Skip Navigation

News and Events

News & Events recaps

April 2008

  • Pepperdine University presents the 65th annual Bible Lectures through Friday, May 2. This year's program, themed "The Upside Down Kingdom: Living the Sermon on the Mount," is the largest program in Pepperdine history, with 272 classes and 15 singing and drama groups. Nearly 5,000 visitors are expected to attend from 40 states and more than 20 countries around the world. Seven lecturers-Don McLaughlin, Rubel Shelly, Randy Harris, Igor Egriev, Gary Selby, Buddy Bell, and Jerry Taylor-will lead attendees on a journey through what it means to be the kingdom and live as kingdom people. Additional lecture series include the Family Builder Series, the Teen Series, and the For Kids Series.
  • The Pepperdine men's volleyball team has earned the #2 seed at this week's NCAA Championships and will meet MPSF rival Long Beach State in the national semifinals Thursday, May 1. The Waves (16-10) will play the third-seeded 49ers (23-6) at approximately 8 p.m. at the UC Irvine Bren Events Center in Irvine, Calif. This is Pepperdine's 15th appearance at the NCAA Championships and the sixth since the 2000 season. The Waves have won five national championships (1978, 1985, 1986, 1992, 2005), second-most among all NCAA schools. The Waves were the #5 seed for the MPSF Tournament but went on the road to upset fourth-seeded UCLA and top-seeded Long Beach State before defeating second-seeded BYU in a dramatic five-game tournament finale on Saturday night in Long Beach.
  • Portfolio of Creative Work, a new exhibit featuring drawings, paintings, and photography from members of the Pepperdine Public Affairs team, will be on display at the Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art Wednesday, Apr. 30, through Friday, May 2. The exhibit showcases works of art from 10 members of the Public Affairs team. Featured artists include Maz Ameli, graphic designer; Jerry Derloshon, director of Public Relations and News; Rick Gibson, associate vice president for public affairs; Allen Haren, multimedia producer/broadcast engineer; Lyric Hassler, senior public relations advisor; Keith Lungwitz, senior art director; Matthew Midura, executive director of University Communications; Brett Sizemore, director of Creative Services; Gayle Wheatley, art director; and Vincent Way, manager of Editorial Services.
  • Seaver College Graduation 2008: He called Sandy Koufax's perfect game in 1965, Hank Aaron's record-breaking home run in 1974, and Kirk Gibson's World Series home run in 1988. 
  • This year Vin Scully, "Voice of the Los Angeles Dodgers," will make the call 650 students and their parents have eagerly anticipated: "Congratulations, Seaver College Class of 2008." Jamie McCourt, president of the Los Angeles Dodgers, will introduce Scully as the commencement speaker. The famed sportscaster for the Dodgers baseball team will receive an honorary doctorate. Clinical psychologist, grief counselor, and author Leslie Landon Matthews will be honored as a Distinguished Alumnus.
  • Both the Pepperdine women and men’s tennis teams recently won West Coast Conference (WCC) championships. The No. 18 women’s tennis team captured its sixth consecutive WCC crown and 20th in Pepperdine history with a 4-0 sweep over Saint Mary’s in the finals of the WCC tournament on Sunday, Apr. 20. With a 4-0 win over Saint Mary’s in the WCC finals on the same day, the men’s tennis team won its 39th WCC Championship. The Waves brought home the WCC trophy for the 18th year in a row.
  • Pepperdine University has signed a contract to become the newest member on iTunes U, a service platform provided by Apple that will enable the Pepperdine community to distribute digital videos and audio recordings over the Internet. Participation in the program will transform the public face of the university by allowing diverse members of the Pepperdine community and interested public to enjoy everything from classroom lectures to special events on a computer or a listening device like an iPod. Led by the Pepperdine University Libraries, with support from key stakeholders, the launch of the service will dramatically extend the reach of the Pepperdine learning community. Pepperdine is currently in phase one of the roll out process and will ensure public access to the site upon the completion of phase three. 
  • The Pepperdine women’s golf team captured the 2008 West Coast Conference Championship on Tuesday, Apr. 15, by one of the largest margins in tournament history, while senior Leanne Bowditch and freshman Taylore Karle shared the individual title. Pepperdine coach Laurie Gibbswas named WCC Coach of the Year for the ninth time and the fourth year in a row. 
  • Pepperdine University’s Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art will showcase the accomplished artwork of Seaver College seniors majoring in fine arts in the Senior Student Art Exhibition Ransomed, on display beginning Thursday, Apr. 10, through Saturday, Apr. 26. The exhibit features 13 students' works of art in diverse mediums ranging from painting and sculpture to sculpture installations and projected images. Artists on display include Chelsea Akins, Jaeae An, Carter Catchings, Caroline Coffee, April Felchner, Stephanie Griffin, Kristin John, Joseph Mullins, Emily Rath, Briana Scammehorn, Lange Sykes, Kelly Voyles, and Matt Welde.
  • Rick Marrs has been appointed dean of Seaver College following the retirement of W. David Baird. "Rick Marrs is an exceptional scholar, teacher, administrator, and human being," noted Darryl Tippens, provost and chief academic officer. "Rick knows Seaver College exceedingly well, having served as the chair of the religion division for seven years and having served as associate dean for five years. He is widely admired for his capacity to work well with others, to solve difficult problems, and to bring people together."
  • Pepperdine University has begun efforts to establish the Jack F. Kemp Institute for Political Economy at the Pepperdine School of Public Policy. At this point in his life and career, the time is right to honor Kemp's public service, perpetuate and advance his contribution to American political thought, and help educate the next generation of political leadership. The Pepperdine School of Public Policy's unique commitment to American democracy, free markets, and Judeo-Christian values makes it a fitting home for an important part of the Kemp legacy.
  • The Graziadio School of Business and Management (GSBM) invites the Malibu and Pepperdine communities to celebrate the 2008 graduation of GSBM students on Saturday, Apr. 12, at 10:30 a.m. in Firestone Fieldhouse on the Malibu campus. Alejandro Bustamante, president of Plantronics Mexico (PLAMEX), will receive an Honorary Doctorate. Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, owner and CEO of Pace Communications, the largest custom publishing house in the nation, will be honored as Distinguished Alumna. 
  • The School of Public Policy will hold its 2008 commencement ceremony at Alumni Park on Friday, Apr. 11, at 10:30 a.m. on the Malibu campus. Stephen Olson, chair and chief executive officer of the Olson Company, will receive the Honorary Doctor of Laws award. SPP alumnus Andrew Weathers will be honored with the Alumni of the Year award. 
  • Gary S. Selby, Blanche E. Seaver Professor in Communication, authored a new book titledMartin Luther King and the Rhetoric of Freedom: The Exodus Narrative in America's Struggle for Civil Rights. Published by Baylor University Press, the book explores the way that King and other leaders invoked the Exodus story, so prominent in African American culture, in order to create the sense that participants in the Civil Rights movement were reliving the miraculous story in their own day.
  • Mark Noll will discuss "We Are What (and How) We Sing: The Significance of Hymnody in American Religious History" on Friday, Apr. 11, as part of the W. David Baird Distinguished Lecture Series. Now in its 10th anniversary year, the W. David Baird Distinguished Lecture Series brings nationally renowned speakers to the University to give a 45-minute lecture followed by a 45-minute question-and-answer period. The series provides the Pepperdine and local communities the opportunity to hear a variety of outstanding national scholars and professionals who are exceptional examples in their field.
  • Thomas J. Stipanowich, academic director of the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University School of Law has been named the American Bar Association's recipient of the D'Alemberte/Raven award. The award recognizes members of the dispute resolution community who have "contributed significantly to the field by developing new or innovative programs, improvements in service and efficiency, research and writings in the area of dispute resolution or continuing education programs." Stipanowich received the award at the ABA Dispute Resolution Section's Spring Conference in Seattle, Washington. The award is named for Robert D. Raven of San Francisco and Talbot D'Alemberte of Tallahassee, former ABA presidents and also past leaders within the ABA in the area of dispute resolution.
  • One of the best known and most quoted plays in the English language comes to Pepperdine as the University's Fine Arts Division Theatre Department presents William Shakespeare's tragedy Hamlet. Bryan Humphrey directs the student cast. Humphrey's unconventional production sets the 16 actors in a run-through "rehearsal" of the play, highlighting the themes of truth and appearance in Shakespeare's work. Pepperdine adjunct professor Rick Aglietti's set design consists of multilevel platforms in various stages of construction, while resident designer Carol Ann Hack's costumes are basic rehearsal clothes with occasional Shakespearian elements added.