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.
Recent Event
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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. The book emphasizes the importance of leaders paying close attention to and quantifying
their citizens’ well-being to avoid the outcomes of widespread unhappiness that have
triggered transformative global events. It also discusses Gallup’s five key elements
of well-being and what private and public sector leaders can do to improve the lives
of people everywhere.
About the Speaker
Clifton has been with Gallup since 2008. His mission is to help organizations create thriving workplaces, connect people with their strengths, and help citizens be heard on their most pressing issues through the Gallup World Poll, a 100-year initiative spanning more than 150 countries.
Clifton serves on the board of directors for Gallup and Young Professionals in Foreign Policy and previously served on the boards of Meridian International, StreetWise Partners, and the International Business Advisory Board at the University of Nebraska. He received a bachelor's degree in political science and history from the University of Michigan and a juris doctor in international law from the University of Nebraska. He is a nonresident senior fellow at Baylor University's Institute for Studies of Religion and was awarded an honorary doctorate in humane letters from Midland University.
Past Events
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.