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Daphne Green Awarded Inaugural Faculty/Staff Waves of Service Award

Read more about the Pepperdine University and Graduate School of Education and Psychology Waves of Service Award recipients.

Daphne Green, laboratory manager for Pepperdine University’s Natural Science Division, was awarded the inaugural Faculty/Staff Waves of Service Award at the annual Pepperdine Honors event held Wednesday, Oct. 19, in Mullin Town Square on the Malibu campus. 

Green, who began her Pepperdine career in 1986 as the department's assistant laboratory manager, was recognized for embodying the University mission and for her contributions to ensuring a better society through selfless acts of service.

Green's dedication, passion, and enthusiasm for serving remained strong even when she faced a cancer diagnosis in 2009. Throughout six surgeries and a year of chemotherapy, she still managed to supervise the move of the Natural Science Division into the Rockwell Academic Center, oversee completion of hundreds of projects related to this move, and train three different associate lab managers. She accomplished all this in addition to performing her regular job duties with skill and grace.

"It still has to sink in," says Green, of her reaction to her award. "I was overwhelmed, because to me, it's part of my job. I wasn't looking for recognition."

She continues, "Part of my job is to make sure that they can teach labs when they have to, so if there's something I can do to facilitate that, even if that means placing orders from home or running errands after work..."

Natural Science Division chair Rodney Honeycutt explains that Green "is not confined by a job description, but displays a willingness to help solve any problem. She has a servant's heart, and all of us within the division are blessed to have her as a colleague."

Michael Feltner, the Frank R. Seaver Professor of Natural Science, echoes, "Daphne Green has provided exceptional service to the Natural Science Division and Pepperdine University. More impressively, she has provided this service will great skill, compassion, and grace while battling significant health challenges." He continues, "Daphne is a blessing to me and the faculty and staff of the Natural Science Division and most deserved of University-wide recognition as a recipient of a Staff Achievement Award.

Outside Pepperdine, Green has served as a Girl Scout Leader, an executive member of the Cairn Terrier Club of Southern California, and a classroom helper at her daughters' school. She is also a member of a local animal rescue group and a weekend volunteer at Los Cerritos Middle School for fund drives.