Pepperdine University to Host President’s Speaker Series with Gallup CEO Jon Clifton

March 20, 2023 – Malibu, CA – In the second installment of Pepperdine University’s 2023 President’s Speaker Series, Jon Clifton, chief executive officer of Gallup, will discuss the global rise of unhappiness on Monday, April 10, at 7 PM at Smothers Theatre.

Clifton will explore themes from his 2022 Wall Street Journal best-selling book, Blind Spot: The Global Rise of Unhappiness and How Leaders Missed It. The book emphasizes the importance of leaders paying close attention to and quantifying their citizens’ well-being to avoid the outcomes of widespread unhappiness that have triggered transformative global events. Clifton will discuss Gallup’s five key elements of well-being and what private and public sector leaders can do to improve the lives of people everywhere.

Clifton has been with Gallup since 2008. His mission is to help organizations create thriving workplaces, connect people with their strengths, and help citizens be heard on their most pressing issues through the Gallup World Poll, a 100-year initiative spanning more than 150 countries. 

Clifton serves on the board of directors for Gallup and Young Professionals in Foreign Policy and previously served on the boards of Meridian International, StreetWise Partners, and the International Business Advisory Board at the University of Nebraska. He received a bachelor's degree in political science and history from the University of Michigan and a juris doctor in international law from the University of Nebraska. He is a nonresident senior fellow at Baylor University's Institute for Studies of Religion and was awarded an honorary doctorate in humane letters from Midland University.

The President’s Speaker Series has become a pivotal forum at Pepperdine University since its inception in 2021. The series invites distinguished scholars and thought leaders representing diverse points of view to examine topics and challenges facing our communities and the world today. Established with the goal to connect deeply with our community and inspire meaningful dialogue, the series continues to explore opportunities to cultivate an engaged and impassioned collective through civil discourse.

This event is open to the public and attendees will enjoy hosted refreshments. The first 200 registrants will receive free copies of Blind Spot: The Global Rise of Unhappiness and How Leaders Missed It. All interested parties may register here.

 

About Pepperdine University
Founded in 1937, Pepperdine University is an independent, Christian university located 30 miles west of Downtown Los Angeles in scenic Malibu, California. The University enrolls approximately 10,300 students across its flagship liberal arts school, Seaver College; the Caruso School of Law; the Graziadio Business School; the Graduate School of Education and Psychology; and the School of Public Policy. Pepperdine is committed to the highest standards of academic excellence and Christian values, where students are strengthened for lives of purpose, service, and leadership. Follow Pepperdine on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

 

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