FACULTY

Gary Mangiofico, Associate Dean of Fully Employed and Executive Programs and Practitioner Faculty of Organizational Theory and Management, was awarded the Strategic Leadership Award from the World HRD Congress at the Global HR Excellence Awards in Mumbai. As conferred by the Congress’ Jury and Council of Board Members, the honor recognizes Dr. Mangiofico for his leadership and contribution to the field of human resources, which the World HRD Congress described as “strategic and iconic.”

The organization further praised Dr. Mangiofico as a thought leader who is “a role model and true believer in change.”

The Global HR Excellence Awards recognizes the Best of Best in the HR professional internationally and serves as a benchmark of achievement in talent and human resources practices. continue

BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION

After winning Pepperdine’s Fast Pitch Competition at Entrepreneur’s Journey in January, Fully Employed MBA student Diane Jenkins’ Charm Alarm took first place in the 2012 Pepperdine Business Plan Competition Finals last Saturday. Tying for second-place, judges determined that Full-time MBA students Monica Hwang and Rachel Siok’s Mint Modernization and law school student Isaac Agyeman’s Cite Anything were so good that they decided to forego awarding third-place runner-up as in past years.

Pictured above (left to right) are Diane Singel, Director, Full-time Programs at the Graziadio School; finalist Monica Hwang; finalist Rachel Siok; finalist Diane Jenkins; Dr. Larry Cox, director of the entrepreneurship program at the Graziadio School; finalist Isaac Agyeman and Dr. Janet Kerr, Executive Director, Geoffrey H. Palmer Center for Entrepreneurship and the Law, School of Law.

“We were impressed with all the plans and the students’ thoroughness,” said Jason Nazar, co-founder and CEO of Docstoc.com, who judged the competition alongside Soctt Alderton, founding partner of Stubbs, Alderton & Markiles; Brad Fornaciari, founder and CEO of Lighthouse Branding; George T. Hadjis, CEO of Oggi’s Pizza & Brewing Company; Scott Jarus, chairman and CEO of Ironclad Performance Wear Corp.; John Wander, CEO of CHNL, Inc. and David Wells, CFO of Sionix. The panel praised the students for the inventiveness of their ideas and skillful presentations. continue

GRADUATION

Kevin Streeter, director of the Ambulatory Surgery Center at Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif., has been selected to deliver the graduating student speech at commencement ceremony on April 21 for the Graziadio School of Business and Management at Pepperdine University.

“Kevin has demonstrated outstanding academic performance and his character honors the Graziadio School’s core values of integrity, stewardship, courage, and compassion,” said Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D., dean of the business school.

Streeter will graduate in April with a master of business administration degree and an emphasis in leadership and organizational change. He completed Pepperdine’s Bachelor of Science in Management program cum laude, in which he earned a 3.7 grade point average and was inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society. He was recognized for “personal excellence and outstanding student leadership” with the George Award, Graziadio School’s most prestigious honor.

Streeter is a veteran of the United States Navy, having served six years as a medic for the Marines. Upon completion of his service, he began working as a registered nurse in surgery. For the past five years he has served as director of surgical services, most recently at Verdugo Hills Hospital. He joined Saint John’s Health Center last August.

The Graziadio School’s graduation will take place at Pepperdine University’s Firestone Fieldhouse on the Malibu campus beginning at 10:30 a.m. Streeter will be joined on stage by keynote speaker and Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient Lore Harp McGovern (MBA ’81), director of the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT and GoFish Technologies Inc.

GRADUATION

Serial entrepreneur and acclaimed high-tech strategic advisor Lore Harp McGovern (MBA ’81) will address commencement ceremonies on April 21 for the Graziadio School of Business and Management at Pepperdine University. Ms. Harp McGovern will accept the school’s Distinguished Alumnus Award. The award is bestowed on a graduate whose professional and personal accomplishments honor school namesake George Graziadio’s commitment to excellence and upholds the values-centered principles of Pepperdine University.

The Graziadio School’s graduation will take place at Pepperdine University’s Firestone Fieldhouse on the Malibu campus beginning at 10:30 a.m.

Ms. Harp McGovern serves as director of the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT and GoFish Technologies Inc. She also serves as chairman emeritus of the Board of Associates of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research at MIT. Ms. Harp McGovern is a founding member of the Committee of 200, a national organization of women business executives. She was named Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young in 1983, is a strategic investor in 15 high-tech companies, and a member of the Band of Angels. continue

PRESS RELEASES

–Graduate Business School collaboration with Follett Higher Education Group and Copia Interactive provides savings and convenience

LOS ANGELES–The Graziadio School of Business and Management at Pepperdine University, partnering with Follett Higher Education Group and Copia Interactive, announces that all required books and case studies for new students enrolled in the Executive MBA program (EMBA) and Presidents and Key Executive MBA (PKE MBA) program will be delivered digitally via school-purchased iPads.

The globally-ranked Executive MBA program is an evening and weekend cohort program for the manager advancing into senior levels of responsibility and who wishes to continue to work while pursuing their degree. Multiple sessions during the year are available in Southern California and the Silicon Valley area.

Designed for C-Level executives and seasoned business owners, the Presidents and Key Executives MBA program enables graduates to translate a lifetime of experience and knowledge into personal and professional capital that delivers lasting meaningful benefit for themselves, for their most trusted relationships and for their organization.

“By offering course materials on iPads, Pepperdine will be providing students in our Executive Programs with a learning experience that leverages the same convenience and cost-saving through technology innovation that is ubiquitous in today’s business world,” said Dr. Linda A. Livingstone, Dean of the Graziadio School. “Digital content delivery also provides an eco-friendly alternative to printed materials, consistent with the Graziadio School’s pursuit of SEER values — socially environmentally and ethically responsible business practices.”

The ease of the digital delivery was a key factor in the decision to extend availability to all students in Executive Programs. “Pepperdine can order a book and have it uploaded to a student’s account the next day. With print delivery, there is a one- to two-weeks period for order-and-delivery, and there is often a need for expedited shipping to ensure on-time delivery,” explained Dr. Gary Mangiofico, Associate Dean of Fully Employed and Executive Programs. continue