The Institute for Entertainment, Media, and Culture, in partnership with Pepperdine Alumni Affairs, will host the half-day symposium “Engage: 21^st Century Creatives and Storytelling” at Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows in Santa Monica on Friday, November 2, at 2:30 PM.

This year’s topic will focus on the burgeoning trends in the industry for creatives and business entrepreneurs. The event will feature provocative panel discussions and invaluable insider information about the film, television, and digital landscape from a diverse group of notable creatives, producers, and executives in the entertainment industry.

The University’s Engage symposia are the signature diversity and inclusion events where creative entrepreneurs have the opportunity to explore business insights from high-profile industry professionals.

For additional information about this free symposium, visit the event’s registration page on the Pepperdine website.

Seaver College Social Science Division faculty, J. Christopher Soper, distinguished professor of political science, and Joel S. Fetzer, professor of political science, will discuss their new book, Religion and Nationalism in Global Perspective, in the Surfboard Room at Payson Library on Monday, November 5, at noon.

Having received both scholarly and popular attention, Religion and Nationalism in Global Perspective is the first comparative study to examine the origins and development of three distinct models: religious nationalism, secular nationalism, and civil-religious nationalism.

Using multiple methods, Soper and Fetzer have developed a new theoretical framework that can be applied across diverse countries and religious traditions to understand the emergence, development, and stability of different church-state arrangements over time. The work combines public opinion, constitutional, and content analysis of the United States, Greece, India Israel, Malaysia, and Uruguay, weaving together historical and contemporary illustrations.

For additional information about this free event, visit the Pepperdine Libraries website.

The Pepperdine University Fine Arts Division Theatre and Music departments will present the musical Curtains at Smothers Theatre in Malibu on November 9 and 10 and November 15 to 17, at 7:30 PM, with a matinee performance on Sunday, November 11, at 2 PM.

Set in Boston's Colonial Theatre in 1959, Curtains tells the story of an actress who mysteriously dies on stage during her play’s opening night, leaving the entire cast and crew as suspects. A local detective, who happens to be a musical theatre fan, enters the scene to solve the crime. 

The play is the final musical from American musical theatre composing giants Kander and Ebb, who created such works as Cabaret, Chicago, and Kiss of the Spider Woman. The original Broadway production garnered eight nominations at the 2007 Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

Adjunct professor of theatre dance Kelly Todd will direct the all-student cast, which will feature Noah Archibald, CJ Babcock, Alden Bettencourt, Morris Chen, Syd DeMaria, Julian Duncan, Presley Duyck, Christine Galyean, Brandon Gille, Joe Hebel, Brit Hope, Lauren Jennerjohn, Parker Johnson, Alexander Kolm, Haley Latorre, Clayton Mattingly, Audrey McKee, Brooke Moltrum, Michael Mossucco, Katy Semple, Sydney Sweringin, Nate Thompson, and Indy Wilson. 

“Curtains is a highly entertaining musical comedy and also a fast-paced murder mystery. It is a remarkable evening of theater and sure to entertain. However, more importantly, it is an homage to everything we love about working in theater written by two of our nation’s treasures. Kander and Ebb have added decades of work the American songbook, from musicals to film to popular music; Curtains was their final collaboration before Fred Ebb passed away, a collaboration that spanned 40 years of American songwriting,” Todd said. 

Ticket prices range between $10 and $20, and are required for attendance. For additional information about the performances, and to purchase tickets, visit the Center for the Arts website.

Gerty Dambury, French award-winning novelist andplaywright, will explore “The Restless: Missing People and Missing History” in the Surfboard Room at Payson Library in Malibu on Friday, November 9, at 3 PM.

In her novel, The Restless, Dambury explores the French massacre that took place in Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe, in 1967, an event which a French historian has called part of the "muted history of Guadeloupe.” The novel follows Émilienne, whose school teacher and father are both missing. During a whole night of watch, Émilienne learns about missing parts of her country's history.

Dambury is a theater director, novelist, and poet from Pointe-à-Pitre. She studied at Sorbonne University in Paris, France, and has held residencies at Le Centre National du Livre and Le Centre National des Écritures du Spectacle. She won the Prix Carbet de la Caraïbe et du Tout-Monde in 2015 for her play Le rêve de William Alexander Brown.

For additional information about this event, visit the Pepperdine Libraries website.

A memorial service honoring the life of Alaina Housley will be held at 9:30 AM on Wednesday, November 28, at Firestone Fieldhouse.

Housley, a first-year student at Seaver College, lost her life in the mass shooting that took place in Thousand Oaks, California, on Wednesday, November 8.

“We are touched deeply and indelibly by this loss to our community and Alaina’s loving family,” said Pepperdine president Andrew K. Benton. “Those who knew her loved her; she completed our campus family and made us better. We hope now for peace and eventual resolution in this terrible event and we embrace her family with all of our strength.”

The 18-year-old Napa Valley native was an English major and started her first semester at Pepperdine in August. She was involved with Pepperdine’s choral program as well as the Pepperdine Mock Trial team.

“Alaina’s friends describe her as incredibly bright, full of life, and deeply caring of others,” shared Connie Horton, vice president for student affairs. “Although she was here for only part of one semester, we are blessed to have known her and are grateful for all that her loving spirit brought to Pepperdine.”

“Alaina was a bright light in our community, and her spirit epitomized the hope and promise of all young adults, especially Pepperdine students,” said Michael Feltner, dean of Seaver College. “We join her parents, the Housley family, her friends and classmates, and our community in mourning her loss.”

Housley is survived by her parents, Arik (’96) and Hannah (’97), and a younger brother, Alex.

The Alaina Housley Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund has been established to honor Alaina and her brief time as a Seaver student at Pepperdine. To donate to the fund, visit impact.pepperdine.edu/alaina.

For those who wish to send condolences to the family, please send cards, notes, or letters to: Vice President for Student Affairs Office, Tyler Campus Center Suite 210, Mail Code 4472.

Acclaimed jazz singer Nicole Henry will bring new life to classic holiday repertoire with her soul-inspired Christmas show at Pepperdine University's Smothers Theatre in Malibu on Friday, November 30, at 8 PM. 

Since her debut in 2004, Henry has established herself as one of the jazz world's most acclaimed vocalists, possessing a potent combination of dynamic vocal abilities, impeccable phrasing, and powerful emotional resonance. Her repertoire includes the American Songbook, classic and contemporary jazz, contemporary standards, blues, and originals, while her accompaniment ranges from a simple jazz trio to a full big band. For Set for the Season, Henry will be performing with a quintet configuration.

Henry's passionate, soulful voice and heart-felt charisma has earned her a 2013 Soul Train Award for “Best Traditional Jazz Performance,” three Top-10 US Billboard jazz albums, and rave reviews both domestically and internationally by the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, the Japan Times, El Pais, Jazz Times, Essence, and more.

She has captivated audiences in over 15 countries, headlining at venues in cities including New York, Tokyo, Madrid, Moscow, Paris, Shanghai, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, San Francisco, and Miami. Henry has also performed in more than 30 music festivals worldwide and in some of the world’s most famous venues including Blue Note, New York City; Jazz at Lincoln Center; Blues Alley; Arsht Center; Feinstein’s; Green Mill; Madrid Jazz Festival; the Regattabar; and Catalina Jazz.

Her 2004 debut CD release, The Nearness of You, won considerable attention from audiences and critics in the US and in Japan, where they named her Best New Jazz Artist of 2004. The following year, Henry's Teach Me Tonight reached #1 in Japan and was named HMV Japan's Best Vocal Jazz Album of 2005. Then in 2008, The Very Thought of You substantially expanded her American audience, reaching #7 on Billboard's jazz chart.

The 2011 release of the Embraceable CD was a creative triumph for Henry as it expanded her recordings beyond those of the American Songbook jazz standards which had been her focus up until that time. Embraceable included more originals, soul and even a touch of gospel, and reached the Top 20 on jazz and smooth US jazz radio charts. Joining Henry on Embraceable was an amazing collection of jazz artists including Kirk Whalum, Gerald Clayton, John Stoddart, Julian Lage, Gil Goldstein, Larry Grenadier, and Eric Harland.

Henry demonstrates her diversity and skills as a performer and a peerless interpreter of songs on her 2013 release, So Good, So Right: Nicole Henry Live. The 13-track live album, which was recorded at sold-out performances at Feinstein’s in New York City in May 2012, showcases her soulful, inspired renditions of some of her favorite classic hits of the ‘70s from iconic artists including Bill Withers, Aretha Franklin, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, The Commodores, and Gladys Knight.

Growing up in a musical family in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Henry immersed herself in the arts early on, singing in school and church, and studying cello and ballet. After graduating from the University of Miami with a degree in communications and theatre, she launched a successful acting career, appearing in commercial roles as well as a series of voice over assignments. However, she directed her strongest passion toward the development of her full-time singing career which was quickly rewarded in her present hometown when the Miami New Times named Henry “Best Solo Musician 2002.”

Performing favorites such as "O Holy Night," "The Christmas Song," and "Angels We Have Heard on High," Henry’s Set for the Season is a heartwarming holiday show that’s not only nostalgic, but inspiring.

Ticket prices range between $10 and $40, and are required for admission. For additional information about this performance, and to purchase tickets, visit the Center for the Arts website.

The GRAMMY Museum® at L.A. LIVE and Pepperdine University are proud to announce that the University has been named an official University Affiliate. The partnership, established through the GRAMMY Museum's University Affiliates program, will bring the museum’s lauded traveling exhibits, tailored academic opportunities, and full wealth of resources to Pepperdine students, alumni, faculty, and staff.

The partnership with the GRAMMY Museum will enhance Pepperdine’s curricular offerings by providing students with access to music historians and professionals as guest speakers, collaboratively designed academic courses and programming, and opportunities for student enrichment outside of the classroom through exhibitions and internships. These experiences will complement Pepperdine’s robust selection of programs in music performance, theatre, and dance available to students through the Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts.

“Pepperdine looks forward to joining other prestigious educational institutions affiliated with the GRAMMY Museum in exploring new ways to keep music and the performing arts alive both inside and outside of the classroom,” said Andrew K. Benton, Pepperdine University president. “This new partnership adds significant value to the student experience at Pepperdine.”

The affiliate relationship builds on a tradition of creative excellence at Pepperdine, which is home to distinguished faculty and alumni mentors, including renowned classical guitarist and GRAMMY® nominee Christopher Parkening, who leads Pepperdine’s classical guitar program, and soprano Jessica Rivera (’96), Pepperdine alumna and 2007 GRAMMY® Award winner.

"Our University Affiliates Program is a great source of pride for the museum as it allows like-minded educational institutions to share valuable resources with one another," said Michael Sticka, GRAMMY Museum executive director. "We are thrilled to welcome Pepperdine University to our network and are eager to see what grows from this exceptional partnership."

Pepperdine Libraries will lead the partnership on behalf of the University and is expected to host its first GRAMMY Museum traveling exhibit in 2019.

“Our new affiliation with the GRAMMY Museum presents immense opportunities for enriching the cultural programming that we provide to the community at Pepperdine,” said Mark Roosa, dean of libraries. “As the department leading the partnership, Pepperdine Libraries looks forward to hosting special exhibitions, guest speakers, and other programs that celebrate the musical and performing arts.”

The GRAMMY Museum affiliation, which was penned in August 2018, complements Pepperdine’s exclusive education partnership with AEG that offers sports and entertainment-focused education to Pepperdine students.

A plaque commemorating the partnership will be presented to Roosa by Kaitlyn Nader, director of community engagement for the GRAMMY Museum, and Stacie Takaoka, director of special projects for the GRAMMY Museum, Tuesday, January 8, 2019, at 1 PM in the Payson Library Surfboard Room at Pepperdine University’s Malibu campus.

About the GRAMMY Museum

Established in 2008 as a partnership between the Recording Academy™ and AEG, the GRAMMY Museum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to cultivating a greater understanding of the history and significance of music. Paying tribute to our collective musical heritage, the museum explores and celebrates all aspects of the art form—from the technology of the recording process to the legends who've made lasting marks on our cultural identity. In 2017, the museum integrated with its sister organization, the GRAMMY Foundation®, to broaden the reach of its music education and preservation initiatives. As a unified organization today, the GRAMMY Museum fulfills its mission of making music a valued and indelible part of our society through exhibits, education, grants, and public programming.

Photo L-R: Kaitlyn Nader and Mark Roosa

The “number one hit maker of the 1980s” (Radio and Records), Jeffrey Osborne will bring his soulful sounds to Pepperdine University's Smothers Theatre in Malibu on Saturday, January 12, at 8 PM. 

Born in Providence, Rhode Island, Osborne was the youngest of 12 children and was surrounded by music as a child. His father, Clarence “Legs” Osborne, was a popular trumpeter who played as a session musician with the likes of Lionel Hampton and Duke Ellington. At the age of 15, Jeffrey joined the O’Jays when the group’s drummer was unable to perform to their standards, and he went on to play with them for two weeks. That was all the inspiration Osborne needed to pursue a career in music.

Osborne’s career began when he was introduced to the band Love Men Ltd. at a Providence nightclub. After receiving his mother's encouragement, Osborne left for Los Angeles to play with Love Men Ltd., who later changed their name to L.T.D. Osborne was originally brought on as the drummer and eventually became the lead vocalist. After more than 10 years with the band, he decided to pursue a solo career, which produced such Top 40 hits as “Really Don't Need No Light,” “Don't You Get So Mad,” “Stay with Me Tonight,” “You Should Be Mine (The Woo Woo Song)” and a duet with Dionne Warwick, “Love Power.”

Osborne’s solo career has brought him four Grammy nominations, five gold and platinum albums, including his debut self-titled album Jeffrey Osborne, Stay with Me Tonight, and Only Human. He scored an international hit with “On the Wings of Love” in 1982. After his six albums released on A&M during the 1980s, he moved to Arista for Only Human(1990), then switched to a series of independent labels. His releases during the 2000s included That's for Sure (2000) and Music Is Life (2003), as well as cover albums From the Soul (2005) and A Time for Love (2013). His latest project entitled Worth It All was released Friday, May 25, 2018 on Artistry Music. This project was written and produced by Jeffrey Osborne, with the exception of one song entitled “Work It” which was co-written with his son Jeffrey Osborne Jr., who also performed on the track with him.This project, inspired by the late great George Duke, has taken Osborne back to his deep R&B roots.

Currently Osborne is actively performing and touring around the world. In 2012 Osborne founded The Jeffrey Osborne Foundation and the Jeffrey Osborne Celebrity Classic. The primary mission is to benefit non-profit organizations who support a continued push for music and arts to children and their families, as well as those who provide a safe haven for families in need. In the past six years through his Celebrity Golf Tournament, the Jeffrey Osborne Foundation has donated over $750,000 to various charities in Rhode Island. 

This performance is sponsored by the Office of Andrew K. Benton, President of Pepperdine University.

Ticket prices range between $10 and $75. For additional information about this event, visit the Center for the Arts website.

Pepperdine University’s Fine Arts Division will present Well at Lindhurst Theatre in Malibu on Tuesday, January 22 through Friday, January 25, at 7:30 PM, and on Saturday, January 26, at 2 PM and 7:30 PM.

“This play is not about my mother and me,” explains playwright Lisa Kron in this hilarious, moving story that combines the genres of solo performance and experimental theatre with the timeless story of mothers and daughters. Written by the author of the Tony-winning musical Fun Home, Well marked Kron’s Broadway debut in 2006 both as a playwright and a performer.

Bradley Griffin, Fine Arts divisional dean and professor of theatre, will direct the cast, which will feature Seaver College students Leyla Dillig, Dylan Forehand, Christine Galyean, Isabel Klein, and George Preston. Cathy Thomas-Grant, Fine Arts divisional dean and professor of theatre, will also guest star in the production.

“The true beauty of Well is the simplicity of its complexity, or maybe it’s the complexity of its simplicity. With humor and heart, Lisa Kron has created a powerful story that weaves together narratives of racial integration, health and illness, and artifice and reality,” said Griffin. “By writing herself into the story, she invites the audience to look at these topics through her eyes, and then she forces us to ask if seeing really is believing. Well is the rare play that has the capacity to inspire even as it entertains.” 

This production contains mature themes and is recommended for ages 15 and older. No late seating will be allowed. A talk back session with the actors and director will be held after the Wednesday performance.

Ticket prices range between $10 and $15, and are required for attendance. For additional information about the performances, visit the Center for the Arts website.

The Pepperdine University Student Programming Board will host the 10^th annual Reelstories Film Festival (RSFF) at Mullin Town Square on the Malibu campus on Friday, February 1, from 6 to 10 PM. The event will showcase students’ documentary filmmaking techniques through the art of storytelling.

This year’s RSFF submissions will demonstrate growth and diversity, particularly in fostering unity among the University community, Malibu residents, and professional filmmakers working in the entertainment industry.

Short films selected for screening will be produced only by Pepperdine undergraduate students. Feature films will run between three and 12 minutes long, including end credits. All films must demonstrate Pepperdine values, and contain content that can promote healthy discussions. 

This event is free to both the Pepperdine community and the general public.

For additional information about the event, visit the Reelstories Film Festival website.

Pepperdine University’s resident dance company Dance in Flight will perform at Smothers Theatre at the Malibu campus from Thursday to Saturday, February 7 to February 11, at 8 PM, with a special matinee performance at 2 PM on Saturday.

The 2019 theme will artistically express the challenges of college life, particularly in relation to transitioning into adulthood.

“We go through many things individually, but at the end of the day, we are all in this together. Each piece in the show is a different emotion or experience the choreographer has personally felt during college,” explained Reagan Zimmerer, Dance in Flight student director and Seaver College business administration major. “We hope the audience will be able to feel that and relate to what we have experienced during these last four years.”

Dance in Flight embodies the diversity and essence of Seaver College and the liberal arts tradition. Members come from a variety of dance backgrounds, interests, and fields of study, and are united by their passion for the art of movement, as well as their dedication to presenting an impressive showcase of student artistry.

For over 20 years, Dance in Flight has provided an environment for emerging student dancers and choreographers to cultivate creativity, physical expression, and teamwork in a professional performing atmosphere. Through choreography, casting, rehearsals, and collaboration with lighting and costume designers, students develop significant leadership skills that become useful in all aspects of adult life. Performances spotlight Pepperdine students of all majors and backgrounds, and feature a variety of dance principles that include jazz, hip hop, tap, ballet, modern, theatrical, and ballroom.

Ticket prices are $20 for general admission, and are required for attendance. For additional information about the dance company, and to purchase tickets, visit the Center for the Arts website.

Members of The Flora L. Thornton Opera Program will perform Johann Strauss's beloved operetta Die Fledermaus at Pepperdine University's Smothers Theatre on Thursday, February 21, and Saturday, February 23, at 7:30 PM. The production will be sung in German with supertitles and English dialogue.

Mistaken identities, love affairs, and lighthearted revenge are all tied together with the intoxicating rhythm of the Viennese waltz. Both nostalgic and progressive, Die Fledermaus captures the charm of cosmopolitan Vienna and imagines what would happen if for just one night, people were free of the bonds of their social status. 

Keith Colclough, assistant professor of music and director of opera, will direct the all-student cast, which will feature Danielle Adair, Bethany Adamski, Noah Archibald, Rebecca Calix, Jack Gerding, Brandon Gille, Joe Hebel, Andrea Hupman, Liam Nixon, Adrian Patiño, Alexis Raymond, Angelo Silva, Nathan Thompson, Emma Ujifusa, and Kaytlin Withers.

As Colclough explains, “Die Fledermaus is the kind of show that makes you want to get up and dance. Johann Strauss II, the ‘Waltz King,’ earns his title with a parade of intoxicating waltzes and polkas. The plot sustains a joyously cynical wit which makes the action bubble forth. If we play our parts well, the audience should have a hearty laugh and leave whistling their favorite tune of the night.”

The Flora L. Thornton Opera Program at Pepperdine University has developed a reputation as one of the nation's leading undergraduate vocal programs. It features an annual fully-staged opera, a biennial summer intensive in Heidelberg, Germany, and master classes with top industry professionals. A $1 million endowment from Flora Laney Thornton, one of Southern California's most beloved and honored arts philanthropists, ensures high-quality productions and often contributes scholarship aid for the summer opera program abroad. 

Pepperdine graduates have won scholarships to many of the nation's most prestigious graduate programs, including The Juilliard School, Yale Graduate Opera Program, Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, Northwestern University, Rice University, and USC. Pepperdine graduates are now gracing the rosters of America's leading opera companies, including The Metropolitan Opera, Chicago Lyric Opera, Los Angeles Opera, Santa Fe Opera, San Francisco Opera, and Seattle Opera.

Ticket prices range between $10 and $20, and are required for attendance. For additional information about Die Fledermaus, visit the Center for the Arts website.

For 20 years Karen Martin, the Frank R. Seaver Chair of Natural Science and Professor of Biology, has studied the famously elusive California grunion, a small, sardine-sized fish found along the southern coast of California and parts of northern Baja California.

Hakai Magazine, a Canadian coastal science publication, recently highlighted Professor Martin and student researchers Olivia Le Sage and Danilo Martinez and took a closer look at the silvery seaside creatures and their struggle to survive along busy shorelines.

Read the full story on the Hakai Magazine website.

Photo credit: Zuma Press, Inc./Alamy Stock Photo

More than 300 students have been named to the Seaver College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences Dean’s List for the Fall 2018 semester.

The purpose of the Dean’s List is to provide recognition for the positive academic achievements of students at Seaver College, and to serve as an additional incentive for academic excellence to all students.

In order to earn Dean’s List honors*, students must be in the upper 10 percent of their class, complete at least 12 letter-graded units during the semester, and their grade point average (GPA) must not be less than 3.500.

Congratulations to the following students:

*Please see the Pepperdine Seaver College 2018-2019 Academic Catalog for a full description of requirements to earn Dean’s List honors.

Nine influential speakers, including four students, two alumni, and three innovators across diverse industries such as music, technology, branding, and leadership, will take the stage at Firestone Fieldhouse on Wednesday, March 13, at 11:30 AM for the inaugural TEDx event at Pepperdine University.

The student-organized, student-run event was developed under the leadership of Ryan Groves, director of strategic employer partnerships at the Seaver College Career Center, and in partnership with the Seaver College Career Center and the Pepperdine chapter of the national business fraternity Alpha Kappa Psi. The event’s theme, Take the Leap, focuses on stories of bravery, culture, entrepreneurship, and innovation and was imagined by the student organizers to encourage those who need an extra push to step out of their comfort zone and do something exceptional.

“The planning and execution of this type of event is a great challenge that our students chose to undertake, but it’s exactly through that type of challenge that forms character, helps them to learn, and gives them those competencies that they need to succeed in the future,” says Groves. “Pepperdine offers students many opportunities to learn about great leaders and learn from great leaders. TEDxPepperdineUniversity is a chance for students to become great leaders by engaging them in the process.”

Last fall more than 120 applications were submitted in response to an open call for student speakers to be part of the first-ever event at Pepperdine. Each application was carefully considered by Groves and a team of student organizers, including Caitlin Fogg, partnerships/sponsorships; Daniel Kim, operations; Jacob Wolfe, curation; Kaung Khant Kyaw, marketing/communications; Russell Wijaya, production; Tak Chun Wong, operations; and sophomore Jerry Yang, who evaluated the content of the presentations, the diversity of thought presented therein, and how closely their messages aligned with the theme.

As the lead organizer, Yang applied for and received a license from the TED organization to facilitate a TEDx event on Pepperdine’s Malibu campus. His responsibilities included serving as the liaison between Pepperdine and TED Conferences, setting and executing a vision for the event while managing a team of more than 20 people, and making strategic connections to empower the planning team and enable the University to host the seminal event.

“It changed my life more than anything else ever has,” says Yang, who explains that he gained invaluable leadership, event planning, and cross-team communication skills as a result of his critical role. “This experience has shaped my understanding of what it means to be a leader and paying it forward to change the lives of others.”

Student speakers, including seniors Elijah Zoarski and Emma Johnson, junior Olivia Robinson, and sophomore Raymond Rider, will present on what they consider to be the endless possibilities of ideas within the realms of technology, entertainment, and design while examining how Pepperdine students fit into the bigger picture.

Other speakers include Clayton Blaha, global head of industry relations at Choon, the world’s largest blockchain-based music streaming platform; Irene Ashu, director, producer, writer, and creative strategist; Kim Perrell (’99), CEO at Amobee and award-winning entrepreneur, bestselling author, and angel investor; Matthew Helderman, CEO and cofounder of BondIt Media Capital and Buffalo 8; and Nathan Mellor (MDR ’05, EDD ’07), CEO of C3Brands and president of Strata Leadership.

“What TEDx and Pepperdine have in common is a similar pursuit of excellence,” says Groves. “The TEDx organization displays exactly the type of competency and character that we at Pepperdine are hoping to create in our students.”

TEDxPepperdineUniversity will be Groves’ fifth time participating in a TED event. His first experience was presenting “How to Save the World: Responding to Crisis with Creativity” during his senior year at Oklahoma Christian University, during which he represented the nonprofit organization Wishing Well: Water for the World, of which he is the cofounder and executive director.

“Pepperdine’s partnership with the TedX organization represents an investment in the future of our students,” says Groves. “It represents Pepperdine stepping onto the world stage and engaging in the global conversation and demonstrating thought leadership. Our hope and goal is to grow our capacity in this. It communicates to our students who they are and who they can become and communicates to our alumni and extended community what we can achieve.”

TEDxPepperdineUniversity will be broadcast live via Livestream and Facebook the day of the event. 

Learn more about the inaugural TEDx event at Pepperdine University

Jami Miscik, former deputy director for intelligence at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), will present “The Enduring Need for Public Service” at Elkins Auditorium in Malibu on Wednesday, March 20, at 5 PM. The event is part of the W. David Baird Distinguished Lecture Series at Seaver College.

Miscik is chief executive officer and vice chair of Kissinger Associates, Inc., a New York-based strategic international consulting firm that assesses and navigates emerging market geopolitical and macroeconomic risks for its clients. Prior to joining Kissinger Associates in 2009, Miscik served as the global head of sovereign risk at Lehman Brothers.

Before entering the private sector, the Seaver College alumna had a distinguished 22-year career in intelligence, ultimately serving as the CIA's deputy director for intelligence. In this role, she was responsible for all of the CIA's intelligence analysts, the production of all-source analysis, and for determining the content of the President's Daily Brief. Miscik also served as the director for intelligence programs at the National Security Council, and from 2014 to 2017, served on the President's Intelligence Advisory Board as co-chair. 

Miscik holds a bachelor’s degree with honors in political science and economics from Pepperdine University and a master’s degree from the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver.

For additional information about this lecture, visit the Seaver College website.

DeMaurice Smith, executive director of the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA), will present “The Ethics of Zealous Advocacy: Understanding the Business of Sports and Labor” at Pepperdine School of Law in Malibu on Thursday, March 21, at 5 PM.

Within the combined context of the sports industry and labor laws, leaders who represent players' interests are required to zealously advocate for their rights. During this fireside conversation hosted by Seaver College, Smith will share stories and provide examples of how he and other NFLPA executives have utilized multifaceted strategies to advocate for players' best interests.

In his current role with the NFLPA, Smith has led players through a 132-day lockout imposed by NFL owners to collectively negotiate and sign a 10-year collective bargaining agreement. Throughout his tenure, Smith has been a noted advocate for ensuring new health and safety protocols for football players. 

For additional information about this free event, and to register to attend, visit the Seaver College page on the Engage website.

Tomas Bogardus, assistant professor of philosophy at Seaver College, and Michael Brent, assistant professor of philosophy at University of Denver, will engage in a debate to address the question “Are Christians closed-minded?” at Elkins Auditorium on Wednesday, March 27, at 6 PM.

Bogardus and Brent will explore Christian principles as they pertain to secular academic pursuits, and examine whether accepting the authority of the Bible or a church impairs critical thinking abilities. The two professors will also analyze whether academic freedom becomes limited when Christian colleges require additional faculty members to agree to religious statements or creeds.

For additional information about this free event, visit the Events page on the Pepperdine University website.

The Seaver College Fine Arts Division will present The Taming of the Shrew at Smothers Theatre in Malibu on Wednesday, April 3 through Friday, April 5, at 7:30 PM, and Saturday, April 6, at 2 PM. The actors and director will lead a talk back session after the Wednesday performance.

In this unbridled new spin on Shakespeare's comedic battle of the sexes, themes of cross-dressing, gender roles, love, power, relationships, and companionship will be explored and raucous heights will be reached when the shrew is truly put on the other foot. 

Scott Alan Smith will direct Andrew Borba's celebrated version that thrilled audiences at the famed Chautauqua Theatre Company. The student cast will feature Lauren Drake, Sara Eakman, Marcela Ferrarone, Dylan Forehand, Christine Galyean, Lauren Jennerjohn, Isabel Klein, Gabi Meacham, Brooke Moltrum, Julia Pankow, Chase Perry, George Preston, Evatt Salinger, Katy Semple, Eliahs Sumpter, and Indy Wilson.

“Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew is set up to continue a debate—what exactly is the nature of our relationships with each other? To say that our current times have us engaged in a very frank discussion of gender roles would be an understatement, but this discussion is hardly new. Shakespeare dealt with these very issues in his day and sought to explore the question: what would you do if the shrew were on the other foot?” Smith said.

The Seaver College Fine Arts Division offers students excellent training in the disciplines of studio art, art history, music, and theatre arts. A group of renowned faculty, who are revered in their fields as practicing scholars, artists and teachers, prepare students for careers in the arts and continued graduate study. With approximately 300 students in the division, the unique programs are designed to prepare and inspire students to develop critical thinking, nurture creativity, and create the highest level of art and scholarship.

Ticket prices range between $10 and $15. For additional information about The Taming of the Shrew, visit the Center for the Arts website.

Beth M. Laux has been named executive director of international programs at Pepperdine University. Laux, who has nearly 20 years of experience in the field of international education and currently serves as the director of learning abroad at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, will commence her new role on August 1, 2019.

“Pepperdine University has a national reputation of excellence, and Seaver College has positioned international programs as a cornerstone of the undergraduate Pepperdine experience,” said Laux. “Studying abroad was the most powerful experience I had in college. It influenced me academically, personally, and spiritually, which made a career in international education a natural fit. My continued commitment to international education stems from its impact on students.” 

Throughout her career, Laux has experienced the benefits of international programs firsthand as a student, faculty, and administrator, having witnessed that college students who participate in international programs gain intercultural competence, are more likely to graduate on time, are better positioned for career promotions, and are more engaged with their communities. 

“Beth is imminently qualified and prepared to lead international programs into the future. I am excited to work alongside her to advance our existing programs and to explore new opportunities that provide students with opportunities for intellectual, social, personal, and spiritual transformations,” explained Michael Feltner, dean of Seaver College. “Beth follows two prior deans, Dr. William Phillips and Dr. Charles Hall, both of whom are exceptional leaders. From them she inherits a program supported by outstanding faculty and staff, equipped with exceptional facilities across the globe. I am confident that from this foundation Beth will lead international programs to even greater heights.”

Hall, the current dean of international programs and associate professor of sociology at Seaver College, will continue to fulfill his role through July 31 before returning to the Seaver College faculty following a sabbatical next year. A special celebration commemorating his 14 years of service as dean will be held on May 17.

A recognized leader in the field of international education, Laux discovered her professional passions when she traveled to Costa Rica and Spain as an undergraduate student at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. After earning her degree in Spanish and political science, she returned to her alma mater to serve as the director of international education and programs. 

In 2004 Laux left her position at Aquinas and spent two years as a missionary in Guatemala and El Salvador, primarily focusing on educational programs and faith development in underserved communities. After completing her mission, Laux earned a master of public administration degree from the University of Toledo. She also served as an intern for the United States Department of State before transitioning back to international education.

Laux’s professional background includes education abroad policy development, curriculum integration, international education leadership, assessment, and program design. She has taught political science and Spanish, served as an onsite program manager in Latin America and Europe, and advocated for a wide range of international education initiatives at both the state and national levels. Her research interests include outcomes assessment and the intersection between course design and intercultural competence. 

Laux has also worked with nonprofit, government, and education entities in more than 18 countries. An active contributor in the national dialogue, she has delivered more than 25 conference presentations and frequently publishes on high-impact practices in a global context. In 2017 she received a Fulbright International Education Administrators Award in Germany and Belgium. 

Laux is currently pursuing a doctor of education degree from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts.