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News and Events

News and Events Recap

February 2012


  • The Graziadio School of Business and Management at Pepperdine University reconvened the 2011-12 Dean's Executive Leadership Series with Blake Irving, executive vice president and chief products officer of Yahoo!, one of the largest websites in the United States. The evening began with a reception prior to the presentation on Wednesday, February 29.
  • The Pepperdine Digital Commons at the Pepperdine Libraries is now live, providing a centralized platform for Pepperdine journals, faculty webpages, conference proceedings, student research, and e-scholarship. The collection aims to make Pepperdine's scholarly output accessible, secure, and search engine optimized for online discovery.
  • Two-time Grammy-nominated, Platinum-selling pianist and songwriter Jim Brickman performed a concert at Pepperdine's Center for the Arts as part of his "Romanza Tour" at on February 27. Joining him was guest vocalists Anne Cochran and Benjamin Utecht.
  • Sixteen-year-old Canadian pianist Jan Lisiecki presented a sold out performance of piano classics Feb. 26 at Raitt Recital Hall. Dubbed "...the most 'complete' pianist of his age," by BBC Music Magazine, Lisiecki made his orchestral debut at the age of nine and has since given over 50 performances with orchestras worldwide.
  • The Flora L. Thornton Opera Program presented four performances of Johann Strauss, Jr.'s comic operetta, Die Fledermaus, from February 22 to 25, at Smothers Theatre. Directed by Grammy Award-winning Pepperdine opera director Henry Prince, two alternating student casts performed, accompanied by the Pepperdine University Orchestra under the baton of Tony Cason.
  • The Pepperdine University Fine Arts Division presented a faculty/guest artist recital featuring Pepperdine ensemble coach and guitar instructor Anastasios Comanescu, a finalist at the 2009 California A.S.T.A. competition and grand prizewinner at the 2011 Pacific Guitar Festival, and Slovenian guitarist Mak Grgic, February 20.
  • World-renowned classical guitarist and Pepperdine distinguished professor of music Christopher Parkening, the recipient of two Grammy nominations in the category of Best Classical Recording, presented his Spring 2012 master class on February 18. The class was open to the public to enjoy the classical guitar as performed by students who auditioned in January.
  • The Diane and Guilford Glazer Institue for Jewish Studies presented a two-day conference titled, "Surveying Sacred Space: An Interdisciplinary, Interfaith Symposium,"  February 17 and 18. Seven specialist scholars of sacred space from universities across the country came to Pepperdine to engage and collaborate with faculty and students from different divisions in an interdisciplinary symposium on space, place, and religious meaning in the Abrahamic and other traditions.
  • The Graziadio School of Business and Management and ChinaMart® Los Angeles hosted a seminar on U.S.-China trade relations and shared economic interests on February 16 for members of a business delegation from the People's Republic of China and U.S. business officials as part of Vice President Xi Jinping's visit to Los Angeles.
  • Michael Reagan, the elder son of President Ronald Reagan and a former American radio host and Republican strategist, discussed his book The New Reagan Revolution February 16. Reagan gave a perspective no one else can offer, including both poignant and revealing stories of his father.
  • Pepperdine University's Black Students Association highlighted this year's Black History Month with the theme "Recovering Oral Tradition." As part of that examination, Seaver College associate professor of history Stewart Davenport spoke on "Oral Tradition and the Slave Trade" on February 15.
  • James Piereson, president and trustee of the William E. Simon Foundation, presented the 2012 Charles and Rosemary Licata Lecture at the School of Public Policy on February 14. The lecture series aims to unite students, alumni, and community leaders with leading academics and practitioners shaping policy matters in the new century.
  • Pepperdine alumna Kelly O'Rear ('07), marketing manager of journals at Sage Publications, continued the 2011-12 Nonprofit Leadership Speaker Series on  February 13.
  • The Women in Public Policy student group partnered with professor Colleen Graffy, director of Global Programs at the School of Law, to host the General Consul of Finland Kristi Westphalen on February 13.
  • The Boone Center for the Family hosted a week of workshops and seminars that explored college dating and marriage from February 13 to 16.
  • The featured highlight of Relationship Week included a Love Booth, where students could stop and send a note of appreciation to someone they care about.
  • Lois Lee, a pioneer in saving children who are victims of human sex trafficking, was the keynote speaker at the third installment of the 2012 Dean's Distinguished Lecture Series, which helps support the GSEP mission of educating students to inspire lasting change in their communities and lead lives of service, purpose and leadership.
  • Filmmaker and director Michael Nash screened his most recent film, Climate Refugees, on February 9. The free screening explored the global phenomenon of people being displaced from their homes as a result of an environmental disaster—making them climate refugees.
  • Pepperdine hosted a panel of seven writers and development executives on February 9 to respond to questions from those who wanted to break into screenwriting in Hollywood. The MFA program in Writing for Screen and Television and the program's student writing club, Courier 12, directed by Leslie Kreiner Wilson, hosted the event.
  • The Center for the Arts presented a performance by Australian guitarist Tommy Emmanuel on February 7 and 8. Emmanuel, a two-time Grammy nominee, is one of Australia's most respected musicians. The legendary guitarist has a professional career that spans five decades and continues to intersect with some of the finest musicians throughout the world.
  • Dennis Palumbo, Hollywood screenwriter and Pepperdine alumnus (M.A. Counseling Psychology '88), discussed his latest novel, Fever Dream February 8 as part of the GSEP Alumni Author Event Series. Fever Dream is an electrifying, non-stop thrill ride featuring psychologist Daniel Rinaldi, a trauma expert who consults with the Pittsburgh Police.
  • The Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership at the School of Public Policy (SPP) hosted author William Voegeli, a senior editor of the Claremont Review of Books and the author of Never Enough: America's Limitless Welfare State (Encounter Books), on February 8 for a discussion about a tax-free America titled "Just Say No: The Case for Anti-tax Absolutism."
  • Tommy Hawkins, former Notre Dame and Los Angeles Lakers basketball star, and radio and TV broadcaster, appeared at Pepperdine on February 7 reading from his new book of poetry, Life's Reflections: Poetry for the People. Hawkins' book is an eclectic collection of vernacular poetic narratives.
  • Steve Monsma, former professor emeritus of political science at Pepperdine University, returned to campus to discuss his new book, Do We Truly Believe in Pluralism and Diversity? Faith-Based Organizations' Religious Freedom Rights on February 6. The book argues that faith-based organizations that provide health, educational, and social services to the public are facing increasing legal pressures to tone down or abandon their religion-based practices.
  • The Office of Intercultural Affairs at Pepperdine University hosted "A Night of Gospel" February 3 to kick off Black History Month. The event celebrated the art forms that originated in African American culture to glorify God.
  • Tim Perrin was named the sixth president of Lubbock Christian University (LCU) in Lubbock, Texas, on February 3. An alumnus of Lubbock Christian, Perrin is currently vice dean of Pepperdine's School of Law. He will assume his new duties June 1, 2012.
  • In its 19th year of showcasing the exuberance and talent of students, Dance In Flight returned to Pepperdine University from February 2 to 4. The theme of "Technology vs. Nature" was explored by 51 student dancers this year, from routines devised by 14 choreographers and 12 student committee members, ranging from including jazz, hip-hop, tap, ballet, modern, ballroom, and world dance.
  • Pepperdine University Libraries, in partnership with the Diane and Guilford Glazer Institute of Jewish Studies and the Center for Entertainment, Media, and Culture, presented an opening reception on February 1 for "Art Survives," an exhibition of art work by Holocaust survivors, which was followed by a screening of As Seen Through These Eyes, the film that inspired the exhibit.