Contact Us

Curt Portzel, J.D., M.T.S.

Executive Director
Phone: (310) 506-4003
Fax: (310) 506-4859
Email: curt.portzel@pepperdine.edu

Curt's responsibilities include structuring charitable gifts to simultaneously benefit Pepperdine students and help Pepperdine alumni and friends incorporate charitable giving into their financial, tax and estate planning. Curt develops gifts to meet individualized goals and objectives.

In his capacity as Executive Director, Curt is also responsible for the day to day operations and management of the Center for Estate and Gift Planning. Curt is an alumnus of Pepperdine's Seaver College, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science in 1992. Curt also attended Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, completing a Juris Doctorate and Masters of Theological Studies in 1997.

Prior to joining the Center for Estate and Gift Planning in 2005, Curt was in private law practice with McGuireWoods, LLP, concentrating on complex commercial real estate transactions. Curt's real estate experience is an asset to the Center, particularly when developing complex real property gifts. Curt is admitted to practice law in California and Georgia. Curt has guest lectured at the Pepperdine School of Law and presented at the Western Regional Planned Giving Conference. He has published in various periodicals, including Planned Giving Today, Journal of Law and Religion, and Journal of Church and State.

Aaron White, J.D., LL.M.

Planned Giving Officer and Legal Counsel
Phone: (310) 506-4737
Fax: (310) 506-4859
Email: aaron.white@peppperdine.edu

As a Planned Giving Officer and Legal Counsel for the Center for Estate and Gift Planning, Aaron provides sophisticated tax and estate planning for Pepperdine's donors, advisors, and friends.  Aaron creates each plan with a warm blend of attention to each individual's goals, Pepperdine's continued preeminence, and the highest technical expertise.

Aaron is a cum laude graduate of the School of Law, where he participated on the Moot Court and trial teams. He earned his B.A. in Mathematics from Hillsdale College, graduating cum laude from the Honors Program. Aaron holds an LL.M. in taxation from New York University, and is admitted to the State Bars of both California and Michigan.

Aaron began in private practice with Andersen Tax LLP (then WTAS LLC) as a tax associate, gaining experience with tax planning strategies for high net worth individuals and corporate entities. Aaron's past experience also includes extensive work with corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, charitable organizations, and individuals in connection with tax controversies, business entity formations and dissolutions, mergers and acquisitions, and litigation in both civil and probate contexts.

Robert J. Coleman, J.D.

Legal Associate
Phone: (310) 506-7606
Fax: (310) 506-4859
Email:  robert.j.coleman@pepperdine.edu

Robert is a Legal Associate for the Center for Estate and Gift Planning, where he assists in the preparation of planned giving proposals and estate plans. Before joining the CEGP, Robert served as corporate counsel for several companies throughout California and Nevada, including a Southern California mortgage bank. His corporate experience includes all transactional aspects of employment law, real estate financing, privacy compliance, and franchising.

Robert is a 2011 alumnus of Pepperdine University School of Law, where he earned a Certificate in International and Comparative Law, and served as a student articles editor on the journal of the National Administrative Law Judiciary. Robert earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of California Berkeley in 2007, graduating with honors. He is admitted to practice in California.