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 Events
President’s Speaker Series: A Conversation with Liz Truss
Thursday, April 25, 2024
12:30 PM PDT
Caruso School of Law Atrium
Liz Truss, the 56th prime minister of the United Kingdom and current member of Parliament, will discuss her latest book, Ten Years to Save the West. A proponent of limited government and individual freedom, Truss will discuss 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, and why both Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher should remain the guiding lights for conservatives on both sides of the Atlantic.
About the Speaker
Liz Truss is a long-standing advocate for limited government, low taxes and freedom, both in the UK and across the world. Truss was appointed secretary of state for International Trade and president of the Board of Trade following the Brexit vote in 2016. There, she established the UK’s first independent tariff regime in more than 40 years as the country once again took its own seat at the World Trade Organisation. Truss signed dozens of key trade deals with important partners such as Japan, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand; kicked off negotiations with the US; and submitted the UK’s application to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership.
In September 2021 Truss was appointed foreign secretary, where she acted as a galvanizing force for Global Britain, building relationships with allies around the world. She secured the release of British national Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe from an Iranian jail after nearly six years in captivity. Meanwhile, with a responsibility for post-Brexit relations with the European Union, Truss also introduced the legislation to fix the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Truss further pursued a bolder foreign policy, branding Putin’s regime "an international pariah" when summoning Russia’s ambassador to the Foreign Office. Therein, she swiftly became a leading figure within the international alliance for supporting Ukraine and its people in their hour of need. This included ensuring that the UK was the first country in Europe to send weapons to the Ukrainian armed forces. Following Boris Johnson’s resignation, Truss won an overwhelming mandate from Conservative Party members and MPs to succeed him as prime minister. She entered Downing Street with a bold and radical plan to grow the economy and rescue the country from economic stagnation.
After leading the nation in mourning the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Truss set about implementing her Plan for Growth, including a raft of tax cuts to kick-start economic prosperity, deregulation, and reforms to boost productivity. However, she faced huge resistance from those who wished to maintain the status quo. She then reached the conclusion that she could not deliver the mandate on which she had been elected and therefore stepped down.
Truss continues to serve as a member of Parliament, drawing on her experience in government
to contribute to national and international politics. Her book, Ten Years to Save The West, will be released in April 2024.
Past Events
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.
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 more 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.
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.