Pepperdine Caruso School of Law Establishes $3 Million Endowed Visiting Professorship in Jewish and Israeli Law
Vivian G. Prins Endowed Professorship to Support Global Scholars, Advance Legal Scholarship, and Combat Antisemitism in the Academy.
MALIBU, California – Pepperdine University’s Caruso School of Law is pleased to announce the establishment of the Vivian G. Prins Endowed Visiting Professorship in Jewish and Israeli Law, a $3 million endowed faculty position that will support visiting scholars from around the world whose research and teaching center on Jewish and Israeli legal traditions. The professorship is made possible through a $1.5 million gift from the Vivian G. Prins Foundation, matched by Pepperdine University.
“I am thrilled with and deeply appreciative of this extraordinary opportunity to endow the Vivian G. Prins Visiting Professorship in Jewish and Israeli Law at Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law – in perpetuity – with a full matching grant by Pepperdine University,” said Etta Brandman, trustee of the Prins Foundation. “By hosting foreign visiting professors who face discrimination in the academy, the University will perpetuate the Prins Foundation mission of encouraging scholars to immigrate to the United States, thereby strengthening the academic and communal fabric of our country and the Caruso School of Law. Through this professorship, legal scholars will have the opportunity to join an academic community committed to premier legal training with the highest standards of ethics and morality in an environment which fosters profound interfaith religious respect and understanding.”
“As a Christian law school rooted in faith and a commitment to the rule of law, Caruso School of Law has long championed both religious liberty and respectful dialogue across faith traditions,” said Paul Caron, the Duane and Kelly Roberts Dean of the Caruso School of Law. “Our community thrives on academic excellence, collegiality, and a shared calling to pursue justice with integrity. We are profoundly grateful to the Prins Foundation for their visionary support, which makes this endowed professorship possible and affirms our mission to prepare servant leaders for lives of purpose and impact.”
"This new professorship creates a haven for scholars confronting antisemitism abroad, while enriching our academic community with vital perspectives in Jewish and Israeli law,” said Michael A. Helfand, Brenden Mann Foundation Chair in Law and Religion and Co-Director of the Nootbaar Institute for Law, Religion and Ethics.
The endowed position was created in response to the growing challenges and pressures faced by scholars of Jewish and Israeli law, particularly in academic settings where open discourse has become more difficult. The program is designed to provide meaningful opportunities for these scholars to teach, conduct research, and engage with Pepperdine’s interfaith academic community. It also aims to serve as a bridge for those interested in pursuing longer-term academic careers in the United States.
Caruso Law’s new professorship in Jewish and Israeli law complements Pepperdine School of Public Policy’s recently announced Master of Middle East Policy Studies program by ensuring that voices representing Jewish legal thought and Israeli legal institutions are part of the broader academic conversation on the region.
Through the professorship, Pepperdine Caruso Law will annually host either a Distinguished Visiting Professor for a semester or a Visiting Assistant Professor for a full academic year, offering support for both established and rising legal scholars. The position includes a housing stipend and opportunities for personal and professional integration into the Pepperdine and broader Los Angeles communities.
The inaugural visiting professor is expected to be appointed for the 2026–2027 academic year.
###
About Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law
The Pepperdine Caruso School of Law offers a top-ranked legal education with nationally recognized degree programs committed to the highest principles of professional, ethical, and societal responsibility. With an emphasis on experiential learning, mentorship, faculty accessibility, global justice, and professional formation, Pepperdine Caruso Law offers a juris doctor, two master’s degrees, five joint-degree programs, four LLM degrees, and five certificate programs. The School of Law houses 10 clinics and six institutes, including the globally recognized Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution. Follow the Caruso School of Law on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Media Contact
Public Relations Office
pr@pepperdine.edu
818.702.1401