Pepperdine University Receives Generous Endowed Gift for the Institute for Diplomacy, Security, and Innovation

Pepperdine University received a new endowed gift to the Institute for Diplomacy, Security, and Innovation from University Board member Paul Bennett and his wife Bea. This generous donation marks an exciting milestone for the institute in its first year. The gift will advance the institute’s mission in critical ways, including support for international conferences, stipends for visiting fellows, honoraria for distinguished speakers, funding for research and publications, and essential administrative functions.

Paul and Bea Bennett

“We are incredibly grateful for the Bennetts’ generosity and their passion for supporting Pepperdine. This is an extraordinary contribution to the institute and is essential to the goals we seek to achieve," said Kiron Skinner, Pepperdine's inaugural Taube Family Chair of International Relations and Politics and the institute’s founding director. "This gift will enable the institute to advance interdisciplinary research and training, translate intellectual ideas into policy-relevant insight, and strengthen our ability to shape strategic diplomacy rooted in values such as faith and freedom. Additionally, it will support our mission to educate and empower students through structured programs, mentored research, and engagement in global policy dialogues.”

Kiron Skinner

"Paul and Bea Bennett embody the true spirit of Pepperdine—they are people of greater purpose," said Pepperdine President Jim Gash (JD '93). "Their deep faith and longstanding commitment to service shape a better world. Aided by their generosity and vision, the institute will continue to foster vital research, robust dialogue, and relentless pursuit of truth. Through the work of the institute, this gift will advance freedom and flourishing around the globe."

Paul Bennett is the chief executive officer and chair of the board of Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company, a family-owned trailer manufacturer and one of the largest and longest-operating such companies in the United States. Paul has been recognized within the trucking industry for more than 50 years of leadership, including induction into the California Trucking Association Golden Jubilee Club and honors for his service as chair of the Truck Trailer Manufacturers Association. Bea Bennett is a passionate philanthropist, who is a longtime supporter of Children's Hospital Los Angeles, the Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, Five Acres, Boys & Girls Club, and many schools, including the Colburn School. She was the president of ArtCenter 100 and has been a docent at the Huntington Library. She is a member of the Los Angeles Maryvale Guild, the Blue Ribbon Project, and the Los Angeles Library Foundation. 

Paul and Bea Bennett are long-standing supporters of Pepperdine through both leadership and philanthropy. Paul serves as a member of the University Board, contributing his business and civic leadership to the governance and strategic direction of Pepperdine, and Bea serves on the advisory board within the Institute for Diplomacy, Security, and Innovation, reflecting her engagement with the institute’s mission and academic community. The Bennetts are among Pepperdine’s community of major supporters, including service as Pepperdine Associates Dinner Committee members and as honorees of the George Pepperdine Society Benefactors Circle, which recognizes significant lifetime giving to the University. 

“Paul and I have appreciated Dr. Skinner’s work for more than 25 years," shared Bea Bennett. "Her voice and perspective are vital in our world today. We are more than thrilled to make this gift to launch the Institute for Diplomacy, Security, and Innovation under her capable leadership.”

Atlantic Strategy

Under Skinner's leadership, the institute aims to foster values-driven scholarship and strategic policy insights that inform how nations and communities engage in diplomacy, security, and innovation in the 21^st century. It hosts convenings such as seminars, conferences, and summits, including the annual Vevey Forum held at Pepperdine's Château d'Hauteville campus in Vevey, Switzerland. This year's forum will focus on "Atlantic Strategy," calling for coordinated action among nations across Europe, the African continent, North America, and South America. This conference aims to clarify shared challenges and frame a common set of solutions to ensure a free, safe, and prosperous Atlantic world.

To learn more, visit the Institute for Diplomacy, Security, and Innovation official website.