [was] struggling mightily to be heard in this discussion” while being overshadowed by President Trump and governors across

the country who had a “daily, tangible role in confronting the virus.”

Is It Safe Yet? Business Liability and Constitutional Considerations in Reopening

Schnur concluded with the statement that although the pandemic had brought immense challenges to daily life, he remained unwavering in his optimism that the rising generation of future public servants will bring the necessary leadership to overcoming any crisis.

In late June SPP hosted a webinar focused on Business Liability and Constitutional Considerations in Reopening.

Moderated by dean Pete Peterson, the panel included Vince Farhat, partner at Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP; Barry P. McDonald, professor at the Pepperdine Rick J. Caruso School of Law; and Michael Shires, associate dean for strategy and special projects and associate professor at SPP. The discussion centered around the constitutional considerations for business reopening policies and government authority to enact ordinances related to COVID-19.

The Pandemic Hits Home: COVID-19, Local Government, and the Four Horsemen of the Fiscal Apocalypse In mid-May SPP hosted a webinar on The Pandemic Hits Home: COVID 19, Local Government and the Four Horsemen of the Fiscal Apocalypse, to discuss the pandemic’s implications for the future of local government. SPP welcomed Rick Cole, recent city manager of Santa Monica, to provide his unique, insider perspective regarding the upcoming challenges that local governments must begin to prepare for.

The conversation centered on: 1) cratering revenues, 2) neglected infrastructure, 3) pension debt, and 4) community need. Having framed the discussion around these critical areas, Cole led the audience through finding the path forward for local governments to navigate these challenges brought on by the pandemic.

Taken altogether, the four issues reveal many areas that will require timely, bold leadership. For instance, cratering revenues in combination with pension debt make it increasingly difficult for local governments to deliver on their commitments to offer services and address neglected infrastructure. Cole explained that the only way to deliver on these commitments is to either slash city services or raise revenues, both of which had been made all the more difficult by the pandemic. He suggested that we are living in a time when no one wants—or is able to—pay higher taxes. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced city governments to already make significant cuts to city services, thereby exacerbating the problem at hand.

During a time when city governments are faced with responding to business closures, rising unemployment, and uncertainty, Cole was encouraged to see that people are looking to their local government for solutions, paving the way for new collaboration in a season when it is so deeply needed.

Farhat described new government oversight activities that have arisen in the wake of COVID-19, such as consumerprotection investigations of companies that market COVID19-related products, and the risks that companies face from such oversight. Farhat also noted that businesses should consider the possibility of civil and securities-related class action suits, employment-related litigation, and premisesliability litigation.

Shires introduced the dilemma of navigating the closure of schools that provide food and childcare for some of the most disadvantaged children. While he admitted that there was no clear solution, he argued that parents and community leaders had to be included in the decision-making process. He also articulated a problem that he felt had not garnered much attention: how to conduct contact tracing and testing to stem the flow of the virus while maintaining the privacy of citizens.

McDonald focused on the constitutional ramifications of actions being taken to deter the spread of COVID-19. He asked whether states should operate in their own interests or whether the federal government should create regulations to limit the spread of the disease. He also raised the question about the authority of various governments—federal, state, and local—to act in a particular manner, citing lawsuits across the country challenging COVID-19 response measures. While he conceded that much of the aforementioned issues were up for debate, he pointed out that governors nationwide had seized the power to enact regulations during the pandemic with mixed results. publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu/politics-and-pandemic publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu | 15

In Memoriam

REMEMBERING FLOYD BLACK The School of Public Policy mourns the passing on September 28, 2020, of first-year student Floyd Black. We offer our heartfelt condolences to Black’s family, loved ones, and friends.

Black was a graduate of the University of Virginia with a bachelor’s degree in history. While an undergraduate, he served as the class president and a Meriwether Lewis Fellow, working with other student leaders on community and university projects. Black joined SPP to work for a local, state, or national political team with a focus on helping vulnerable communities. Drawing on his own upbringing and inspiration, his main policy interest was centered on educational inequality and how access to education affects a person’s life. He was specializing in state and local policy, and hoped he would soon make a difference back in his hometown of South Central, Los Angeles. Although he had just begun his master of public policy journey, he made an impact on all the students, faculty, and staff, and stories of his friendship and quest for knowledge will leave a permanent legacy.

Professor Ted McAllister, who regularly met with Black shares “Floyd Black was sweet of spirit and aggressive of mind. Open and deeply curious, he offered a unique blend of intellectual humility and fierceness that made him a man most rare in this age; a man who hadn’t yet discovered how deep his intellectual talent ran or understood how much he had to offer to our ideological age. Floyd’s passing is an unimaginable loss to his family and friends and so also the loss to posterity is incalculable—for children unborn, dreams unrealized, relationships never built.”

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Classmate Daniel Kibuuka (’18) related, “I was a roommate of Floyd’s for only six weeks, but he always talked about his desire to work for those in need, and how he needed to go to graduate school to further learn and obtain tools that he could use to make a positive impact in his home community.

To Floyd, making educational opportunities more accessible to people in lower-income communities was one of the most sustainable ways of uplifting them, and he believed he could do something to make it happen.”

Dean Pete Peterson shares, “Because he lived on campus, I saw Floyd often. He was so warm and friendly. I’ll miss him terribly—both for who he was, but also for the impact he would have had in a world that needs it.”

Psalm 42 describes the experience of a broken heart as it encourages us to seek out God and others in the midst of pain: “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him my Savior and my God. My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Mount Hermon—from Mount Mizar.”

Let us press on, then, in the midst of this sadness, to recommit ourselves to supporting one another, and carrying forward Black’s vision for a better world. That much is in our hands, and may God bless the work of our hands.

The School of Public Policy hosted a virtual memorial service to celebrate the life of Floyd Black on Thursday, October 15, 2020, with friends, mentors, colleagues, and loved ones in attendance.

REMEMBERING BRUCE HERSCHENSOHN It is with great sadness that we announce that Bruce Herschensohn, School of Public Policy senior fellow and beloved friend, passed away on November 30, 2020. He was 88.

Herschensohn was integral to the launch of the school, serving as an inaugural faculty member and continuing to teach and lecture throughout its 23-year history. “Bruce was a personal friend as well as an inspiration to me and so many who consider careers in public service,” noted dean Pete Peterson. “At Pepperdine we use the phrase ‘convicted civility’ to describe a perspective, which combines a commitment to principles that are argued in a civil—even winsome—way. Bruce personified this virtue throughout his life,” Peterson added.

After service in the United States Air Force, Herschensohn began his own film company and was appointed director of motion pictures and television for the United States Information Agency. In 1969 he was selected as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men in the federal government.

He received the second highest civilian award, the Distinguished Service Medal, and then became deputy special assistant to President Richard Nixon.

A television and radio political commentator for the last two decades, Herschensohn occupied the Nixon Chair at Whittier College, and was chair of the University Board at Pepperdine University. In 1992 he was the State of California’s Republican nominee for the US Senate and was defeated while winning more than one million votes. Herschensohn was a fellow at the John F. Kennedy Institute of Politics at Harvard University in 1996 and he was a distinguished fellow of the Claremont Institute from 1993 to 2001. Most recently, Herschensohn taught The World Leadership Role of the United States at SPP and was a nonresident associate fellow of the Nixon Center for Peace and Freedom.

One of his students, former White House speechwriter Troy Senik (MPP ’07), remembers, “Bruce Herschensohn started as my professor, became my mentor, and was ultimately one of my most treasured friends. I have met many good men and many noble public servants—but never someone who held both distinctions with such grace and integrity. We should all long to live in a world with more Bruce Herschensohns, whether they work in the White House or live in the house next door.”

Sheryl Covey (MDR ’20), assistant dean for administration at SPP, remembers Herschensohn anonymously giving dozens of new books to the Pepperdine library in SPP’s early years at Drescher. “He never missed an opportunity to make others feel valued and bring them joy,” she stated, recalling his generosity and kindness. “Bruce would ask to take a photo with me each year, posing in front of the graduation porta potties, just because it would bring a smile or laughter to the students.”

Michael Shires, associate dean for strategy and special projects, shared, “Bruce’s passing is a tremendous loss for SPP and for America. His passion for his nation was couched in a kind and gentle demeanor that told you he genuinely cared about you and wanted to learn from you and your experiences. You always left a conversation with Bruce, whether in class or one-on-one, inspired and determined to do better.”

Fellow faculty member Robert Kaufman added, “I mourn the passing of the great Bruce Herschensohn—a scholar, statesmen, and commentator of the first rank, a path breaker, indefatigable in his defense of freedom at home and abroad, no better friend—to me, the School of Public Policy, and countless others.”

Longtime friend and SPP founding dean James R. Wilburn said, “Through almost 50 years of friendship, including intimate lunches with the likes of Russell Kirk and Ronald Herschensohn served as the John M. Olin Visiting Professor Reagan, and as a founding professor of the Pepperdine from 2000 to 2001, a Davenport Institute fellow, and School of Public Policy, I came to expect that any definition of senior fellow at Pepperdine—giving numerous lectures ‘integrity’ would include a picture of Bruce Herschensohn.” and hosting his popular US foreign policy roundtables Among his many accomplishments in life, Herschensohn for students. He also had a deep passion for mentoring received an honorary doctor of laws degree from students seeking government positions, and some have Pepperdine and served on the University Board for more credited him for landing them an interview or job. than two decades.

publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu | 17

Getting America Back to Work In April the School of Public Policy welcomed senior fellow Andrew Puzder to lead the webinar Getting America Back to Work, in response to the shutdowns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. He began the conversation with his understanding that the solution for reopening the economy “is to let capitalism and the free markets work their magic.”

Puzder highlighted the numerous ways in which a thriving labor force brings benefits to the economy at a macro level.

He accredited these benefits to the Trump administration’s commitment to regulatory relief, lower levels of taxation, and to making America as competitive as possible.

He devoted much of the webinar to explanations of how the pandemic crisis has local, state, national, and international implications. For instance, Puzder highlighted the importance of transitioning some of the American supply chains from abroad and shifting to a diversified portfolio in order to effectively deal with international incidents and be better protected. With regard to the system of federalism, he supported the notion that “federalism is incredibly important . . . the more locally you can deal with this issue, the more effective you are going to be.”

As to the deficit and debt implications of the CARES Act, as a free-market advocate, Puzder was “hopeful that people on both sides of the aisle will deal with nondiscretionary spending,” getting it under control in a more cost-effective way, once the crisis has been addressed.

The webinar also addressed questions surrounding the ways the free market has adjusted in recent months in response to COVID-19related closures. Puzder expressed his encouragement in the rise of online platforms, the importance of fostering relationships with delivery service providers, and the impact of spreading the word about ways businesses are adapting to the current limitations.

Puzder reflected on potential solutions to the economic crisis, stating his belief that “the recipe to reignite the economy when this crisis ends is not more government. To the contrary, we need policies that encourage businesses to grow and hire, rather than policies that encourage government dependence and discourage work.” publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu/back-to-work

WOMEN LEADING REGIONAL AND LOCAL CHANGE IN ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

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n October 8 the International City/County Management Association Student Chapter and Women in Public Policy student organization at SPP hosted a panel discussion on women’s leadership, working in the environmental sector, and the importance of local policy.

The panel, moderated by adjunct professor Wade Graham, included Shea Cunningham, environmental programs coordinator for the City of Malibu and consultant for the Malibu Foundation; Madelyn Glickfeld, director of partnerships and staff director of the University of California, Los Angeles Water Resources Group; and Emily Parker, coastal and marine scientist for Heal the Bay. All three panelists provided diverse experiences and perspectives, which led to a rich discussion about the realities of working in environmental policy as a woman, as well as the challenges the sector faces.

Graham opened the conversation with an inquiry about how being a woman had affected the panelists’ work. Cunningham related that after entering the field “it became apparent I needed to work harder and smarter than my older peers and my male colleagues.” Parker agreed, and added that when presenting a position she had to “have the states’ facts and figures to back up my arguments, as my word isn’t always taken for truth.”

Glickfeld, having had 47 years of experience, was able to describe how times have changed and mentioned how in particular, laws protecting women’s rights in the workplace have resulted in a 18 | School of Public Policy Dean’s Report

surge of women entering the environmental field. All panelists noted that barriers in education as well as a lack of women of color in the field continue to be a problem.

The discussion turned to the challenges of environmental policy and specifically, the emerging role of social justice in the environmental movement. Parker noted that “by focusing solely on environmental issues as a silo and not taking racial and social issues into account, we are never going to actually effectively solve these issues, we are just going to pass them on to someone else.” The panelists also noted the importance of creating policy at both a state and local level. Cunningham argued that a mixture of top-down and bottom-up strategies is the most effective way to create change.

The panel concluded by offering advice to students on how to enter the environmental policy field. In addition to networking and finding internships to increase experience, all panelists focused on the importance of learning how to communicate effectively. Glickfeld noted that, “figuring out how to be a leader and how to not just attune yourself to the group, but how to insert yourself in a way that people listen,” is one of the most important skills to develop in this field. Environmental policy remains a challenging field for women, but the work of these three women demonstrates that meaningful change can be made through effective leadership.

DEAN PETE PETERSON NAMED FELLOWSHIP ADVISOR FOR THE RUMSFELD FOUNDATION’S GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM Pete Peterson (MPP ’07), Braun Family Dean’s Chair at SPP, was named a fellowship advisor for the Rumsfeld Foundation’s Graduate Fellowship Program.

The Rumsfeld Foundation is a nonprofit private foundation established in 2007 by Donald and Joyce Rumsfeld to encourage leadership, public service, and free political and economic systems at

home and abroad. The fellowship program represents many scholars pursuing a career in public service or policy-relevant fields. Fellows in this program have outstanding intellectual ability, integrity, moral character, and leadership potential. As an advisor, Peterson will be evaluating applications to the program and supporting fellows in their careers.

RESEARCH: SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC WELL-BEING IN CALIFORNIA

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ocial and Economic Well-Being in California was the topic of a June webinar hosted by the Legatum Institute, the California Policy Center, and the School of Public Policy. The focus of the discussion was to itemize ways in which California could emerge stronger from the economic and social crises caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Speakers included SPP associate professor Michael Shires, dean Pete Peterson, Public Health Institute president and CEO Mary Pittman, Legatum Institute Center for Metrics director Shaun Flanagan, and Legatum Institute Center for Metrics director of policy Stephen Brien. The webinar began with an overview of the Legatum Institute’s efforts producing a series of indexes to help leaders worldwide make practical policy decisions. The institute has been measuring prosperity worldwide for the last 13 years, and Brien began with an introduction of its United States prosperity index.

Brien related that the Legatum prosperity index centers on economic and social well-being; a prosperous country is one with 1) inclusive societies, 2) open economies, and 3) empowered people. Inclusive societies include institutional structures within a society (formal and informal), personal freedoms, political accountability, and familial relationships.

Open economies include fair rules and regulations, access to finance, and an engaged labor force. Empowered people are those who have good living conditions, access to healthcare, and quality educational resources.

respective populaces. Overall, California ranks 24th on the Legatum Institute’s United States prosperity index. California’s strengths lie in its healthcare system and its educational offerings. Key challenges facing the state of California included the economic effect of COVID-19 on the labor force and a steep decline in the mental health of individuals within the state.

Flanagan concluded the discussion by explaining how state and local policymakers could use the US prosperity indexes to identify policies that help deliver even greater prosperity for all.

Pittman referred attendees to other sources of policy guidance, such as the Healthy Places Index developed by the Public Health Alliance of Southern California. This resource links policy options based on a region’s score on several indexes, such as economic, educational, social, and housing, providing a road map for where the needs are the strongest and what kinds of actions would be most beneficial. She concluded that with the information we have available, there is great reason for hope in improving the prosperity of Californians. publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu/well-being-in-ca

Brien further explained that before COVID-19, prosperity had been rising in the United States for the last decade, though he noted that inequality had ensured that not everyone benefited in this prosperity. No state, however, had done a good job in increasing both economic and social well-being among their publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu | 19

SMART CITIES FOR DUMMIES WITH JONATHAN REICHENTAL A two-part webinar series on Smart Cities for Dummies with Jonathan Reichental was hosted by SPP in August.

Reichental, one of America’s leading thinkers on the deployment of technology by our local governments, is the chief executive officer of Human Future and former chief information officer (CIO) for the City of Palo Alto. His 30-year career has spanned both the private and public sectors. In 2017 he was named one of the top 100 CIOs in the world, and in 2016 he was named a top influential CIO in the United States.

Reichental is an adjunct professor at several universities, including the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of San Francisco.

Reichental is also the coauthor of The Apps Challenge Playbook and the author of the recently published Smart Cities for Dummies.

Reichental argued that developing and leading a smart city is both art and science, demanding not only an understanding of the available and future technology tools, but also a leadership mindset that can encourage innovation in environments not known for experimentation.

In introducing his lectures, Reichental stated, “I’m so delighted to be partnering with one of the country’s leading schools of public policy in sharing and discussing the opportunities and challenges for building smarter and more sustainable cities. Preparing our communities for the years and decades ahead in order to provide a good quality of life for everyone may be humanity’s biggest project yet.”

Webinar topics included: DAY 1: The Past and Future of Smart Communities—Smart Cities: From Rome to Today

• It’s Not Just Tech: Creating a Culture of Innovation in Your Community

• How It Fits Together: Important Tech Trends in Local Government and a View of the Future

DAY 2: Considering a Career in the Smart Community Revolution

• From Private-Sector Tech to GovTech: How I Got Started in Smart Communities

• Smart Communities Opportunities for Technologists • Smart Communities Opportunities for Non-Techies • The Tech Every Public Leader Needs to Know

publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu/smart-cities-for-dummies

Calling and Community in a Post-Pandemic World

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n May 15 a virtual conversation on the topic of calling and community in light of the global pandemic was led

by Os Guinness, founder of the Trinity Forum, and dean Pete Peterson at the School of Public Policy.

Guinness began the conversation by sharing his understanding that each individual’s personal faith is central to discovering one’s calling. He also acknowledged his belief that living a life full of purpose entails giving everything unto God and following his guidance.

Dean Peterson acknowledged the powerful impact of having a community of believers alongside him had on his own vocational shifts or “pivot points.” The implications of the discussion were made all the more poignant by the fact that millions of Americans were in the midst of confronting dramatic changes in their professional careers, given the changing dynamic of the COVID-19 pandemic.

For those who found themselves struggling with changes in their vocational plans, dean Peterson encouraged viewers 20 | School of Public Policy Dean’s Report

to ask themselves the fundamental question, “Why am I doing what I am doing?” This mindset paved the way for his journey to be “a process of being, for the first time in my life, very intentional about the career decisions I was going to be making.”

However, both presenters emphasized that vocation or calling is not just about one’s job, but includes the other areas in which one can engage. They agreed on the importance of taking advantage of this time when the world is changing, and, when it comes to discovering one’s calling, being receptive to the Lord’s guidance and direction.

Guinness left the audience with an important call to action— “encourage people by recognizing and drawing out the gifts you see in them.” This intentional choice, to affirm the strengths of fellow believers, can be one of the most significant impacts we can have on those needing uplift during these challenging times. publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu/calling-post-pandemic

Tony Mills named Senior Fellow The School of Public Policy announced that Tony Mills, a resident senior fellow and director of science policy at the R Street Institute, a public policy think tank in Washington, DC, joined its program as a senior fellow. Mills directs R Street’s science policy program, which aims to equip policy makers with more and better scientific expertise and to advance public policies that stimulate scientific innovation.

writing a book about scientific expertise in the age of populism. At SPP, Mills has been an advisor to the school’s American Project and edits the initiative’s ongoing essay series at RealClearPolicy.

Mills stated, “It’s an honor and privilege to join the Pepperdine School of Public Policy as a senior fellow. The program’s mission to put the ‘public’ back into ‘public policy’ is more timely and important now than ever, and I look forward to helping advance that mission by working with the next generation of public leaders.”

Mills received a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, French, and comparative literature from Northwestern University, where he also completed master’s work in French. He holds a PhD in philosophy from the University of Notre Dame, with a focus on philosophy of science.

Mills researches and writes about a range of topics including science, technology, philosophy, religion, and the role of expertise in democracy. His writings have appeared in such publications as Slate, Politico, National Affairs, City Journal, First Things, Issues in Science and Technology, the New Atlantis, and various peer-reviewed journals. A scholar associate of the Society of Catholic Scientists, he is currently

“Tony will contribute greatly to the work of the School of Public Policy as our newest senior fellow,” noted Pete Peterson, dean of the school.

“His ongoing writing and research on the challenges to effective public policy presented by unexamined expertise and what might be called ‘scientism,’ make his work not only highly relevant, but perfectly aligned with the principles of our unique program,” he added.

“Truth Decay” and the Management of the Coronavirus

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ean Pete Peterson moderated an online conversation about the Coronavirus and Truth Decay in May. The discussion, hosted by the Los Angeles World Affairs Council, featured Michael Rich, the president and CEO of the RAND Corporation; Jennifer Kavanaugh, a senior political scientist at RAND; and Steven Greenhut, western region director of the R Street Institute. The topic of this conversation centered on how disinformation and the treatment of facts have changed with the rise of the coronavirus pandemic and the effects these changes have had on media and public policy. The president and CEO of the Los Angeles World Affairs Council, Kim McCleary Blue, introduced the speakers.

Truth Decay: An Initial Exploration of the Diminishing Role of Facts and Analysis in Public Life, a book written by speakers Michael Rich and Jennifer Kavanaugh, identified four trends in civic discourse and served as the framework for the discussion. The first trend centered on the increasing disagreements about facts and analytical interpretation of data. The notable example they used was the growing public distrust of vaccines over the last two decades, even though vaccines have been proven to be safe and effective. Rich stated that the vaccine example “had transcended political divides” as those who rejected vaccines were numerous and came from both sides of the political spectrum. The second trend is the blurring of the line between fact and opinion, and the third concerns the vast increase in the expression of opinion relative to the expression of fact. It was argued that many people today can’t necessarily differentiate between the two, especially

with the rise of opinion pieces in major publications. The fourth trend, according to Rich, is the loss of public trust in public institutions, particularly the government and media.

Rich then discussed the causes of the trends. The first, he contended, was simply human nature; we suffer from cognitive biases that facilitate the consumption of bad information.

The second cause is the transformation of the information landscape, particularly the internet and its conveyance of massive amounts of information, both accurate and not. Rich stated that a third reason for the decline in truth in the public sphere was the inability of the American educational system to keep pace with the rise in access to both information and disinformation. The fourth and final cause was the increased polarization among Americans and how different groups chose different sources of information.

The webinar ended with a discussion of how information decay had occurred other times in American history. Examples included the rise of yellow journalism and tabloid publications in the late 19 th century, the emergence of accessible radios in the 1920s and 1930s, and the rise of television information in the 1960s. While admitting that we had a long way to go in stopping the spread of disinformation, Kavanaugh concluded that “everyone needs to buy into the notion that facts are important; without this, the tide cannot change.” publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu/truth-decay

publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu | 21

Creative Policy Solutions to Homelessness

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n October 1 Stephen Eide, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, joined dean Pete Peterson for a discussion on the issue of homelessness in California and nationwide.

Both men agreed that effectively addressing the issue requires an understanding of its causes, and throughout the course of the conversation, the need for better mental health care and the need for community-based approaches were recurring themes.

Eide began the discussion with a brief “history” of community responses to homelessness. He pointed out that though homelessness has always been a problem in America, the term “homelessness” really came into existence in the 1970s, and public policy attention on the issue emerged in the ’80s. He also noted that in the last couple of decades, some researchers and analysts have begun to focus attention on mental health and substance abuse struggles as significant contributors to the experience of being homeless. Peterson observed that the challenge of living without shelter can further difficulties with mental health, making the affected individuals’ problems all the more entrenched.

organizations accountable for the funds they receive and the results they produce.

Eide observed that addressing the need for housing often focuses on just increasing housing units, as well as increasing the amount of time that people are housed in those units. He asked whether other activities might also help diminish the experience of homelessness, such as improving mental health stability, boosting workforce participation, helping veterans and returning citizens get reintegrated into society, and reuniting people with their family and communities.

Finally, the discussion centered on the strengths and weaknesses of various policy paradigms. While Eide praised some California policy initiatives—such as Project Roomkey, which partners counties with the state government to acquire a variety of housing types, including hotels and vacant apartment buildings to offer placements for people experiencing homelessness—he was critical of the “housing-first approach.” The housing-first and permanent The speakers contended that today, one of the most important long-term housing models, Eide contended, have inadvertently issues for policy makers is understanding our specific goals in the led to a sharp decrease in transitional housing interventions. He interventions we design. Eide and Peterson both emphasized the identified these solutions as examples of where policy makers need for clearly defined goals and for well-designed interventions let “the perfect be the enemy of the good or adequate.” Eide that are directly measurable in terms of their effectiveness. This advocated the use of transitional housing, stating that it can create means that designing new and innovative interventions is not enough; little communities of people empowered to help one another grow we need to also evaluate the interventions after they have been while being supported together by crucial social services. implemented. Given the large amount of funding that is dedicated to publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu/homelessness addressing homelessness, both were adamant that we need to hold

REBUILDING BETTER On June 3, SPP hosted Rebuilding Better, a virtual event addressing how the private sector can help the government manage the pandemic’s impact on those experiencing homelessness. Dean Pete Peterson moderated the discussion. Four speakers brought their expertise to the conversation: Peter Lowy, principle, The Lowy Family Group; Wendy Greuel, city council member and former City of Los Angeles controller; Emily Kane, founder and CEO of Ethos Giving; and James Featherstone, executive director of HSAC@SPP. The first question revolved around what public safety leaders can do to help our complex environment. Because the top priority for any public safety leader is the preservation of life, said Featherstone, the pandemic goes to the heart of their calling.

Featherstone went on to say that in the 22 | School of Public Policy Dean’s Report

various societal “silos”—business, nonprofit philanthropies, and government, the group most directly charged with the public’s wellbeing—have unique areas of expertise that, with collaboration, they can offer to help resolve crises like those we are experiencing.

Lowy, formerly the co-CEO of the commercial real estate firm that operated the retail space beneath the World Trade Center during 9/11, is inspired to find ways for business to help bring government teams together. His efforts with HSAC and those of other private sector groups has provided useful technology to cities and states, which has allowed for the government to handle problems more effectively. Lowy observed the significant degree of cooperation between state and local governments in addressing COVID-19 issues. He was proud that locally, cities and

counties are able to use the information from the SALUS platform to coordinate their work.

Kane stated that the pandemic shifted private-sector efforts from something businesses can post on their websites for good public relations, to something that they must provide for the country’s wellbeing. While businesses donate about $20 billion annually to philanthropic causes, the early months of the pandemic’s rise, March and April 2020, saw businesses giving $40 billion to help those in need. In considering how businesses can best contribute, business leaders should ask themselves “What can I do that can be of use?” She further advised business leaders unclear about the best ways to be more involved to simply ask their staff for ideas about their vision for the company’s outreach.

HOW IS COVID-19 CHANGING PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT?

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shley Labosier (MPP ’09), senior advisor of the Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership at SPP, was featured in the Western Riverside Council of Government’s May edition of Future Forward, a virtual series on innovating through disruption. She presented perspectives on How Is COVID-19 Changing Public Engagement? and offered ideas on sustaining engagement during this difficult time.

The COVID-19 pandemic has radically changed the daily operations of local governments across the country. Much attention is focused on local public health department guidelines, the variety of shelter-in-place orders, economic impacts, decisions related to what exactly constitute “essential activities,” and the impact of the crisis on local government budgets and future services.

The mission of the Davenport Institute is “to help build stronger communities in California by promoting inclusive, authentic, and impactful public participation in local governance.”

That commitment to genuine public participation as a foundation for stronger communities is just as vital now as it has ever been.

Labosier’s webinar explored both the challenges and opportunities local governments face trying to engage residents during this unprecedented time and why figuring out engagement is essential to building a strong pathway forward. She noted that although the crisis is amplifying the challenges facing local government, many of these challenges are not new and have never been issues that the government can solve alone. Governments require collaboration across sectors, and

they require the type of less formal community knowledge that residents bring to the table—not just organized interest groups, but voices that have often been marginalized or left out of the conversation. Local governments need policy solutions to match the story and culture of the communities they are intended to serve. They are faced with challenges that require creative solutions and community ownership over those solutions.

CONSTITUTION DAY LECTURE ASKS: WHAT HAVE WE REMEMBERED ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION? WHAT HAVE WE FORGOTTEN? “If you read your Los Angeles Times today, you wouldn’t notice it was Constitution Day,” Lloyd said. “We should be remembering Constitution Day, but somehow we forgot it.” Lloyd suggested that we have forgotten the Constitution because we have forgotten history.

On September 17, Pepperdine students, faculty, and guests gathered to celebrate 233 years since the ratification of the Constitution with a Constitution Day lecture by Gordon Lloyd, Robert and Katheryn Dockson Professor Emeritus. Lloyd asked attendees, “What have we remembered about the Constitution?

What have we forgotten?”

Lloyd is the author of several articles, reviews, and op-eds, a book on the political economy of the New Deal, and has coauthored three books on the American founding. He has co-created four highly regarded websites on the Constitution’s origin.

“[The rewriting of American history] has created a certain tension within the American soul about whether we’re good or not. . . .

America was imperfectly founded, but the Constitution gave [us] the opportunity for expansion. In other words, the founders were founders. The founders were not finishers,” Lloyd said. He warned that only remembering the imperfection of the Constitution encourages nihilism, despair, and hatred for our country.

Reminding attendees of the context in which the founders lived at the time, Lloyd said, “We were founded by people who wanted change, who hoped for change, and thought they could direct [change] because they were enlightened . . . [they were] human beings who rose to the occasion.” Today, our task is to rise to the occasions before us, to remember all facets of our history and how our Constitution reflects who we were, who we are, and our potential for growth and change in the future. publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu/constitution-day publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu | 23

PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY School of Public Policy 24255 Pacific Coast Highway Malibu, CA 90263-4494

MEMBERS

Pete Peterson (MPP ’07) Dean Braun Family Dean’s Chair James R. Wilburn (MBA ’82) Dean Emeritus

BOARD OF ADVISORS Joseph Czyzyk Chair

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Ed Feulner Steve Forbes Robert Hertzberg

Dean’s Report Editorial Team

Frederick Ryan

William S. Mortensen Nicole Neily (MPP ’06) Viggo Butler (MBA ’80) Gary Oakland Rod Campbell (In Memoriam) Stephen Olson (MBA ’73) Frank Cornell Nishan Partamian Lisa Cowell Jason Pates (’95, MPP ’99) Doug De Groote James Piereson Maureen Grace Ronald Plotkin Peggy Grande Gary Polson Cynthia Guerrero (MPP ’04) Walter Poser Jay Hoffman James Puckett Glen Holden Kevin Richardson (JD ’82) Colene Johnson (’68) Margaret Sheppard Jeffrey Jones (MPP ’02) Eryn Witcher Tillman Jonathan Kemp (’94, MBA ’07) (’97, MPP ’99) Cathryn Kingsbury (’97, MPP ’99) Keith Tobias Robert Virtue Donald R. Knabe Carol Wallace Jong Lee Charity Wallace (’97) Darrell Levonian Ernie Maldonado (’76, MP ’80) Michael Y. Warder Barry L. Wolfe Chandra Lynn Melton Johnny Zamrzla (’99, JD ’02)

EDITOR: Jaclyn Ramirez

COPY EDITORS: Sheryl Covey (MDR ’20) Amanda Pisani

WRITERS: Anthony Barr, Floyd Black (In Memoriam), Chloe Buckler, Sheryl Covey (MDR ’20), Matt Cutler, Sara Garfinkle, Michael Huling, Ashley Trim Labosier (MPP ’09), Naomi Newman, Pete Peterson (MPP ’07), Justin Post, Jaclyn Ramirez, Abigail Scott

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