Pepperdine Leadership
Advancing the Heritage: Administration

I am very pleased to introduce the members of the administrative team, for those who may not have met them yet. They are a talented and dedicated group, and each member of the team epitomizes the spirit and heritage of Pepperdine University.

(left to right) Charles J. Pippin, Brad E. Cheves, Nancy Magnusson Durham,
Charles B. Runnels, Darryl L. Tippens, Gary A. Hanson

Chancellor Charles B. Runnels is the consummate friend-raiser for the University. His love for students is unexcelled and explains much of his great success in his more than thirty-five-year career at Pepperdine.

Vice president for Advancement and Public Affairs Brad E. Cheves is a graduate of the Pepperdine School of Law who has returned from an administrative role at SMU to a major role at the University. He is responsible for raising funds for the shortfall between income and expenses that is ever-present. He is also the senior public affairs officer.

Nancy Magnusson Durham, vice president for Planning, Information, and Technology, joined Pepperdine University in 1979. Nancy has served as a professor and administrator at Seaver College and as dean of the Graduate School of Education and Psychology, gaining valuable administration experience.

Gary A. Hanson, vice president and general counsel of Pepperdine, received his J.D. from the Pepperdine School
of Law. He joined the legal staff in 1982 and has served as general counsel since 1984. Gary oversees the external relations, regulatory affairs, risk management and insurance, and equal employment opportunity operations of
the University.

Charles J. (Jeff) Pippin is vice president for Finance and Administration. Jeff has served the University in several financial management roles since his arrival in 1981, including treasurer and chief financial officer. He received his M.B.A. from Pepperdine.

Darryl L. Tippens has served as the provost of Pepperdine since 2001. A highly regarded scholar, author, and essayist, Darryl spent fourteen years in teaching and administration at Oklahoma Christian University, later serving as the James W. Culp Professor of English at Abilene Christian University.