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News & Events Recap

June 2011

  • The Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership at Pepperdine’s School of Public Policy and Stanford University’s Center for Deliberative Democracy partnered with a coalition of non-partisan reform organizations, academics, and journalists from June 24 to 26 in Torrance, CA, to conduct California’s first-ever “Deliberative Poll” of the state’s registered voters on a wide range of state and local governance issues.
  • Featuring a panel of nationally recognized experts in dispute resolution, the School of Law’s Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution hosted the 24th annual Summer Professional Skills Program in Dispute Resolution, providing three days of unique educational opportunities for practicing professionals, from June 23 to 25.
  • The Graziadio School of Business and Management’s Master of Science in Entrepreneurship degree program hosted “LAUNCH U! Unleashing Your Inner Entrepreneur” on June 23, a two-hour hands-on event designed to help would-be business adventurers find bankable ideas that translate into profitable new start-up ventures.
  • The Graziadio School of Business and Management hosted “What's Next LA? Entrepreneurialism and California's Competitive Future” on June 21, at 7 a.m. in partnership with Beacon Economics, spotlighting a stellar line-up of leading economic and business thinkers.
  • Pepperdine hosted the 34th annual Youth Citizenship Seminar (YCS) from June 20 to 24, inviting over 250 high-achieving high school juniors from throughout Southern California to spend five memorable days interacting with today’s leaders, exploring current national and world topics, and sharing memorable interaction with their peers. This year's inspirational speakers included such notable figures as Los Angeles Dodger Tommy Lasorda, heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman, television host Chris Harrison, and TV personality Ben Stein.
  • GSEP alumnus and Graziadio School adjunct professor Leo Mallette published Writing for Conferences: A Handbook for Graduate Students and Faculty (Greenwood Press, 2011), coauthored with GSEP student Clare Bergeran, as an essential guide for graduate students who want to publish the results of the research projects of their graduate program to maximum effect.
  • Pepperdine announced Dale A. Brown to its 40-member Board of Regents. A certified public accountant and highly respected leader in the oil and gas industry, Brown has been a director of Legacy Reserves GP, LLC, and a member of the board of directors of Legacy’s general partner since the company’s founding in 2005.
  • Dan Caldwell, Distinguished Professor of Political Science, published his book, Vortex of Conflict: U.S. Policy Toward Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq (Stanford University Press), as a comprehensive reference work for a holistic view of the post-9/11 wars.
  • Over 500 people from across the country attended the 32st annual Christian Scholars’ Conference, hosted by Pepperdine from June 16 to 18. Respected scholars and writers Francis Collins, John Polkinghorne, Ted Peters, and Simran Sethi presented the plenary addresses at the conference, which was themed, “The Path of Discovering: Science, Theology, and the Academy.”
  • Thomas H. Olbricht, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Religion at Pepperdine University and founder of the Christian Scholars’ Conference, was conferred an honorary doctorate degree June 17 at a dinner event as part of this year’s conference.
  • Featuring award-winning artists, the finest singer-songwriters, best-selling authors, and socio-political satire, the Tokens radio show recorded a new episode dished up by creator Lee C. Camp and music director Jeff Taylor entitled "The Wisdom of the Skeptic" as part of the 2011 Christian Scholars' Conference on June 16.
  • The Graziadio School of Business and Management hosted its second annual Healthcare Forum on June 8, bringing together industry executives, alumni, and students to explore the potential of healthcare to succeed in achieving better patient outcomes, patient affordability, and corporate profitability.
  • In her new book, The Writer’s Compass: From Story Map to Finished Draft in 7 Stages, Nancy Ellen Dodd, editor of the Graziadio Business Review and adjunct professor of screenwriting at Seaver College, brings to writers a systematic approach to story development and revision featuring principles for both beginners and published authors.
  • The latest issue of the Graziadio Business Review, the scholarly online journal of the Graziadio School of Business and Management at Pepperdine University, went live at GBR.pepperdine.edu, covering topics such as positive organizational scholarship, financial resilience, and secondary meaning in trademark and trade dress law.
  • Two Seaver College freshmen studying international business administration were awarded highly competitive and prestigious scholarships to study abroad in Shanghai, China, during the 2011-12 school year: Nelson Khantikone received a Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship and Dujon Smith received a Boren Award for International Study.
  • Won By One, Pepperdine’s six-member a capella performing group, began its summer tour the first week of June in Anthem, Arizona, where they performed at the Canyon Church of Christ. They are currently performing in New Mexico before heading to Texas for a 13-day tour of the state. The group concluded the summer season with a performance at Sierra Bible Camp in Canyondam, California, on July 20.
  • Matthew Fong, alumnus, member of the Pepperdine University Board of Regents, and former California state treasurer, passed away June 1 after a long battle with cancer. He was 57.