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President's Speaker Series

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.


 

Upcoming Event

Jordan Peterson headshot

 President’s Speaker Series: 
A Conversation with Dr. Jordan B. Peterson

Monday, April 7, 2025
4 PM PDT
Firestone Fieldhouse

President Jim Gash will welcome the renowned Dr. Jordan B. Peterson—best-selling author, clinical psychologist, and Professor Emeritus at the University of Toronto—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. Registration is now open to attend this one-of-a-kind opportunity to hear from one of the most influential intellectuals of our time. Join us for what will be an insightful and thought-provoking event.

 

 

About the Speaker

Dr. Jordan B. Peterson is a best-selling author, clinical psychologist, prominent public intellectual, and Professor Emeritus at the University of Toronto. The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast frequently tops the charts in the education category. 

Dr. Peterson has written four books, Maps of Meaning, an academic work presenting a new scientifically grounded theory of religious and political belief and the best-selling 12 Rules for Life’ and Beyond Order, which have sold more than 14 million copies. His fourth book, We Who Wrestle with God, was released in November.

Dr. Peterson's international lecture tour has sold out more than four hundred venues, providing live insight into the structure of mythology and narrative to hundreds of thousands of people. For 20 years, he taught some of the most highly regarded courses at Harvard and the University of Toronto, while publishing more than one hundred well-cited scientific papers with his students and coauthors.

Dr. Peterson cofounded Peterson Academy, a top-quality higher education platform, accessible internationally, with hand-selected professors from top universities around the world. There are more than 30,000 students enrolled since the beta version launched publicly in September 2024. 

Dr. Peterson earned a BA from the University of Alberta and a PhD from McGill University. 

 


 

Past Events

Rick Caruso and Kevin Stitt

 

 

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.


 

Palmer Luckey

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.

 


 

Liz Truss

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.

 


 

Tani Cantil Sakauye

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.

 


 

David Schenker

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.

 


 

Richard Haass

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.

 


 

Rabbi Ari Berman

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

 


 

Jon Clifton

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.

 


 

Michael J. Abramowitz Pepperdine President Speaker Series

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.

 


 

Jonathan Haidt Pepperdine President Speaker Series

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.

 


 

Byron Johnson - Pepperdine University

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.

 


 

Matt Ford, Will Lockett III

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. 

 


 

Illustration of healthcare

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.

 


 

Bernard, Shirley, and Khalil Kinsey

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.

 


 

Robert George and Cornel West

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.