Phase I Finalists - November 2013
Meet the Waves of Innovation Phase I Finalists
These finalists have passed Phase I of Waves of Innovation and will now progress on to Phase II. These successful applicants will receive one-time planning grants up to $5,000 (with the amount determined solely by the reviewing committee) to assist in preparing a complete proposal for consideration.
These planning grants are intended to provide support for further exploration and additional attention to feasibility and proposal detail. These finalists will then present their proposals in a Waves of Innovation Talk, or "WIT" event, for the Pepperdine community in Smothers Theatre on Wednesday, January 15, 2014.
Joe Fritsch (Seaver College, Faculty)
Biodegradable Plastics Prepared with Optimized, Environmentally Friendly Catalysts
A project which seeks to prepare plastics from environmentally-sustainable resources with environmentally friendly catalysts. The purpose is to make our school one in which research to replace plastics made of polyethylene with more environmentally friendly plastics manufactured with Poly-lactic acid promoting student research and learning as well as providing grant opportunities and entrepreneurial partnerships with polymers companies.
Mark Chen and Victoria Stay (Graduate School of Education and Psychology, Faculty; and GSEP Learning Technologies EdD Candidate)
Center for Gameful Design
A proposal to develop a games center for Pepperdine to support learning initiatives for post-secondary instruction in addition to also providing a space for designers and researchers to make and study games and gaming practice.
Sue Oh and Jennifer Escoto (Seaver College, Undergraduate Students)
College Connection
A proposal to provide inner-city students with a service group formed of Seaver College undergraduates who will act as mentors and provide support and advice during their college application process. The goal is to educate and inspire these students about the various opportunities that are within their reach and to, hopefully, have them enroll in four-year universities.
Teri Tompkins (Graziadio School of Business and Management, Faculty)
Designing a Curriculum and Delivery System for Next-Generation Executive Students
A proposal to study how Pepperdine can create a next-generation EMBA program that allows students from other parts of the country (and outside of the USA) to attend Pepperdine classes, and allows our traditional EMBA students greater opportunities to take emphasis courses.
June Schmieder-Ramirez (Graduate School of Education and Psychology, Faculty)
The Doctorate in Global Leadership (PhD)
A Proposal that a PhD in Global Leadership be instituted at the Washington, DC Pepperdine University site and directed by the EDOL committee. This program will prepare some of Pepperdine's most intellectually curious and creative minds, taught by some of the most innovative researchers, for high-level faculty or industry positions at the best organizations and schools in the world where they will help to usher in a "bold future".
Charles Hall (Seaver College, Staff)
Shipboard Education
A proposal to expose students to unconventional areas of the world, particularly developing countries, through a shipboard educational program. Life on the ship will provide academic courses, spiritual life development, service and cultural training to prepare students to visit various port cities. The ship will explore the coast of western Africa, Biblical sites in the Mediterranean, India and Sri Lanka, and someday a 15-week global voyage.
Rhiannon Bailard (Pepperdine University, Staff)
The Eden Project
A project designed by a multidisciplinary stakeholder committee of faculty, staff, and student representatives, which seeks to transition an existing residence hall into a sustainable or "green" residence hall with sustainable building retrofits and a comprehensive educational campaign wherein students learn by example and through peer-to-peer modeling. The Project is designed to educate students about sustainable living, reduce consumption, save money, test sustainable building solutions, and increase the internal and external visibility of the University's sustainability program thereby enhancing Pepperdine's reputation and brand.
Michael Ditmore and Ted McAllister (Seaver College and School of Public Policy, Faculty)
Pepperdine Executive Preceptorial
A proposal to establish faculty facilitated preceptorials bringing together 15-20 professionals who seek opportunities to combine social and intellectual stimulation, who want the structure of a class to read interesting and often classic works and who enjoy the give and take of mature conversation about serious subjects.