President's Speaker Series
The President's Speaker Series welcomes distinguished scholars and thought leaders
representing diverse points of view to examine topics and issues facing our communities
and the world today. Driven by a desire to connect deeply with our community and inspire
meaningful dialogue in the pursuit of truth, the series provides opportunities to
cultivate an engaged and impassioned collective through civil discourse.
Highlighted Event
President's Speaker Series:
A Conversation with Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson, President and Owner of In-N-Out Burger
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
5 PM PST
Firestone Fieldhouse
Join the Pepperdine community for the next President's Speaker Series event featuring Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson, President and Owner of In-N-Out Burger.
About the Speaker
From the day Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson was born in Southern California, In-N-Out Burger has been a significant part of her life. Her grandparents, Harry and Esther Snyder, founded In-N-Out Burger in 1948, and to this day, the business remains privately owned and operated. In-N-Out Burger has always been a family business, and Snyder-Ellingson intends to keep it that way.
Snyder-Ellingson began working as an associate at In-N-Out Burger in 1999. She is currently the owner and president of the company and continues to be deeply involved with every aspect of the business—including daily operations, marketing, merchandising, event planning, associate engagement, company expansion, culture, training, designing stores, and more.
Snyder-Ellingson is a visionary and servant leader committed to maintaining and enhancing the well-being of the entire In-N-Out Burger family, which now numbers more than 44,000 employees. Additionally, she directs and helps to oversee all In-N-Out Burger's philanthropic efforts through the In-N-Out Burger Foundation—which was started by her grandmother Esther, uncle Rich, and mom Lynda—and the Slave 2 Nothing Foundation and HIS EYES Foundation—founded by Snyder-Ellingson and her husband, Sean Ellingson.
The couple are also the founders and visionaries for the Army of Love, a ministry that exists for the purpose of uniting the body of Christ through training volunteers that will set them free to set others free in turn. Army of Love strives to exemplify Isaiah 61:1—"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and the opening of the prison to them that are bound."
Snyder-Ellingson is the author of "The Ins-N-Outs of In-N-Out Burger: The Inside Story of California's First Drive-Thru and How It Became a Beloved Cultural Icon," released in 2023 by Nelson Books.
With God sitting on the throne of Snyder-Ellingson's heart, she strives to balance the many responsibilities on her plate and be a good steward of what she has been given.
Social Media: Instagram: @Lynsi_Snyder | Facebook: LynsiSnyderOfficial
Upcoming Event
President's Speaker Series:
A Conversation with Olympic Gold Medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone
Wednesday, April 8, 2026 @ 8 PM PDT • Amphitheatre
Join the Pepperdine community and the Hub for Spiritual Life at the Well on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at 8 PM for the next installment of the 2025–26 President's Speaker Series featuring Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. No registration is required to attend.
No Registration Needed
About the Speaker
Past Events
A Conversation with Jeremy Wayne Tate
Pepperdine University President Jim Gash welcomed Jeremy Wayne Tate, founder and CEO of the Classic Learning Test (CLT), as part of the President's Speaker Series. Students, faculty, and community members gathered in Malibu for a discussion on the future of higher education and the role of classical learning in college admissions. Read more about Tate's conversation.
A Conversation with Andrzej Duda, Former President of Poland
Andrzej Duda, the former president of Poland, reflected on his legal background, his
path from academia to public office, and Poland's evolving role on the world stage.
The conversation drew a full audience of students, faculty, staff, and community members,
many of whom stayed after the event to greet the former Polish president and reflect
on the significance of hosting such an influential world leader on campus. Read more about Duda's conversation.
A Conversation with Dr. Jordan B. Peterson
The renowned Dr. Jordan B. Peterson—best-selling author, clinical psychologist, and
Professor Emeritus at the University of Toronto—joined Pepperdine president Jim Gash
(JD '93) for a stimulating conversation about Dr. Peterson's new book, We Who Wrestle with God, which explores the human condition through the lens of biblical narratives. The
event drew 2,600 attendees and was a one-of-a-kind opportunity to hear from one of
the most influential intellectuals of our time. Read more about Peterson's conversation.
A Conversation with Barbara Barrett
Barbara Barrett, the former secretary of the United States Air Force shared insights
from her distinguished career—including her tenure as secretary of the air force and
her pivotal role in the founding of the United States Space Force—and discussed the
impact of aerospace technology and her perspective on the meaning of freedom. Read about Barrett's conversation.
A Conversation with Rick Caruso and Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma
The University welcomed business innovator and civic leader Rick Caruso and governor
Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma who represented both sides of the political spectrum in a
discussion about the key issues surrounding the November 2024 election. Read about Caruso and Stitt's conversation.
A Conversation with Palmer Luckey
American inventor, innovator, and entrepreneur Palmer Luckey, discussed his story,
how the technology industry should ethically participate in the defense sector, ethical
applications of AI in defense, and more. Read about Luckey's conversation.
A Conversation with Liz Truss
Liz Truss, the 56th prime minister of the United Kingdom and current member of Parliament,
discussed her latest book, Ten Years to Save the West. A proponent of limited government and individual freedom, Truss discussed her opinions
on why socialism remains popular, the clear and present danger of the ever-expanding
"administrative state," why the West should not ignore the threat of an aggressive
China. Read about Truss' conversation.
What the Future Holds for Californians: A Conversation with Tani Cantil-Sakauye
Tani Cantil-Sakauye, the president and chief executive officer of the Public Policy
Institute of California and former chief justice of California, discussed her passion
for access to justice, her experiences as a woman of color in a leadership position,
and the importance of civil discourse to sound statewide public policy. Read about Cantil-Sakauye's conversation.
Washington and the Crisis in the Middle East: A Conversation with David Schenker
David Schenker, the Taube Senior Fellow at the Washington Institute and director of
the Linda and Tony Rubin Program on Arab Politics, discussed Washington and the Crisis
in the Middle East. Read about Schenker's conversation.
The Future of American Democracy: A Conversation with Richard Haass
Richard Haass, president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations and senior counselor at Centerview Partners, explored "The Future of American Democracy." Read about Haass' conversation.
Event recording is unavailable.
Challenges and Opportunities of Faith-Based Higher Education Institutions:
A Conversation with Rabbi Ari Berman
Rabbi Ari Berman, the fifth president of Yeshiva University in New York City, discussed
his perspectives on the challenges and opportunities faced by faith-based institutions
of higher education. Read about Berman's conversation.
The Global Rise of Unhappiness and How Leaders Missed It: A Conversation with Jon Clifton
Jon Clifton, chief executive officer of Gallup, a global analytics and advice firm
with a mission to help organizations create thriving workplaces, explored themes from
his 2022 Wall Street Journal best-selling book, Blind Spot: The Global Rise of Unhappiness and How Leaders Missed It. Read about Clifton's conversation.
The State of Freedom Around the World: A Conversation with Michael J. Abramowitz
In the first installment of the 2023 President's Speaker Series, Michael J. Abramowitz,
president of Freedom House, a nonpartisan voice dedicated to supporting democracy,
explored the growing threats to democracy across the world and the consecutive decline
in global freedom over the last 16 years. Joining Abramowitz for the discussion was
Kiron Skinner, Taube Professor of International Relations and Politics at the Pepperdine
School of Public Policy, and president Jim Gash.
Free Speech and the Academy: A Conversation with Jonathan Haidt
Jonathan Haidt, professor of ethical leadership at the New York University Stern School
of Business and author of New York Times best-seller The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion, led a discussion on the topic of free speech in the academy at the last installment
of the President's Speaker Series 2022.
The Impact of Faith on Human Flourishing and the Common Good: A Conversation with Byron Johnson
Byron Johnson, Distinguished Professor of the Social Sciences at Baylor University,
led the second installment of the President's Speaker Series with a discussion on
the impact of faith on human flourishing and the potential for religion to facilitate
and contribute to the common good of all humanity.
The Dream King: How the Dream of Martin Luther King, Jr. Is Being Fulfilled to Heal Racism in America
The first installment of the 2022 President's Speaker Series welcomed Will Ford III
and Matt Lockett for a powerful exploration of their book The Dream King: How the Dream of Martin Luther King, Jr. Is Being Fulfilled to Heal
Racism in America. The coauthors discussed the history of the civil rights movement, the power of prayer,
and offered insights about healing the racial divide across the nation.
Vaccines: Where Are We and Where Are We Going?
In light of the global and national focus on the development and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, the President's Speaker Series welcomed a panel of leading medical, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology experts who explored "Vaccines: Where Are We and Where Are We Going?" on March 29, 2021, via Zoom.
The engaging panel discussion featured Stéphane Bancel, CEO of Moderna, Stephen M.
Hahn, former commissioner of food and drugs at the US Food and Drug Administration,
and Jonathan B. Perlin, president of the Clinical Services Group and chief medical
officer of HCA Healthcare, in conversation about the current state of the vaccines.
Dee Anna Smith ('86), CEO of Sarah Cannon, the Cancer Institute of HCA Healthcare,
and chair of the Pepperdine Board of Regents, moderated the discussion.
The Kinsey African American Art & History Collection: "The Myth of Absence"
On February 24, 2021, the President's Speaker Series welcomed alumnus Bernard Kinsey
(MBA '73), his wife, Shirley (MA '76), and their son, Khalil, who presented "The Kinsey
African American Art & History Collection - 'The Myth of Absence.'" This event was
part of Pepperdine's celebration of Black History Month that seeks to uplift Black
voices, celebrate Black achievements, and serve as moments of reflection and remembrance
of Black history in the United States.
Honesty and Courage, Humility and Hope: Robert George and Cornel West in Dialogue
On January 12, 2021, Robert George, McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence and director
of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University,
and Cornel West, professor of the practice of public philosophy at Harvard University
and Professor Emeritus at Princeton University, discussed the deep character required
to engage thoughtfully and respectfully in vibrant conversations that explore diverse
viewpoints for the inaugural lecture of the President's Speaker Series.
Suggest a Speaker or Topic
The Pepperdine community is invited to participate in developing a robust roster of speakers with diverse backgrounds and perspectives for the President's Speaker Series. Submit a speaker or topic for consideration by completing the suggestion form. All submissions will be considered and evaluated based on programming needs.