Distinguished Alumni

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Pepperdine is committed to celebrating the exceptional achievements of its alumni, and we want to provide you, as a member of the Pepperdine family, with a platform that honors these distinguished individuals. Each year, prior to graduation, Pepperdine schools select Distinguished Alumnus Award recipients to address the graduating class. These alumni are recognized for their outstanding personal and professional accomplishments in their respective fields and for emulating Pepperdine's mission by living lives of purpose, service, and leadership.

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Congratulations to the 2024 Distinguished Alumnus Award Honorees!

Dr. Sevet Johnson — Sevet Johnson

(MA ’04)
School of Education & Psychology
BIO

Sevet Johnson

Sevet E. Johnson is the county executive officer of Ventura County, California, a position she has held for two years following her service as interim county executive officer. In this role she oversees a budget of nearly $3 million and has managed $164 million of American Rescue Plan Act funding. Leading more than 10,000 employees across 27 departments, Dr. Johnson is responsible for ensuring the well-being of her constituents in matters of public safety, environmental concerns, and health systems. Prior to serving in these capacities, Dr. Johnson worked in several roles at the Ventura County Health Care Agency. Beginning as a clinic administrator and senior psychologist, she concluded her tenure as behavioral health director and chief deputy director of the agency as a whole. During her time at the healthcare agency, she hired, trained, and supervised clinical staff and oversaw the enforcement of quality assurance procedures.

Dr. Johnson has taught psychology as an adjunct professor at both the University of Phoenix and California Lutheran University. In 2023 she was named among the Top 50 Women in Business by the Pacific Coast Business Times. She is a past recipient of the Women of Distinction Award from the Girl Scouts of California Central Coast and in 2022 was honored with the Pioneer Award from the Ventura County chapter of the NAACP. Sevet Johnson received her bachelor of arts in English and literature from the University of Massachusetts Boston in 2001. She earned a master of arts in marriage and family therapy from the Pepperdine Graduate School of Education and Psychology in 2004 and in 2009 completed her doctor of psychology at Alliant International University.

Dale A. Brown

(’64)
Seaver College
BIO

Dale A. Brown

Dale A. Brown is a principal owner of Moriah Group, a holding company based in Midland, Texas, with ventures in the oil and gas, real estate, technology, construction, and financial industries. Through its philanthropic arm, the Moriah Foundation, the organization supports various faith communities across the country. Additionally, Mr. Brown is also a founder and chair of the board for Petroleum Strategies, a company that facilitates large-scale energy asset transactions.

Upon completing his undergraduate studies, Mr. Brown began his career at a Los Angeles accounting firm specializing in stock brokerage audits and taxation. Working alongside entrepreneur Newton Becker, he was also involved in the early development of the Becker CPA Review course.

Mr. Brown has been actively dedicated to serving Churches of Christ and its various ministries throughout his adult life. In the late 1960s, he helped plant a church in Brazil and has since visited the country several times to engage in additional mission efforts. He has offered his time and service to a number of Christian schools in his local region and to the Christian Chronicle, an international newspaper for Churches of Christ. He served on the board of trustees at Abilene Christian University for 23 years and has served his alma mater, Pepperdine University, as a member of the Board of Regents since 2011. Mr. Brown also sits on the Boone Center for the Family’s Advisory Board and on several other boards at organizations focusing on religious liberty, healthy marriages, food production education, and church planting.

Dale Brown earned his bachelor of science in accounting from George Pepperdine College in 1964.

Gary A. Hanson

(JD ’80)
Pepperdine Caruso School of Law
BIO

Gary A. Hanson

Gary A. Hanson is senior executive vice president of Pepperdine University, to which he has dedicated nearly his entire career following his graduation from the Caruso School of Law in 1980. Prior to his current role, Mr. Hanson has served in a number of capacities at Pepperdine for more than four decades, sharing in a great deal of the University’s history and helping to shape much of its growth.

While attending Caruso Law, Mr. Hanson served as student body president and received the American Board of Trial Advocates award for achievement in the art of trial advocacy. Shortly after completing his legal education, he was named associate general counsel for Pepperdine in 1982 and then general counsel in 1984. After 16 years of service in the latter position, he added vice president to his title and oversaw several facets of University functions including insurance, risk, equal opportunity, and emergency preparedness.

In 2006 Mr. Hanson became executive vice president and chief operating officer, a position in which he helped guide the institution through a number of regulatory and compliance areas, from administrative, financial, legal, and governmental functions to construction projects, campus planning, and physical plant operations. Throughout his tenure at Pepperdine, Mr. Hanson has been involved in many milestone moments that have laid the framework for the University’s exciting future, most recently playing integral roles in the establishment of Pepperdine’s newest international campus at Château d’Hauteville near Vevey, Switzerland, and the forthcoming College of Health Science.

Mr. Hanson has taught at both the Caruso School of Law and Seaver College on topics including negotiation, business law, and international communications. In 2015 he received the Margaret J. Weber Ally Award for his contributions to fostering a more equitable and diverse workplace.

Gary Hanson received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah and his juris doctor from the Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law.

Denise A. Roberson

(MBA ’14, PKE 131)
Graziadio Business School
BIO

Denise A. Roberson

Denise A. Roberson has been a trusted C-suite executive for more than 25 years. As a purpose-driven leader and change agent, she is leading some of the biggest brands in the world to actuate their business case for purpose as it pertains to building an engine for growth and innovation, driving 21st-century value creation, and using business as a force for good.

As Omnicom and the TBWA agencies’ first-ever chief purpose officer, Ms. Roberson served Fortune 500 companies including: Apple, Google, Sephora, Disney, and PepsiCo, and has been instrumental in helping businesses connect their brands with purpose and sustainability to create global impact across the stakeholder ecosystem. She is a respected speaker, author, and advisor whose expertise has been sought out by Adweek, Forbes, Cannes Lions, HBR, and the United Nations, among others. Ms. Roberson previously led global communications firm Jadi Communications as its chief executive officer for nearly two decades, offering advertising, marketing, and strategic services to a number of high-profile clients such as National Geographic, Procter & Gamble, Sony, and Mazda Motorcars.

Her work exploring how to bridge generational gaps and support women in the workplace was recently featured in Harvard Business Review’s book Overcoming Ageism as part of the “Women at Work” series. She is currently a doctoral candidate at Switzerland’s Business School Lausanne, where she is researching the links between a corporation’s commitments to sustainability and purpose to the creation of brand value.

In 2018 Ms. Roberson joined the faculty of her alma mater, serving as a professor in the Graziadio Business School’s Presidents and Key Executives MBA program. She also offers her unique guidance to the Pepperdine community as a Graziadio and Center for Women in Leadership board member. Additionally, she serves as a member of the board for Oxford Leadership, HealRWorld, and Marvel Innovations.

Denise Roberson received her bachelor’s degree in business and communications from Chapman University. In 2014 she completed her master of business administration in the Pepperdine Graziadio Business School’s Presidents and Key Executives MBA program.

Shelby Eli Steele

(MPP ’11)
School of Public Policy
BIO

Shelby Eli Steele

Shelby Eli Steele is an award-winning filmmaker and the owner and president of Man of Steele Productions. Serving in multiple capacities as director, writer, and producer, he has created several feature-length films including a self-penned drama and a number of feature-length and short documentaries. His work often explores current cultural issues and discussions of race, offering perspectives of those from regions across the nation.

Among Mr. Steele’s documentaries is the recently developed Killing America, which explores antisemitism in the Bay Area. He collaborated with his father, Shelby Steele, to produce What Killed Michael Brown?, which examined the death of a St. Louis-area teen that generated national debate in 2014. Other films include the award-winning 2005 drama What’s Bugging Seth?, for which Mr. Steele wrote the script. In addition to his contributions to the screen, Mr. Steele’s written work has appeared in such publications as the Los Angeles Times, Newsweek, Quillette, and Commentary Magazine.

Eli Steele received his bachelor’s degree in literature from Claremont McKenna College in 1996 and earned his master of public policy from the Pepperdine School of Public Policy in 2011.

Keith Dorsey

(MBA ’13, PKE 130)
Graziadio Business School
BIO

Dr. Keith Dorsey

Dorsey is a managing partner and US practice leader of CEO and Board Services at Boyden, a global executive search firm in 45 countries. His practice provides comprehensive search and consulting services to improve board governance, board refreshment, and CEO succession planning. He is also an accomplished researcher, author, advisor, and board member who is deeply passionate about promoting diversity, governance, and strategic growth within the private and public sectors.

He has more than 25 years of leadership experience in the human capital management industry. He was the senior vice president of sales at Fortune 500 company Aon and executive vice president and global head of sales at its divested company, Alight Solutions. Prior to his service at Aon, Dorsey was a senior leader at Fortune 1000 company Paychex, Inc., and served his country in the US Air Force.

Dorsey is a National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) certified director and was honored on the 2023 NACD Directorship 100 list, which recognizes influential corporate directors and governance experts. He serves on the boards of Vimly Benefit Solutions, the Pepperdine University Graziadio Business School, and the Pacific Crest Trail Association and is the chair of the City of La Quinta’s Financial Advisory Commission. Dorsey received a bachelor of science in business administration from Charter Oak State College. He earned his master of business administration in the Presidents and Key Executives program at Graziadio Business School in 2013. In 2022 he completed his doctorate in organizational change and leadership at the University of Southern California.

https://bschool.pepperdine.edu/newsroom/articles/pepperdine-graziadio-to-honor-distinguished-alumnus-keith-dorsey.htm

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Past Distinguished Alumnus Award Recipients

Years 1996 - 2001
Years 2002 - 2006
Years 2007 - 2011
Years 2012 - 2023

1996 Rick Caruso JD ’83
1996 Donna Kasser ’66, MA ’76, MS ’84, MS ’87
1996 Janet Kerr ’75, JD ’78
1996 Arthur Southam MBA ’92
1996 Robert Van Dine MBA ’91
1997 Al-Saud Ahmad JD ’88
1997 Russell Bach MBA ’78, PKE 28
1997 Holly Bridges ’77
1997 Viggo Butler MBA ’80
1997 Sharon Draper ’69
1997 Mike Phares ’96
1997 Reid Rutherford ’75
1997 Edward Yang MBA ’88, PKE 75
1998 Robert Dudley ’75
1998 Morteza Ejabat MBA ’81
1998 Clyde Oden MBA ’75, PKE 15
1998 Sherry Skidmore MA ’68
1999 James Brinton ’57
1999 Lorraine Brinton ’60
1999 Christos Cotsakos ’83
1999 Steven Goldman MBA ’89, PKE 76
1999 Mark Hiepler JD ’88
1999 Marcus Hiles MBA ’92, PKE 85
1999 Bobbie Scoggins ’92
2000 Cary Bren ’81, MBA ’98
2000 Boyd Clarke MS ’94
2000 Jami Miscik ’80
2000 Arthur Rogers MBA ’90
2000 Pierre-Richard Prosper JD ’89
2000 Ziegfred Young MS ’83, EdD ’88
2001 Thomas Burnett MBA ’95
2001 Shirley Choi MBA'93
2001 James Crowe MBA ’82
2001 Steven Fazio MBA ’93 EdD ’99
2001 Leonardo Marmol ’60, MA ’62

2002 Michael Bekins ’77
2002 A. Ronald Berryman ’62, MBA ’67
2002 Raymond Boucher JD ’84
2002 Nina Curtis BSM ’99, MBA ’99
2002 Matt Harris MBA ’95
2002 Jeff Jani ’84
2002 Carl Lambert ’78
2002 Audre Levy ’92
2002 Linda Ruffin ’87
2002 Dwayne Simmons ’80
2003 Robert Ctvrtlik ’85
2003 Michael Klein MBA ’97, PKE 97
2003 Ted Leenerts MA ’90
2003 Ruth Novodor ’78, MBA ’90
2003 Richard Phillips ’87
2003 Sylvia Rousseau EdD ’99
2003 Gregory Totten JD ’82
2004 Richard Alonzo ’87
2004 Rhonda Brinkley-Kennedy MA ’86
2004 Frank Cornell MBA ’78, EdD ’04
2004 John Monroe ’79
2004 Morin Seymour BSM ’71, MBA ’72
2005 Sara Crosby-Hartman MBA ’93
2005 Ned Doffoney EdD ’91
2005 D. K. Grossman MBA ’92
2005 Marilyn S. Wright MA ’89, PsyD ’95
2005 Victor Tsao MBA ’86
2006 Gloria Austin MBA ’87
2006 Michael Bidart JD ’74
2006 Raymond Boucher JD ’84
2006 Robert Creson ’75
2006 Richard Cordova MBA ’84
2006 Lloyd Hedstrom ’51, MA ’54
2006 Pamela Hemminger JD ’76
2006 Lillian Maimone BSM ’96
2006 Marco Maimone MBA ’94
2006 Geoffrey Palmer JD ’75
2006 Lisa Stern JD ’83
2006 Eryn Witcher Tillman ’97, MPP ’99

2007 Katherine K. Freberg JD ’90
2007 Forescee M. Hogan-Rowles MBA ’96
2007 Bradley Ogden Hudson PsyD ’90
2007 Graciela Italiano-Thomas EdD ’97
2007 Denny Lewis ’65
2007 James R. Marshall MBA ’93
2007 Robert C. Marshall MBA ’76, PKE 19
2007 Arif Shakeel MBA ’81
2008 Alejandro Bustamante MBA ’82
2008 Luis Faura MBA ’04, PKE 111
2008 Leslie Landon Matthew ’87
2008 Montgomery "Monty" F. Moran JD ’93
2008 Monica Grace Rivera Mindt MA ’94
2008 Andrew Weather ’98, MPP ’00
2009 Alan Beard ’94, MPP ’99
2009 Neva Chauppette PsyD ’92
2009 John Figueroa MBA ’97
2009 Fiona Ma MBA ’00
2009 Sam Schmidt ’86, MBA ’87
2009 Jennifer Trubenbach MA ’04
2010 André Birotte, Jr. JD ’91
2010 David M. Bowman MBA ’96
2010 Tod A. Burnett EdD ’05
2010 Cathryn J. Kingsbury ’97, MPP ’99
2010 Elizabeth A. Laugeson MA ’00, PsyD ’04
2010 John ’83 and Deanne Lewis ’84
2011 Randy Clark EdD ’05
2011 Dennis W. Lowe ’75, MA ’77
2011 Emily Scott-Lowe ’76
2011 Jason Pates ’95, MPP ’99
2011 Olena Kozlova-Pates MPP ’99
2011 Erin Rank MA ’89
2011 James M. Rishwain, JD ’84
2011 Robin L. Washington MBA ’95

2012 Paul A. Perry ’50
2012 Geoffrey F. Segal MPP ’00
2012 Lore Harp-McGovern MBA ’81, PKE 53
2012 Jeffrey C. Sprecher MBA ’84
2012 Britta M. Wilson MBA ’92, EdD ’16
2012 Laure R. Sudreau JD ’97
2012 Kurt S. Takamine EdD ’00
2012 Leanne M. Neilson ’85, MA ’88, PsyD ’92
2013 Kimberly A Greene MA ’93, EdD ’99
2013 Rebecca Burge Cooper MA ’97
2013 Paul H. Reim ’83
2013 Jeffrey M. Jones MPP ’02
2013 Blake J. Irving MBA ’88
2013 David W. Neu MBA ’09, PKE 122
2013 Zackery A. Hicks BSM ’97
2013 Gilbert L. Purcell JD ’83
2014 Brad A. Starkey ’88
2014 Ximena V. Del Carpio ’98, MBA ’00, MPP ’00
2014 Earl M. Cummings MBA ’09, PKE 122
2014 James N. Harger MBA ’85
2014 Mark J. Miller MBA ’04
2014 Shirley P. Kinsey MA ’76
2014 Gail M. Wilburn MA ’05
2015 Kandice R. McLurkin-Hasani MS ’95
2015 Dennis Joseph Palumbo MA ’88
2015 John R. Rettberg ’59
2015 Peter N. Peterson MPP ’07
2015 Thomas A. Lucas MBA ’83
2015 Ali H. Alireza MBA ’86
2015 Don M. Bailey MBA ’86
2015 Beverly R. O'Connell JD ’90
2016 Timothy C. Phillips ’87
2016 Evelyn Aleman MPP ’00
2016 Kimber L. Maderazzo MBA ’10, PKE 123
2016 Cindy U. Ayloush BSM ’80, MBA ’13, PKE 130
2016 Robert Kyncl MBA ’97
2016 Jennifer C. Dorsey JD ’97
2016 Stephen N. Kirnon MBA ’89, EdD ’08
2016 Paula L. Pompa-Craven MA ’95, PsyD ’00
2017 Kathleen A. Plinske EdD ’08
2017 Jack Gershfeld MA ’12
2017 Jared Hankins ’01
2017 Natalie Hankins ’01
2017 John S. Thomas MPP ’10
2017 James S. Metcalf MBA ’83
2017 Cedric L. Watkins MBA ’80
2017 Paul S. Wagstaff MIB ’95
2017 Jerren P. Wright JD ’09, MBA ’11
2018 Sara Young Jackson ’74
2018 Lance Ray Christensen MPP ’04
2018 Quincy C. Newell MBA ’12
2018 Oscar Munoz MBA ’86
2018 Vincent J. Monteparte MBA ’01
2018 Tricia A. Bigelow JD ’86
2018 Betty R. Uribe MBA ’00, EdD ’12
2018 Tamara L. Anderson MA ’88
2019 Frances Esparza MS ’05, EdD ’15
2019 Christine M. Ford MA ’91
2019 Dee Anna Smith ’86
2019 Nicole K. Neily MPP ’06
2019 Dan J. Sanders MBA ’10, PKE 124
2019 Robin L. Washington MBA ’95
2019 Michael C. Leach JD ’86
2020 Alan Beard ’94, MPP ’99
2020 Virginia F. Milstead JD ’04
2021 Vianey L. Lopez MPP ’12
2021 Brett M. Johnson MBA ’05, PKE 113
2021 Christa C. Zofcin Workman ’97, MBA ’00, JD ’01
2021 Andrew T. Kubitz MBA ’11, PKE 125
2021 Angela M. Powell ’93, JD ’97
2022 Sylvia R. Franson ’87
2022 Hattie P. Mitchell MPP ’12
2022 Thomas R. Magnuson MBA ’89
2022 Steve B. Totzke MBA ’15, PKE 134
2022 Jeffrey S. Boyd JD ’91
2022 Fereshteh Amin EdD ’06
2022 Edrick H. Dorian PsyD ’03
2023 Stephen P. Birch MDR ’17, EdD ’18
2023 Brittany N. Winters MA ’09, PsyD ’14
2023 A. Ronald Berryman ’62, MBA ’67
2023 Troy V. Senik MPP ’07
2023 Michael A. Cusumano MBA ’94, DBA ’22
2023 Brandi M. Harleaux MBA ’12
2023 Mark T. Cramer JD ’98