Graziadio School Hosts Summer 2017 Commencement
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The event honored Cedric L. Watkins II (MBA ’80) as the recipient of this year’s Distinguished Alumnus Award. Giuseppe “Joey” Nespoli (’04, MS ’17) served as the student speaker at the ceremony.
Watkins is the managing partner at the Watkins Group & Associates LLC, a family- owned estate planning firm based in Los Angeles. With 30 years of experience as a business owner and financial expert, he frequently speaks nationwide on topics related to financial literacy. Watkins has also lent his leadership and wisdom to the Graziadio School as a member of the Board of Visitors, the Executive Board, and the board of the Black Alumni Council.
Nespoli served as an advancement officer at Pepperdine University from 2010 to 2017, raising funds to benefit scholarships, research, international partnerships, and financial training programs. He also teaches a course at Seaver College on financial development for nonprofit organizations.