Contact the Center for Estate and Gift Planning

 Susan Christopher, J.D.

Director of Development, Planned Giving
Phone: 310.506.4003
Fax: 310.506.4859
Email: susan.christopher@pepperdine.edu

Susan’s responsibilities as Director of Development for Planned Giving include helping people understand how to leverage their legacies and make sure that their voices are heard, their impact is maximized, their taxes are minimized, and their families are well cared for.  She is a resource to help simplify complex estate planning and planned giving tools for both donors and Pepperdine staff.  Susan is passionate about extending Pepperdine’s mission as well as supporting the Pepperdine community to effectively incorporate their charitable intent into their own best options for financial and estate planning.  

Susan completed her undergraduate studies in international affairs with a concentration in Middle East affairs at George Washington University, and later, received her Juris Doctorate from Pepperdine Law in 2002, where she also studied with the Strauss Institute for Dispute Resolution.  While at Pepperdine, Susan was an editor on the Journal of the NAALJ and won the Witkin Award for Negotiation Settlement Advocacy.  Prior to joining the Pepperdine team, Susan spent more than 10 years in private practice, specializing in estate planning.  She also started a local nonprofit and has spent several years helping resource and consult with nonprofits, especially around planned giving programs.