Women's History Month at Pepperdine
Since 1987, the U.S. government has recognized March as Women's History Month, a time
to focus on achievements made by women in a variety of fields. In observance of Women's
History Month, Pepperdine invites everyone to engage in the annual events and activities
offered by our various schools and departments, and to learn about the contributions
of women throughout American history. The University focuses on faith, community,
fairness, and expression of multiple perspectives in order to inspire critical thinking
and provide fertile spaces for our entire community to listen, learn, and leave a
legacy of knowledge.
Past 2025 Events and Activities
Sponsored by the Women in Public Policy at the School of Public Policy
Sponsored by the Margaret J. Weber Distinguished Lecture Series and the School of Education and Psychology
Sponsored by the School of Education and Psychology
Sponsored by the School of Education and Psychology
Sponsored by the School of Education and Psychology
Women's History Homage 2025
Pepperdine Pioneers
A Look Back | An Enduring Legacy of Purpose, Service, and Leadership
Blanche Seaver | Seaver College's Founder and Benefactor
Blanche Seaver donated an estimated $300 million and collaborated with developers to build the Malibu campus and create Seaver College, which she requested be named in honor of her deceased husband, Frank R. Seaver. In 1972 her dream and vision to ensure the next generation was properly educated became a reality when Pepperdine welcomed 875 students to the new campus. This included 475 first-year students touting the then-highest Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores in Pepperdine history. Honoring Blanche Seaver's generosity and dedication to young people, Pepperdine University has gone about the business of preparing students to carry on in her tradition of making an impact for good. She left an indelible mark at Pepperdine, and also her piano! It resides on the third floor of the Thornton Administrative Center.
“Words are inadequate to express how deeply fulfilling it is to be the founder of something so magnificent as Seaver College. To have started completely from scratch in working with this beautiful campus; to see it dedicated to my beloved husband; and then, especially to contemplate the future, and to know what an impact for good it will have in our world is profoundly gratifying.”
—Blanche Seaver
Cyndia Clegg | Seaver Distinguished Professor Emerita of English
Pepperdine waved goodbye to Cyndia Clegg, Distinguished Professor Emerita of English at Seaver College, after 45 years of teaching. During her career she broke barriers with a plethora of firsts at Pepperdine. In 1978 women professors constituted less than 1 percent of Seaver College’s faculty however, when Clegg burst onto the Seaver scene that same year with a powerful voice things began to change and she said yes to the opportunities. Clegg became the first woman to hold a number of appointments across the University. Specifically, she was the first female president of the Seaver Faculty Association, the first female associate dean of International Programs, the first female chair of the University Faculty Council, the first female distinguished professor, and the first female distinguished professor emerita.
“I suppose the one thing I did to acquire positions was just say, ‘yes'. A long time ago I learned that if I said yes to chairing a committee, I had a lot more ability to [govern the proceedings]. I always tried to work for the good of the campus, the community, the students, and the good of fellow faculty members. I was always focused on what Pepperdine and Seaver College is as an educational institution.” —Cyndia Clegg
Sara Young Jackson ('74) | Chancellor of Pepperdine University
As the first female chancellor in the University's history, Sara Young Jackson has taken Pepperdine from a budding Christian college to a leader in academia. According to Jackson, her sweet spot is promoting and starting programs and she likes convincing others that an idea is great and will benefit Pepperdine students. Her path to becoming chancellor is filled with twists, turns, and a multitude of innovative projects. Jackson launched her own initiative — the Women in Leadership Institute — that assists women in building the confidence and competence needed to lead others. By helping other women recognize their value, she hopes to pass along the valuable lessons that have carried her to this point and helped her compete on an equal playing field.
“It was a challenge for me to speak up in a boardroom full of men. I was programmed to think that I was there to listen and affirm, but that I didn’t have that much to offer. It’s been a real personal growth experience to challenge myself to speak up and to have the courage and confidence that I’m as smart and as experienced as anybody in this room. I have something to contribute.” —Sara Young Jackson
A Look Forward | Deans Redefining and Reimagining Healthcare at Pepperdine's Newly-Formed College of Health Science
Angel Coaston | Founding Dean of the School of Nursing
As the first dean of Pepperdine’s School of Nursing, Angel Coaston envisions a biblically rooted, Christ-centered program that integrates faith with academic excellence and compassionate care with community-based learning being a key part. She emphasizes the importance of grounding nursing students in their relationship with God, fostering self-awareness in their identity in Christ, and instilling a perspective that aligns with seeing people as God does. For Coaston, nursing is more than a profession; it is a divine calling and a caring art, rather than just a science.
“I believe that if students can see people in their everyday lives—where they live, work, play, and pray—they’ll realize that patients aren’t just numbers or hospital beds; they’re individuals with names. By teaching students in the community and immersing them in these experiences, we can show them that patients are just like their own family, and we should care for them the way we would want to be cared for. I hope our program will drive meaningful change in the healthcare industry, fostering the evolution of nursing while bringing hope to those in need. I believe we are called to care for the broken, and with compassionate leadership, our students will be equipped to make a profound impact on healthcare." —Angel Coaston
Leah Fullman | Inaugural Dean of the School of Speech-Language Pathology
According to Leah Fullman, the founding dean of Pepperdine's School of Speech-Language Pathology, health science programs are invariably built upon a three-pronged mission of didactic education, clinical experience, and research. The goal is to train future professionals who are knowledgeable about the field, skilled in their practice, and prepared to engage in the next generation of research. However, faith-based institutions such as Pepperdine weave a fourth strand into that three-part mission. At Pepperdine the incorporation of faith is not merely for internal operational purposes but for greater societal implications, and that's what sets a Pepperdine education in the health sciences apart.
“The integration of faith into health science programs at Pepperdine grounds didactic education in truth. It promotes the ethical and moral exercise of research and fosters a holistic clinical practice by upholding spiritual health and physical health as equal contributors to wellness. Religion and healthcare can't remain separate.They are inextricably linked at the crossroads of human suffering. Some of life's deepest moments of suffering are the direct result of healthcare crises. Jesus sat with people, he listened to them, and he had compassion for them. Jesus knew all the answers about everything in the universe. He could have spoken at people, but he didn't, even though he had all the power of the universe at his fingertips. He also didn't just heal people and move on. He cared about people. And that's what a healing ministry is about.” —Leah Fullman
For a calendar of all University-wide happenings, visit the Pepperdine University
Events website.