Six recent Seaver College graduates have joined the elite rank of Fulbright Scholars, one of the most prestigious scholarly awards worldwide.

Stefanie Bartlett (’17), Amelia Dal Pra (’17), Micah Lambert (’17), Kristopher Mazich (’17), and Julia Naman (’17) will live out the Fulbright Program’s mission of promoting international goodwill through the exchange of students as they prepare to travel abroad to embark on a diverse array of experiences as English Teaching Assistants (ETA) and researchers. Biology major Natalie Aguirre (’17) will expand her scientific research experience working in a lab in Spain.

Meet the six Seaver alumni and hear how they will learn from their experiences, contribute to cultural research and relations, and fulfill J. William Fulbright’s plan for his scholars to “bring a little more knowledge, a little more reason, and a little more compassion into world affairs and thereby to increase the chance that nations will learn at last to live in peace and friendship.”

Stefanie Bartlett (’17, History)

Malaysia

Stefanie Bartlett had been patiently waiting to apply for a Fulbright Scholarship since first hearing about the program in middle school. Upon discerning what career path to pursue after graduation, and with a lifelong passion to become an educator, she was immediately drawn to the idea of moving to Malaysia to work as an ETA.

“It seemed almost meant to be,” Bartlett reveals. “I am a credentialed teacher in California and eventually want to teach social studies in a rural area. The Malaysia program specifically stated that they were looking for people who had experience teaching and wanted to be in rural areas.” 

Bartlett, who will spend most of the 2018 calendar year abroad, intentionally chose Malaysia in hopes of strengthening her core values and expanding her world views.

“I wanted to go to a country that I had never been to before and knew that the experience would push me to grow profoundly in multiple areas of my life,” she says. “I had traveled to Uganda and Rwanda through Pepperdine's East Africa Summer Program, and that experience has shaped who I am today. I know that going to Malaysia—a completely different country with a different culture, customs, and values—will do the same to a greater extent.”  

During her time in Malaysia, Bartlett will also have the opportunity to express and demonstrate her other skills and interests through various afterschool activities and English clubs. 

“I hope to gain a deep understanding and appreciation of Malaysian culture and education system. I am excited to teach in a different country and collaborate with the Malaysian teachers to share what we know about content and methodology,” Bartlett says. “I also hope to gain knowledge and skills through teaching English in Malaysia that will enhance my teaching in the future and help my future students develop an understanding, curious, and global outlook on life.”

Amelia Dal Pra (’17, International Studies)

Malaysia

Amelia Dal Pra has so much experience working with people of other cultures that the prospect of living abroad and continuing to nurture her passion for cultural explorations seemed undeniably fitting. 

The international studies major, who earned a specialization certificate in political science and a conflict management certification, studied abroad in Italy and Jordan, and traveled to Spain, India, and Israel—all during her time as a Pepperdine student.

As a college senior, Dal Pra worked as a teaching assistant for three international relations courses, and founded a chapter of No Lost Generation—a campus organization that works to support and advocate for the education of displaced youth. She is also an English tutor with the nonprofit organization Paper Airplanes, where she tutors a Syrian refugee weekly online.

Dal Pra explains that, “After studying in Amman, Jordan and living in a predominately Muslim region in India, I knew I wanted to work in a region of the world that was predominately Muslim, like Malaysia.” 

“Asia has become a region of interest for me. Having never been to Southeast Asia, I was drawn to the region due to its incredible aesthetic beauty, rich culture, remarkable architecture, and unique history. After completing a research project on the history and government of Malaysia, I was even more intrigued to explore more.”

Throughout her year living in Malaysia, Dal Pra is looking forward to sharing her love for storytelling with her Malaysian students, delving into the Malaysian culture through learning Malay, enjoying Malaysian foods, and exploring the country’s incredible natural wonders.

“It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to live and work abroad, learn about a diverse culture, and ultimately strengthen US diplomatic ties with other countries—all of which are extremely important to me,” she reveals.

“The diversity of Malaysia, with its indigenous Malay population and many Chinese and Indian residents, will be incredible to observe. The country also has a large number of Rohingya refugees, and I am interested to see how the country is dealing with the increasing influx of this particular people group.”

Dal Pra is also passionate about working in a region that hosts a high population of refugees, which will hopefully inspire ideas for continued academic research projects she may pursue in her future career in refugee policy, international peace, and justice. 

“I hope to learn more about the experiences of everyday Malaysians as they struggle to relate to each other in such a religiously, culturally, and ethnically diverse society,” she says.

Micah Lambert (’17, Creative Writing)

Germany

For Micah Lambert, traveling to Germany was a common voyage, as she frequently visited her grandfather there and spent her sophomore year in college studying in Heidelberg through Pepperdine's International Programs.

“I fell head over heels in love with the people, language, and culture, so I decided to intern in Germany for two summers with different churches,” she says. “These experiences convinced me I had to find a way back after graduation. The Fulbright program struck me as the perfect opportunity to live in and contribute meaningfully to German society while positively representing my own.”

Lambert, who also completed minor studies in German, reveals that her in-depth studies of this culture and language have completely transformed her life, a passion she hopes to impart on others during her new journey. In that pursuit, Lambert hopes to “learn more about the German education system in general, and specifically about ways to get children interested in language learning.”

This opportunity will also allow her to explore German public policy firsthand.

“I hope to learn more about the refugee crisis and how to best help and implement effective efforts when I come home to America,” she shares.

“There is so much going on in German society right now with the influx of immigrants and refugees, and I want to be right in the middle of it all.”

Kristopher Mazich (’17, German/History)

Germany

“Becoming a Fulbright Scholar was always a distant dream of mine,” says Kristopher Mazich, who first heard about the program at New Student Orientation during his freshman year at Pepperdine.

It was throughout this segment of the orientation process that Mazich felt both inspired and excited by the prospects of visiting a different and unfamiliar country, providing for him an opportunity to expand his knowledge of the world and serve others.

With the Fulbright path consistently at the forefront of my mind, Mazich made the decision to apply after spending his sophomore year studying in Germany.

“Throughout my life, I have always been fascinated by German history and culture. Whether it was the Holy Roman Empire or the Berlin Wall, there was always something interesting about Germany that piqued my curiosity,” he shares.

“When I was given the opportunity to live in Germany during the 2014-2015 school year, I fell in love with both Germany’s language and people. I loved exploring Germany's beautiful cities and countryside, and meeting new people with fantastically different perspectives from my own.”

Upon returning to Malibu, the history major declared the German minor, in hopes of someday returning to the country that so deeply inspired him.

During the Fulbright Scholarship application process, Mazich reveals that he was motivated by his desire to represent the United States and Pepperdine University in Germany. He also expresses appreciation and gratitude for the support he has received from his friends and professors in his journey to pursue, and ultimately achieve, his goal of returning to Germany as a Fulbright Scholar.

“From this experience, I hope to build new friendships and help contribute to the goal of cultural exchange that the Fulbright program was created for,” he says. 

“I hope to not only somehow positively impact the community I am assigned to, but also to be impacted in turn by the people I am surrounded by. Above all, I hope my time as a Fulbright Scholar in Germany next year will be an experience of growth and learning.”

Julia Naman (’17, Creative Writing)

India

Julia Naman still recalls the powerful sense of inspiration she felt when she heard a Pepperdine alumnus and Fulbright Scholar speak during her freshman seminar about his experiences in Indonesia.

Initially unsure about whether her newfound desire of joining the program would be realized, Naman faithfully pursued the process.

“Last summer I was praying about my future and decided I should at least apply, even if it didn't pan out. And I am so thankful that I did,” she says. “It is incredible how God has been orchestrating my future and preparing me for this adventure since my first class at Pepperdine.”

When it came time to select her country of choice, Naman was already set on India but decided to conduct extensive research on all the other available options in case she discovered a different calling. She carefully sifted through each program, noted its departure date, language requirement, number of grants issued, and length of stay. From there, she narrowed her list down to 10 programs.

She also explains that India’s social settings made the country an especially appealing choice for travel.

“Ultimately, I was really inspired by India's initiative to educate both male and female children with The Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act in 2009, and I wanted to see how that law is being implemented in the urban and rural communities. I also thought it would be such a great opportunity to compare the gender roles of Indian culture to those of Southern California, and I intend to interview various Indian women while I'm there,” she says.

“I felt such peace when I decided on India that I didn't have with any other country. I am looking forward to discovering why God has intended for me to be in Santiniketan, West Bengal.”

In addition to teaching, Naman also hopes to exemplify Pepperdine’s mission of demonstrating a life of purpose, service, and leadership during her time abroad.

“I am going to fulfill a role in a classroom and serve where needed, and I expect things to be very different—and even difficult,” she admits.

“This is the first year that they are placing Fulbright ETAs in Santiniketan, so I am praying to make a positive inaugural connection with those around me and to be a loving presence in the classroom in a way that demonstrates God’s love.” 

Natalie Aguirre (’17, Biology)

Spain

Aguirre was standing in the airport waiting area on her way to a national biology conference last August in Savannah, Georgia, when she was approached by Stephen D. Davis, Seaver College distinguished professor of biology, about applying for a Fulbright Scholarship.

While still at the airport, Aguirre and Davis began discussing all the possible countries she could visit in an effort to increase her knowledge of biology through lab research, ultimately selecting Spain.

“My family helped through the application process by reading my personal statements and helping translate them into Spanish,” expresses Aguirre, who speaks Spanish fluently.

The young biologist has also been in regular communication with staff members at the lab she will be working in, and shares that they have made some great scientific strides and accomplishments thus far.

“Besides growing as a scientist, I think this experience will allow me to grow as a person by living completely immersed in a foreign country. I hope to gain lifelong friends, mentors, and memories,” she says. 

The Fulbright program, America's flagship international educational exchange program, is sponsored by the United States Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. It was established in 1946 under legislation introduced by the late Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas. The program operates in over 150 countries worldwide. Recipients selected on the basis of academic or professional achievement, as well as demonstrated leadership potential in their fields.

For additional information about scholarship opportunities at Pepperdine University, visit the Seaver College Fellowships website.

Pepperdine University has announced that a revival of the hit ABC television series Battle of the Network Stars will be filmed on the Malibu campus from late May through June 10. 

Host network ABC decided to return to the show's original location at Pepperdine where filming took place during the show's original run from 1976 to 1985. Produced by Glassman Media and IMG, the nostalgic 10-episode throwback show will once again assemble teams consisting of current and classic celebrities who will compete against one another in an array of physical challenges.

“Battle of the Network Stars was a summertime fixture on our Malibu campus for many years and one that many alumni and members of our campus community remember fondly,” says Nate Ethell, director of communications and brand development. “We're delighted that ABC is bringing the games home and look forward to Pepperdine helping set the stage for the newest edition of friendly celeb-on-celeb combat.”

For 13 seasons, the original version of the program featured television personalities from the three broadcast networks at that time, ABC, CBS, and NBC, as they participated in a variety of athletic events, including three-on-three football, tug of war, kayaking, miniature golf, and swimming. The late sports commentator Howard Cosell hosted all but one of the show's original 18 seasons as well as the show's first reboot in 1988. The show was last rebooted in 2003 by NBC.

Like the original series, numerous celebrities from a variety of television networks will participate in friendly competition to raise money for charity. The show will not include an invited audience, but ABC will encourage the Pepperdine campus community to view filming from the sidelines of these competitive summer games and events. Filming times and locations will be announced for community members at a later date.  

Battle of the Network Stars is scheduled to premiere on June 29, 2017.

Nearly 300 students have been named to the Seaver College Dean’s List for the Spring 2017 semester. In order to earn Dean’s List honors, students must be in the upper 10 percent of their class and maintain a 3.5 or higher grade point average.

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

Congratulations to the following students:

Volleyball coaching legend Marv Dunphy (’74) announced his retirement today, bringing to an end an incredible career that included four NCAA championships and more than 600 wins at Pepperdine, as well as seven Olympic appearances as a coach, highlighted by a gold medal in 1988 as head coach of the US men’s team.

“I’ve decided that it’s time,” Dunphy said. “It’s just time, and there’s not a lot more to it than that. I’m very grateful to Pepperdine for all that it’s given me. I can’t imagine any other institution being as supportive of a coach as Pepperdine has been to me. I’m really grateful to the leadership of this University: Andy Benton, Bob Thomas, Wayne Wright, John Watson and Steve Potts. They let me go away to get a doctorate and come back and to coach a couple of Olympic teams and come back.

“The hardest thing is leaving the players. I want to thank our current and former players for giving me the privilege of being their coach, and for all that they brought to this program.”

Over 34 seasons as the leader of Pepperdine’s men’s volleyball team, Dunphy posted a 612-277 (.688) record. The Waves also won the 1978, 1985, 1992, and 2005 NCAA titles under his watch. He was named the 2005 American Volleyball Coaches Association National Coach of the Year and was a three-time Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Coach of the Year.

Since the AVCA began awarding a National Player of the Year award in 1991, Dunphy’s players have achieved the honor six times, more than any other school. Twenty-two different Waves have earned All-American first team honors a total of 38 times as a result of his tutelage, and 45 players have earned All-American status of any kind a total of 75 times.

“Marv Dunphy is the greatest teacher and coach with whom I have ever been associated,” said Steve Potts, Pepperdine’s director of athletics. “Through teaching and coaching volleyball, Marv has impacted the lives of countless student-athletes during their time at Pepperdine and even well beyond. He has been an incredible ambassador for Pepperdine University all around the world. He leaves a standard of excellence for which we should all strive as his legacy.”

Dunphy has been inducted into multiple Halls of Fame, including the International Volleyball Hall of Fame (1994), the AVCA Hall of Fame (2009), the Pepperdine University Athletics Hall of Fame (2010), and the Southern California Indoor Volleyball Hall of Fame (2017). The Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) named him its Coach of the Year in 1987 and gave him an All-Time Great Coaches Award (contemporary division) in 1999. He was also a finalist for the FIVB’s Greatest Coach of the Century Award in 1999.

“Coach Dunphy embodies all that is good in athletic competition,” said Pepperdine University president Andrew K. Benton. “He strove for the best in every contest but never lost sight of the fact that he was, in fact, shaping future parents, leaders, and citizens while coaching volleyball. He made all who came in contact with him better. His career record says it all from one perspective, but his impact will long be remembered as an even deeper investment in the quality of our lives, including mine.”

After winning the 1985 NCAA title, Dunphy stepped down for three seasons in order to become head coach of the US Men’s National Team, which he led to a tremendously successful run between 1985 and 1988. The American squad maintained a number one world ranking and compiled a record of 197-31 (.864) and won every major international tournament: the 1985 World Cup, the 1986 World Championships, the 1987 Pan American Games, and the 1988 Olympic Games (in Seoul, South Korea).

That began a stretch that saw Dunphy work at seven different Olympiads in various capacities. He was either an assistant or consultant coach with the US men in 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2008 (winning gold in 2008), and a consulting or scouting coach with the US women in 2012 and 2016 (winning silver in 2012 and bronze in 2016).

Dunphy has also put together an impressive track record in sending his former Pepperdine players to the Olympics. A total of 11 alumni who played for Dunphy have competed in either indoor or beach volleyball at the Olympics and have brought back a total of seven gold and two bronze medals. Pepperdine alumni have played volleyball in each of the last nine Olympics.

Due to occasions where he stepped away for educational reasons or to coach with the National Team, Dunphy had four different stretches as the Waves’ head coach: 1977-1978, 1982-1985, 1989-1999 and 2001-2017. He has been head coach for 34 of the 47 seasons that men’s volleyball has existed at Pepperdine.

During this most recent 17-year run, Dunphy led the Waves to a top-10 finish in the national rankings 16 times and into the top five 11 times. In addition to the four titles, Pepperdine finished second at the NCAA Championships five times under Dunphy (1983, 1984, 1998, 2002, 2008) and won or shared 12 conference regular-season or tournament titles.

Dunphy was a standout volleyball player himself and played at Pepperdine during the program’s early years. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from the University in 1974. He went on to earn a master’s degree in physical education from USC in 1978 and doctorate in physical education from BYU in 1981.

Dunphy will remain at Pepperdine during the 2017-2018 school year in order to continue teaching his popular coaching class and to assist with special projects for the department and men’s volleyball program.

_{Due to NCAA sanctions against the University that affected several of its teams, the NCAA considers Dunphy’s coaching record to be 546-276, and his revised totals would be four NCAA runner-up finishes and 11 conference titles, due to the vacation of wins and NCAA Tournament appearances from 2008-2011.}

Critically-acclaimed country music artist Kellie Picker, legendary jazz musicians Herb Alpert and Lani Hall, Grammy Award winner Shawn Colvin, and two Legendary Ladies of Motown, Mary Wilson of The Supremes and Martha Wilson and The Vandellas, are just a few of the artists set to appear at the Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts at Pepperdine University during its 2017-2018 season.

“We are thrilled to announce our 2017-2018 season of performances and exhibitions at the Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts at Pepperdine. Each year, we bring a wide range of performances to Pepperdine to delight and engage our community,” says Center for the Arts managing director, Rebecca Carson. “I look forward to connecting these amazing artists with our enthusiastic audience.” 

Among the musicians and bands coming to Pepperdine’s Malibu campus are recent America's Got Talent contestant and jazz singer-songwriter Mandy Harvey; founder of The Byrds Roger McGuinn; virtuoso guitarist Tommy Emmanuel; the dynamic bluegrass ensemble Steep Canyon Rangers; influential folk artist Carrie Newcomer; renowned vocal group The Four Freshmen; the category-shattering trio Time for Three; gypsy jazz and Latin swing quintet Velvet Carvan; and one of America's most beloved pianists Robin Spielberg.

The season will also feature a live concert journey based on the documentary film Take Me to the River. Take Me to the River Memphis Soul and Rhythm & Blues Revue brings together Memphis music giants William Bell, Charlie Musselwhite, and Bobby Rush, performing alongside Frayser Boy, Al Kapone, The Hi Rhythm Section, and the Stax Academy Alumni Band with music director Boo Mitchell.

In a special cine-concert, composer Benoit Charest brings his Le Terrible Orchestre de Belleville to Malibu, where they will recreate the original score and live foley of the award-winning animated French feature The Triplets of Belleville.

The thrilling Martial Artists and Acrobats of Tianjin, People’s Republic of China, kicks of the season’s dance and spectacle offerings, which includes the visually striking Ezralow Dance Company, the whimsical Pilobolus Dance Theater, and the Los Angeles-based TAIKOPROJECT with their contemporary blend of taiko, music, storytelling, and choreography.

The Gregg G. Juarez Stars of Stage and Screen series includes the sharp wit of comedian Rita Rudner and Tony nominee Jarrod Spector, who graced Broadway as Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys and Barry Mann in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.

This season, the Center for the Arts will once again present the Family Arts Fest, a day of face painting, museum tours, art projects, and two public performances by Sonia De Los Santos, a soulful and important new voice in family music. Other family shows throughout the year include Childplay’s Go, Dog, Go! and The Passing Zone Saves the World.

The Recital Series, featuring the talents of young classical musicians, includes performances by the pianist Ko-Eun Yi, violinist Tessa Lark, trumpeter Brandon Ridenour, and cellist Sang-Eun Lee.

The Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art features an exhibition of artist Alexis Smith who explores how the media shapes our self-image. Two separate exhibitions will explore the storied history of California art, one through the Frederick R. Weisman Art Foundation collection and the other through paintings by the California Art Club. This marks the museum’s 25^th anniversary season, as it was dedicated on September 12, 1992. The museum is open from 11 AM to 5 PM, Tuesday through Sunday, and admission is free.

The Pepperdine Fine Arts Division presents Gilbert & Sullivan’s operetta The Pirates of Penzance; theatre productions of Annie Baker's Circle Mirror Transformation; the new musical based on the John August film Big Fish – 12 Chair Version; Andrew Upton's version of Henrik Ibsen's Hedda Gabbler; Ben Power's version of Euripides' Medea; and a series of performances by Pepperdine student music ensembles throughout the fall and spring semesters.

Additionally, Pepperdine Student Activities will present its popular Dance in Flight and Songfest.

Tickets for all performances are available beginning June 26 by calling 310-506-4522 from noon to 5 PM, Monday through Friday, and two hours prior to curtain time. Tickets to all events are also available through the Center for the Arts website.

Season subscribers (those who purchase tickets to four or more shows) are entitled to a 10 percent discount on select ticket prices.

Longtime assistant David Hunt has been promoted to head coach of the Pepperdine men’s volleyball program. Hunt will be the eighth head coach in the program’s history.

“I want to thank everyone in the Pepperdine community for their support through this transition,” said Hunt. “I am excited to continue the tradition and live up to the standard Marv [Dunphy] has set as the men's volleyball coach at Pepperdine. I look forward to sustaining the culture of excellence that has been set by those who have come before me.” 

Hunt has served with the Waves’ coaching staff for the past 10 seasons. Since December 2007, Hunt has assisted the program in a multitude of facets, including as video coordinator and volunteer assistant. He was elevated to the role of assistant coach in 2010 and promoted to associate head coach in 2014.

“I am very excited that David has accepted our men's volleyball head coach position,” said Athletic Director Steve Potts (JD ’82). “He is one of the most talented coaches in the sport, with extensive collegiate, national, and international volleyball experience. Having served Pepperdine men's volleyball for 10 years under the direction and guidance of Marv Dunphy, David is uniquely positioned and prepared to lead our team. I expect that David will enjoy a long and successful career as our head coach.”

While Hunt has been at Pepperdine, the Waves have produced a 160-104 overall record for a .606 winning percentage. In his first season with the squad, the team finished ranked number 2 nationally after an appearance in the NCAA Championship match against Penn State. In the past 10 seasons, Pepperdine has finished in the AVCA final rankings top 10 on nine occasions and in the top five six times.

Throughout his time with the Waves, Hunt has been honored with the American Volleyball Coaches Association Thirty Under 30 Award on three occasions: 2010, 2016, and 2017.

“I am happy for the players, program, and University,” said former head coach Marv Dunphy. “David knows how to teach the sport and produce young men of character.”

Hunt has also worked with Team USA’s Women’s National Team under legendary coach Karch Kiraly since 2014. In 2016 he served as the team’s consultant coach in the bronze medal finish at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In 2014 as a consultant coach, he helped the team to a gold medal run at the FIVB World Championships in Italy, the team’s first-ever gold medal at any major tournament. Also in 2014 Hunt was chosen as head coach for the US Women’s National Team at the NORCECA World Championship Qualification Tournament. He was again given the reins to the national team in 2015 when selected to coach Team USA at the Pan American Cup in Lima, Peru.

"We loved having David so involved coaching the USA women the last few years,” said Kiraly. “He did stellar work for us right through the Rio Olympics. We're thrilled for the Pepperdine men's program and for David."

For a brief period from 2013 to 2014, Hunt worked as an assistant coach for the Japanese Men’s National Team. He helped lead the squad to their first FIVB World League win in over two years.

Prior to helping with the US women’s team, Hunt traveled to Tijuana, Mexico, in 2012 as an assistant coach for the US Boys’ Youth National Team where the squad won the bronze medal at the NORCECA Boys’ Youth Continental Championship and qualified for the 2013 FIVB Youth World Championships. He worked as an assistant coach for the US Men’s Junior National Team in 2011, leading the team to its highest-ever finish with a fourth-place showing at the FIVB World Championships in Brazil. He also was selected to travel with the US Men’s National Team as the technical coordinator to the Pan American Cup in Cuiabá, Brazil.

Before Pepperdine, Hunt worked at Harvard-Westlake High School in Los Angeles as an assistant to former Pepperdine assistant coach Adam Black, whose team was en route to a state championship in 2007. He has also coached at the Marv Dunphy Volleyball Camp and has participated in Gold Medal Squared coaching clinics across the United States since 2007.

Hunt graduated from UCLA in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in history. A native of Glendale, California, he earned his master’s degree in coaching and athletic administration from Concordia-Irvine in 2011.

Bob Gilliam, Seaver College professor emeritus of psychology and academic computing and chair of the Social Science Division, passed away on August 3 at his home in Little Rock, Arkansas.

After completing a bachelor’s degree in Bible and psychology and a master’s degree in teaching, Gilliam earned a doctorate in education and returned to Harding University as professor and chair of the psychology department from 1960 to 1969. In 1970 he and his family moved to Malibu where Gilliam joined Pepperdine University as professor and chair of the Social Science Division, retiring in 1993. He received an Outstanding Teaching Award at both Harding and Pepperdine University and cofounded the Pepperdine University Faculty/Staff Scholarship Fund, encouraging faculty and staff to support outstanding students who needed financial assistance. When the Pepperdine men’s golf program was reinstituted in 1981, Gilliam served as the Waves’ head coach for three seasons before Bob Yokoi assumed duties in the 1984-1985 season.

Gilliam was known for his passion for life and sharing the love of Christ. At Pepperdine he was among the pioneers of the University Church of Christ fellowship, which in 1970 was established as a local presence prior to the construction of the new Seaver College campus.

Gilliam’s life will be celebrated on Saturday, October 7, at 2 PM at the Pleasant Valley Church of Christ in Little Rock, Arkansas, where Gilliam and his wife, Dorothy have been active members for nine years.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Dorothy Gilliam; children and their spouses, Priscilla ('78) and Holden MacRae, David and Vanessa Gilliam, and daughter-in-law Lisette Osborne and her husband Earney Osborne; grandchildren and their spouses, Micala and Dan Clark, Manali MacRae, Cameron Gilliam, Whitney Gilliam, Tricia and Carl Schulze, Nathan and Jaime Gilliam, Zachary and Destiny Osborne; and great-grandchildren, CJ Schulze, Caleb, Rachael, Asa and Seth Gilliam, and Ellie Osborne. His son Roy Gilliam preceded him in death. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Gilliam's memory to the Pepperdine University Faculty/Staff Scholarship Fund.

The Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art at Pepperdine University will celebrate its 25^th anniversary through the new exhibition, California Dreaming: Selections from the Frederick R. Weisman Art Foundation from August 29 through December 10. To mark the occasion, a preview opening reception will be held on Sunday, August 27, from 4 to 6 PM. A 25^th anniversary party will be hosted on Tuesday, September 26, from noon to 8 PM.

The selected pieces will focus on California art from the 1960s to the present, with an emphasis of the historic period of the 60s through the 80s. Businessman and art collector Frederick Weisman believed in supporting the art in his own city, and during this time became an important patron to many of the region’s up and coming artists. The work on view reflects his deep personal relationships with many of the painters and chronicles the period when Los Angeles emerged to become one of the nation’s leading art centers.

The exhibition title is taken from the 1965 hit pop song first made famous by The Mamas & the Papas, and later covered by the Beach Boys, which came to epitomize the California Sound. It reflects the optimism of Los Angeles in the early 1960s and the newly emerging beach culture, filled with sunny skies, sand, surfing, and fast cars. Artists responded to this cultural dynamic by using bright, shiny materials and colorful, optimistic imagery to create a new aesthetic that celebrated a direct sensory experience. 

This heady mix of powerful inspirations spawned a number of related art movements that established the look of the time. Some artists—such as Billy Al Bengston, Tony Berlant, Joe Goode, and Ed Ruscha—responded to the popular imagery of the emerging beach culture and created a new type of California Pop Art.

Surfboards and hotrods became the new cultural icons of the era. Inspired by their slick, polished surfaces, artists began making art using resin and fiberglass, creating the Fetish Finish movement. Ron Davis, Craig Kaufman, and John McCracken crafted perfectly smooth minimal sculptures with glowing, vibrant colors and shiny, reflective surfaces that captured the nonchalant attitude of the alternative culture.

California became celebrated for its brilliant light and wide-open spaces. Artists began to explore these qualities, using real light and actual space, creating the Light and Space movement. Artists such as Lita Albuquerque, Larry Bell, Mary Corse, Laddie John Dill, Helen Pashgian, and De Wain Valentine crafted art using translucent, transparent, or reflective materials that capture and incorporate natural or artificial light into the fabric of the work.

Many of these artists were referred to as The Cool School, because of their casual, nonchalant approach to both art and life. The new California art of the 60s was reductive and dispassionate, with a slick and sophisticated look. This work was championed by The Ferus Gallery, which operated for less than a decade—from 1957 to 1966—but exhibited the most challenging and experimental art. The California look soon began to influence art and culture across the nation, and even had an international impact.

Although the exhibition emphasizes historic work from the 60s through the 80s, it also includes younger artists such as Andy Moses, Gary Lang, Joel Morrison, Evan Nesbit, and Ruth Pastine who continue a dialogue with their elder colleagues. Together this exhibition offers a fascinating overview of the powerful currents in the art of our time.

California Dreaming was curated by Billie Milam Weisman and is supported by the Frederick R. Weisman Art Foundation and an anonymous donor.

The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, from 11 AM to 5 PM, and admission is free.

For additional information about this exhibition, visit the Weisman Museum website.

From September 9 through September 25, Pepperdine’s Alumni Park will have on display the 10^th annual Waves of Flags installation to commemorate the lives lost in the terror attacks of September 11, 2001.

Each year Waves of Flags features 2,977 full-size flags—2,887 American flags for each American life lost and 90 international flags representing the home countries of individuals from abroad who died in the 9/11 attacks.

The installation became a Pepperdine tradition in 2008 when the school’s College Republicans group organized to bring the tribute to the campus. Pepperdine students, faculty, and staff are invited to participate in the installation of the flags on Saturday, September 9, between 12:30 and 1 PM. Registration is not required and all community members are welcome to participate.

In addition to the Waves of Flags installation, Pepperdine is the permanent home of the Thomas E. Burnett, Jr., Heroes Garden, a public space for visitors to reflect and honor all those who live heroic lives, including namesake and Pepperdine alumnus Thomas Burnett (MBA ’95), a passenger on United Flight 93 who lost his life in the 9/11 attacks.

Pepperdine University continues to climb the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings as one of America’s “Best National Universities.” In the newly released numbers for 2018, Pepperdine is ranked 46 out of 310 national institutions of higher learning, advancing four spots higher than its 2017 ranking of number 50.

According to the publication, “The National Universities category consists of the 310 institutions—189 public, 114 private, and seven for-profit—based on the categories that the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education established.”

Advancing from number 48 to number 45, Pepperdine’s Seaver College was recognized as maintaining one of the country’s “Best Undergraduate Business Programs,” a ranking that is determined solely by surveys of business school deans and senior faculty.

Pepperdine also advanced a full 11 spots, from number 29 to number 18, as one of America’s “Best Colleges for Veterans.” Pepperdine is an active participant in the Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program, which enables 72 percent of the University’s current student veterans to attend tuition free.

For the second consecutive year, Pepperdine’s International Programs—which provides students with life-changing experiences designed for intellectual, social, personal, and spiritual transformation—was included on the publication’s list of “Best Programs to Look For.”

For additional information about the 2018 rankings, visit the U.S. News & World Report website.

Pepperdine faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends will gather together to celebrate the University’s annual Founder’s Day event at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu on Wednesday, September 20, at 10 AM.

Declaring the opening of the 2017-2018 academic year, Founder’s Day commemorates the University's early beginnings and honors the vision of its founder, George Pepperdine.

The ceremony will commence with an alumni processional and an invocation from Daniel A. Rodriguez, dean of the Seaver College Religion and Philosophy Division. Helen Easterling Williams, dean of the Graduate School of Education and Psychology, will deliver George Pepperdine’s 1937 Dedicatory Address, followed by a special message from Pepperdine University president Andrew K. Benton.

The Pepperdine Symphony Orchestra and University Concert Choir will perform several musical selections, including the National Anthem and the University’s fight song.

All Founder’s Day guests are invited to a reception in the Firestone Fieldhouse courtyard following the ceremony.

For those unable to attend, this event will be broadcast live via Livestream.

The Martial Artists and Acrobats of Tianjin, People's Republic of China will bring scores of the best acrobatic and martial artists in the world to Smothers Theatre on Thursday, September 28, at 7:30 PM—officially opening the 2017-2018 season at the Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts.

The Martial Artists and Acrobats of Tianjin of the People’s Republic of China was established in 1957 as a combination of the former China Circus and Acrobats that was founded in 1948. It is one of the best acrobatic troupes in China with over 100 acrobatic, magical, and martial arts performers. 

Combining circus acts, illusions, aerial stunts, juggling routines, contortion tricks, feats of balance, and martial arts demonstrations, the company has had acts perform in Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Cirque du Soleil, Big Apple Circus, Swiss Knie Bros., National Circus, and UniverSoul Circus, and has traveled extensively to Australia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Russia, Sweden, and South Korea, among others.

The Martial Artists and Acrobats of Tianjin of the People’s Republic of China has more than 30 representative acts, many of which have won prizes in national and international festivals and competitions. Leather Straps won the Silver Clown Award and Circus Art Development Association Award at the 13^th Monte Carlo International Circus Festival. Double Poles won the Silver Award at the 12^th Cirque de Demain Festival held in Paris, France and the Silver Lion Award at the 4^th China National Acrobatic Competition. Air Acrobaticswon the Golden Prize of the 10^th Spring of April Friendship Art Festival in North Korea. 

One-Hand Handstand seized the Golden Lion Award of the 4^th China National Acrobatic Competition, the Golden Award—the first prize of the Republic President at the 19^th Festival of Cirque de Demain in Paris, the Honorary Gold Lion Award, and the Artistic Innovation Award at the 5^th Wuqiao International Circus Festival. At the First China National Comic Acrobatic Competition, the Comic Swan Lake and Comic Music received the Gold and Silver Award respectively. The Jars’ Head Juggling won the Silver awards at the 5^th Hungarian Budapest International Circus Festival (2005) and Russian International Circus Festival (2013). In 2015, the Icarian Tumbling and Jumping by 18 acrobats won the Silver Clown at the 39^th Monte Carlo Circus Festival in Monaco and the First Golden Award at the 2^nd China International Circus Festival in Zhuhai, China.

This performance is sponsored by Bui and Herb Simon.

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

Internationally recognized theatre company Childsplay will bring its production of Go, Dog. Go! to Smothers Theatre in Malibu on Sunday, October 1, at 2 PM.

The adventures adapted by Allison Gregory and Steven Dietz from P.D. Eastman's modern classic come to life in a frolicking musical composed by Michael Koerner, offering an array of surprises, color, clowning, and vaudeville. Following six loveable dogs through their adventures in cars, hats, a moonlit boat ride, and even a wild game of ball, this hilarious visual spectacle manages to sneak in some important lessons about life between innings.

Ticket prices range between $10 and $20, and are required for attendance.

For additional information, and to purchase tickets, visit the Center for the Arts website.

The Seaver College Theatre Department will perform the play Circle Mirror Transformation at Lindhurst Theatre on the Malibu campus at 7:30 PM from Tuesday, October 3, to Friday, October 6, and at 2 PM and 7:30 PM on Saturday, October 7.

When four lost New Englanders enrolled in Marty's six-week-long community center drama class begin to experiment with harmless theatre games, hearts are quietly torn apart and tiny wars of epic proportions are waged and won.

Written by Annie Baker, Circle Mirror Transformation is a beautifully crafted diorama in which audiences will see, with hilarious detail and clarity, the antic sadness of a motley quintet.

Hollace Starr, assistant professor of theatre at Pepperdine University, will direct the student cast. A talkback session with the actors and director will take place after the Wednesday evening performance.

Tickets are $15, and are required for attendance. The production contains adult situations and language.

For additional information about the performances, and to purchase tickets, visit the Center for the Arts website. 

The indisputable music icon Roger McGuinn will return to Pepperdine University’s Smothers Theatre on Thursday, October 5, at 8 PM.

As a founding member of The Byrds, McGuinn delivers a mesmerizing evening of story and song. From his signature 12-string Rickenbacker sound, to his instantly recognizable vocals on hits like “Turn, Turn, Turn,” “Eight Miles High,” and “Mr. Tambourine Man,” McGuinn made music history.

Prior to forming the Byrds, he toured and performed folk music with the Limeliters, Chad Mitchell Trio, and Bobby Darin as a guitarist and banjo player. After touring for awhile with singer Bobby Darin, McGuinn moved to New York at Darin’s request to work for his publishing company, TM Music, as a songwriter. He and Frank Gari cowrote the song “Beach Ball,” and performed it with Darin, as the City Surfers, on a very rare single in July 1963.

After hearing the Beatles for the first time, McGuinn began playing folk songs to a rock beat in the coffee houses of Greenwich Village. His experiments in merging folk and rock didn't please the folk purist, so he moved to Los Angeles to work at the Troubadour. It was after an opening set for Hoyt Axton that Gene Clark approached him with appreciation for his new musical blend. They started writing songs together in the folk den of the Troubadour. David Crosby joined them soon after and added his unique concepts of harmony to the duo, thereby completing the underpinnings for one of the most influential bands of the 1960s.

Columbia Records signed the Byrds in January 1965 and they recorded their first number one hit, “Mr. Tambourine Man.” The band worked together until 1973, when McGuinn disbanded the Byrds to pursue his dream of a solo career. He made five solo albums on Columbia Records.

Since 1981 McGuinn has regularly toured as a solo singer-guitarist. In 1991 Arista records released Back From Rio, a rock album that included his friends, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, Elvis Costello, Chris Hillman, David Crosby, Michael Penn, and John Jorgensen.

His one-man show, Live from Mars, was released on Hollywood Records in November of 1996. The album includes two studio tracks, “May The Road Rise To Meet You,” and “Fireworks,” recorded in Minneapolis with members of the Jayhawks.

McGuinn's 2002 record Treasures From The Folk Den, featuring duets with Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, Judy Collins, Odetta, Jean Ritchie, Josh White Jr., and Frank and Mary Hamilton, was nominated for a Grammy in 2002 in the category of Best Traditional Folk Album.

This performance is sponsored by Mary and Tom Hawkins.

Ticket prices range between $10 and $50, and are required for attendance. For additional information about the performance, and to purchase tickets, visit the Center for the Arts website.

Two unmistakable voices that helped define an entire generation of music in America—Mary Wilson of the Supremes and Martha Reeves of the Vandellas—will come together for an evening of Motown favorites at Pepperdine University’s Smothers Theatre on Saturday, October 7, at 8 PM.

Wilson and Reeves reign today as two of Motown’s most beloved singers, with 14 Billboard number one singles, seven Billboard number one albums, and 42 Billboard top 10 singles between them. Together, they bring an entire kaleidoscope of Motown music memories in one rich evening of performance.

It was a vision of musical stardom as a Detroit teen that inspired Wilson—along with Diana Ross and Florence Ballard—to found one of the most successful female singing groups in recording history: the Supremes. Since then, Wilson has written a best-selling autobiography, performed on stage and screen, lectured and toured the world, and continues to be looked up to as a singer who set the standard for females in the recording industry.

This past summer, Wilson performed a number of consecutive shows at Feinstein’s at the Regency, New York’s premiere supper club. In her “Mary Wilson: Up Close” show, she wowed audiences with an intimate selection of standards and easy-listening tunes that showcased her smoky voice and vocal prowess.

Throughout her career, Wilson has had the privilege and pleasure of performing all over the world. Royalty requested many of her performances with the Supremes, such as for Britain’s Queen Mother as well as for the King of Sweden. In 2000 Wilson had the prestigious honor of performing at the White House for the Millennium Celebration as well as two inaugural dinners held in President Bush’s honor.

In 1988 the Supremes were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, receiving the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, which Wilson personally accepted. Seven years later, the Hall launched an exhibit of the Supremes’ gowns for the museum’s opening in Cleveland, Ohio, entitled The Supremes Reflections: The Mary Wilson Supreme Legacy Collection. Wilson had been personally archiving the gowns for years. The Mary Wilson Supreme Legacy Collection, including the Butterfly dresses worn on their 1968 television special, is currently on tour in the United Kingdom.

It has been more than 50 years since Reeves first boarded that rented bus along with the likes of The Miracles, Stevie Wonder, the Supremes, and Marvin Gaye on the first Motown Review. She and her backup group, the Vandellas, sang behind Gaye and soon hit the charts with their own trifecta: “Come and Get These Memories,” “Love is Like a Heat Wave,” and “Quicksand.” Over the next decade, Reeves and the Vandellas would be a constant presence on the music charts, as well as on television and top venues across the US and abroad.

Whether performing solo or with the Vandellas, Reeves continues to heat up clubs, concert stages and music festivals, thrilling audiences across the globe, and always leaving them dancing. In 2012 she returned to the Billboard charts with her Top 25 hit, “I'm Not Leaving,” recorded with techno DJ duo The Crystal Method, and returned to the Howard Theatre—site of the very first Motown Revue show—for its grand reopening. She capped 2013 with a 13-city sold-out solo tour of the UK. Her 2014 “Calling Out Around the World Tour” commemorated the 50^th anniversary of the release of “Dancing in the Street.” In 2017 she celebrates 50 years of calling for “Jimmy Mack” to come back.

Moving beyond the confines of the concert stage, Reeves starred in a US tour of the Tony-winning Ain’t Misbehavin’, and has performed in road shows of The Jackie Wilson Story and Good Black Don’t Crack. She costarred for three seasons in the UK stage review “Dancing In The Street,” alongside Motown peers like the late Edwin Starr, Mary Wilson, and Freda Payne.

Reeves is the recipient of the Dinah Washington Award, a Rhythm n’ Blues Foundation Pioneer Award, a Black Woman in Publishing Legends Award, and has been inducted in the Alabama, Soul, Rock and Roll, and Vocal Group halls of fame. “Dancing in the Street” has been entered into the Library of Congress Registry of Historical Recordings and the Grammy Hall of Fame. Reeves and the Vandellas are listed among Rolling Stone magazine's “100 Immortal Artists” and she was named one of the “30 Top Lead Singers of all Time.”

This performance is sponsored the Office of Andrew K. Benton, president of Pepperdine University, and The Law Offices of Hiepler & Hiepler.

Ticket prices range between $10 and $70, and are required for attendance. For additional information about the performance, and to purchase tickets, visit the Center for the Arts website.

A live concert journey through the soul of American music with artists featured in the documentary film Take Me to the River will come to Pepperdine University's Smothers Theatre in Malibu on Sunday, October 8, at 7 PM.

Celebrating the intergenerational and interracial musical influence of Memphis in the face of pervasive discrimination and segregation, this historic show will feature a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see legends William Bell (2017 Grammy winner), Bobby Rush (2017 Grammy winner), and Charlie Musselwhite (2014 Grammy winner) share the stage and perform the classics with the all-star Hi Rhythm Section, The Stax Academy Alumni Band, and Grammy award-winner Boo Mitchell, with special appearances from Academy Winner Frayser Boy and Critics Choice Award winner Al Kapone.

This live performance experience is based on the award-winning film and record that brought together multiple generations of iconic Memphis and Mississippi Delta musicians to record a historic new album and re-imagine the utopia of racial, gender, and generational collaboration of Memphis (Stax, High records) in its heyday. The philosophy behind the show is that the power of positive expression—through music, film, or other art forms—leads to a permanent foundation of community, and strives to bring together those from all political, racial, and generational backgrounds to communicate, cooperate, collaborate, and create together as a community.

Rush is a blues musician, composer, and singer. His style incorporates elements of blues, funk, and rap. Born in Homer, Louisiana, he moved with his family to Arkansas, where he formed a band with Elmore James. In the 1970s his song “Chicken Heads,” which he wrote as well as sang, made it to the R&B charts. He next recorded his first album, Rush Hour, with one track, “I Wanna Do the Do” also charting in 1979. In the early 1980s, Rush moved to Jackson, Mississippi, where he recorded a series of records for various labels, including his own Deep Rush label. FolkFunk (2004) was a return to rootsier sound, featuring guitarist Alvin Youngblood Hart.

Rush received recognition for his music after the release of his 22^nd album, Rush, when he was awarded Best Male Soul Blues Artist at the Blues Music Awards. He also won Best Acoustic Artist and Best Acoustic Album for his album Raw. His album, Hoochie Mama, was nominated for a Grammy in the Blues Music Section in 2000. In 2013 Rush was nominated for a Blues Music Award in the Soul Blues Male Artist category. In 2014 Rush's album Down In Louisiana, won a Blues Music Award in the Soul Blues Album of the Year category.

Mississippi-born Musselwhite is an electric blues harmonica player, singer, and bandleader, and one of the most revered musicians in the world. He has won countless awards during his career including induction into the Blues Hall of Fame and collaborated with innumerable musical giants of the past 50 years, including John Lee Hooker, Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Big Joe Williams, Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson, Tom Waits, Eddie Vedder, to name to name a few.

Musselwhite has received 10 Grammy nominations, winning for Get Up! (2013, released by the recently revived Stax label), a collaboration with Ben Harper. He has also won 14 W.C. Handy Awards, 27 Blues Music Awards, as well as Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Monterey Blues Festival, among many other honors. He was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2010. Over the years, Musselwhite has branched out in style. His 1999 recording, Continental Drifter, is accompanied by Cuarteto Patria, from Cuba's Santiago region, the Cuban music analog of the Mississippi Delta. For the first half of 2011, Musselwhite toured with the acoustic-electric blues band Hot Tuna. In the latter half of 2011, he went on tour with Cyndi Lauper.

Soul singer, songwriter and producer Bell was instrumental in shaping the sound of Stax Records. Bell recorded his first sides as a member of the group the Del Rios. In 1961 he made his solo recording debut with the classic single, “You Don’t Miss Your Water,” which became one of the fledgling label’s first major hits. Bell released his first full-length album in 1967, the classic The Soul of a Bell, which included the Top 20 hit single, “Everybody Loves a Winner.” That same year, blues great Albert King recorded what came to be his signature tune, “Born Under a Bad Sign,” also written by Bell, which has since become one of the most-recorded blues songs. Among his other classic hits at Stax were “Any Other Way,” “Never Like This Before,” “A Tribute to a King,” “I Forgot to be Your Lover,” his internationally-acclaimed duet with Judy Clay, “Private Number,” and the perennial Christmas music favorite, “Every Day Will Be Like a Holiday.”

As a performer, Bell is probably best known for 1961’s “You Don't Miss Your Water” (covered by The Byrds and Taj Mahal); 1968’s “Private Number,” and “Tryin' to Love Two,” Bell's only US Top 40 hit, which also hit number one on the R&B charts. As a songwriter, Bell coauthored the Chuck Jackson hit “Any Other Way” (a cover of Bell’s original recording), “I Forgot to Be Your Lover” (covered by Billy Idol in his 1986 hit “To Be a Lover”). It has since been sampled by Ludacris (on “Growing Pains”) and Jaheim on “Put That Woman First”), among many other artists.

This performance is sponsored by the Flamminio Family.

Ticket prices range between $10 and $45, and are required for attendance. For additional information about the performance, and to purchase tickets, visit the Center for the Arts website.

Grammy Award winner Shawn Colvin will bring her 20^th anniversary tour of her breakthrough album A Few Small Repairs to Pepperdine University's Smothers Theatre in Malibu on Wednesday, October 11, at 8 PM. Multi-instrumentalist-singer Larry Campbell and his wife singer-guitarist Teresa Williams will support Colvin in addition to appearing in the band.

Colvin shines with the sublime sensitivity and dry wit that has earned her an enduring reputation as one of America's great live performers. Her songs have topped the Billboard charts, including “Round of Blues,” “I Don't Know Why,” and “Nothin’ On Me,” as well as 1997’s pop hit “Sunny Came Home,” which earned her two of Grammy’s biggest awards, Record Of The Year and Song of the Year.

This tour celebrates the 20^th anniversary and release of A Few Small Repairs, featuring the original album remastered with seven bonus audio tracks. This performance will showcase Colvin performing the album in its entirety alongside a variety of hits, personal favorites, and surprises from her repertoire.

Ticket prices range between $22 and $135, and are required for attendance.

For additional information about the performance, and to purchase tickets, visit the Center for the Arts website.

Acclaimed vocalist and one of the most revered popular singers of her generation, Lizz Wright will perform at Pepperdine University's Smothers Theatre in Malibu on Thursday, October 12, at 8 PM.

Wright is a steward of American music, bringing brilliant color and vibrancy to singular original works and compositions by some of the greatest songwriters of our time. She has garnered widespread attention through the release of five critically acclaimed albums. Since her breakout Verve debut album Salt, Wright lives life filled with beautiful possibilities centered on the power of song.

Her latest album GRACE, released from Concord Records on September 15, reveals the web of deep running roots of story and song that bind together the vastly diverse traditions that are the soul of the American South. Wright summons her Southern heritage to usher us into a nurturing space that pulses and hums with the unspoken suggestion that grace is a cornerstone of our original state of being. 

“In this day it's nearly a revolutionary act to stand deep in unconditional love, to abide in fearless belonging and to embrace our inescapable tenderness,” Wright says. GRACE is a proclamation to unearth our fundamental kindness and generosity.

Produced by acclaimed singer and songwriter Joe Henry, GRACE was tracked live on Sunset Blvd. in Los Angeles alongside a standout cast of musicians at United Recording Studios and features Wright’s singular translations of music by Ray Charles, Allen Toussaint, Nina Simone, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, k.d. lang, Bob Dylan, Frank Perkins and Mitchell Parish, as well as emerging artists Rose Cousins and Birds of Chicago.

For her audience, Wright’s songs embody a tradition that allows us to always feel at home—wherever we might be physically or emotionally. Wright culls inspiration from her Southern upbringing in Georgia where she was the musical director of a small church in which her father was the pastor. Gospel music, and the call and response singing with the church congregation, informed her first brushes with music.

At the age of 22, Wright made a name for herself nationally as a vocalist with a touring concert tribute to Billie Holiday, where her poised performance stole the show. The following year, she signed with Verve Records for the release of Salt, which topped Billboard’s contemporary jazz charts. Her subsequent albums (Dreaming Wide Awake, The Orchard, Fellowship, and 2015’s Freedom & Surrender) continued to top the charts and her single “Lean In” (from Freedom & Surrender) landed on President Obama’s 2016 Summer Playlist. NPR critic Ann Powers included Freedom & Surrender on her list of “Favorite Albums in 2015,” and the album has received rave reviews from The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and many other publications.

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

Pepperdine University Alumni Relations will host the eighth annual Waves Weekend, welcoming back hundreds of Seaver College graduates to the beachside Malibu campus to reconnect with family, friends, and faculty, and to participate in a series of social and athletic events from Friday, October 13, to Sunday, October 15.

Special activities during the three-day weekend will include:

Friday

• President’s Open House
• Men’s water polo vs. Long Beach
• Alumni gathering
• Blue & Orange Madness fair

Saturday

• Ocean kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, and surf lessons
• Pepperdine sweethearts brunch with private chef
• Heidelberg ’04-’05 reunion
• Student journalism 80^th anniversary reunion
• International Programs alumni reunions
• Reunions celebrating the class years of 1987, 1997, 2007, and 2012
• Pepperdine Ambassadors Council (PAC) reunion
• Waves Weekend concert, featuring award-winning singer, Hunter Hayes

Sunday

• Tailgate BBQ
• Women’s soccer vs. Gonzaga

For additional information about Waves Weekend 2017, and to register to attend, visit the Pepperdine University Alumni Affairs website.