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Learning for Life

PeppLearn brings together the intellectual, creative, and spiritual life of Pepperdine University to alumni and friends of the university. Here, you can engage in conversations of personal and global significance across the university from world-renowned professors and global thought leaders who visit campus. The search for truth is a lifelong pursuit. Join us.

What's New

The Winding Road, Ep. 1: Interview with Dr. Farzin Madjidi, Dean of Pepperdine's GSEP
The Winding Road, Ep. 1: Interview with Dr. Farzin Madjidi, Dean of Pepperdine's GSEP

In the inaugural episode of The Winding Road series, The Jamii Chronicles features Dr. Farzin Madjidi, Dean of Pepperdine University’s Graduate School of Education and Psychology and professor of leadership. Dr. Madjidi reflects on the experiences that shaped his leadership journey—from higher education and public service to entrepreneurship—and shares insights on leading with purpose, faith, generosity, service, and inclusivity.
The Only Way Out is Through ft. Daniel Voll
The Only Way Out is Through ft. Daniel Voll

In this episode of PeppTalk, Coby sits down with Daniel Voll — journalist, playwright, and screenwriter — for a wide-ranging conversation on curiosity, craft, community, and the future of storytelling. From reporting in war zones and tracking down war criminals to executive producing the hit Netflix series Escaping Twin Flames and currently filming a 9/11 documentary at Guantanamo Bay, Daniel’s career has taken him to some of the world’s most complex and consequential stories.
Truth Has Nothing to Fear ft. Jonathan Koch
Truth Has Nothing to Fear ft. Jonathan Koch

What does it mean to pursue truth in a world that would rather keep ideas safe and untested? In this episode of PeppTalk, Alexa and Coby sit down with Professor Jonathan Koch — professor of English and Great Books at Seaver College — to explore what a genuine liberal arts education looks like: when faith and learning are treated not as separate things to be integrated, but as something that was never meant to be divided in the first place.
PeppTalk | A Conversation with Seaver Valedictorian Vera Syers ('26)
PeppTalk | A Conversation with Seaver Valedictorian Vera Syers ('26)

What kind of formation results from studying both the hard sciences and the Great Books? Vera Syers, valedictorian of Pepperdine’s Seaver College Class of 2026, has done exactly that. In her final week as a student, she reflects on how this integration has shaped her mind and prepared her for a life of substance.
The Christian University and the Academic Establishment
The Christian University and the Academic Establishment

What does it mean to be a truly Christian university? In this episode of PeppTalk, Coby sits down with Professor Ron Highfield — theologian, author, and 37-year member of the Pepperdine faculty — to explore the ideas behind his new book, The Christian University and the Academic Establishment.

Great Books Club

Led by distinguished professors of Great Books, the Pepperdine Great Books Club invites alumni, parents, and friends to explore the works of celebrated authors who have shaped classic and Christian literature. In our 2026 sessions, Dr. Paul Contino, Distinguished Professor of Great Books, will lead an exploration of Dante’s Divine Comedy, guiding participants through its profound themes of faith, transformation, and the soul’s journey toward God.

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Great Books Club: The Divine Comedy - Seeing the Commedia as a whole

April 15, 2026

Paradiso
Great Books Club: The Divine Comedy — Paradiso, Part III

March 18, 2026

Dante
Great Books Club: The Divine Comedy — Purgatorio, Part II

February 18, 2026

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.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone
A Conversation with Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone

April 8, 2026

Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson, President and Owner of In-N-Out Burger
A Conversation with Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson

March 31, 2026

Jeremy Wayne Tate
A Conversation with Jeremy Wayne Tate

February 26, 2026

Upcoming Events

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