Full-Time MBA Faculty

Gia Honnen-Weisdorn
Practitioner Instructor of Business Law

Gia Honnen Weisdorn is a practicing attorney with the Law Offices of Gia Honnen Weisdorn, a firm with clients in the fields of entertainment, the Internet, biotechnology, and technology, among others. Since 2001, Professor Weisdorn has taught business law, eLaw, international law and negotiations at the Graziadio Business School. Professor Weisdorn is a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar honors graduate of Columbia Law School (LL.M.) and graduated magna cum laude from the University of San Diego School of Law (JD). She holds an MBA with a finance concentration from Pepperdine University.

Gary Mangiofico
Executive Professor of Organizational Theory and Management

Dr. Mangiofico has taught at the Pepperdine Graziadio School since 2002 and brings more than 20 years of experience leading strategic development, operations management and integration, and turnaround operations solving complex challenges as a CEO, COO, and as a general management executive for both start-ups and Fortune 50 companies. Dr. Mangiofico holds a BA and MA in psychology from Chapman University in Orange, Calif., and a PhD in Organizational Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology (Alameda/Berkeley).

Brian McGilvray
Practitioner Faculty of Business Law

Brian McGilvray currently teaches courses in leadership and ethics, business law, employment law, and human resources management at Pepperdine University’s Graziadio Business School. McGilvray has spent nearly twenty-five years as a practicing attorney, specializing in the areas of business and corporate law, business planning and formation, and employment law. McGilvray earned his Juris Doctor degree from the Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law, and his MBA degree and Bachelor of Science in Management degree from the Pepperdine University Graziadio Business School.

Cole Short
Assistant Professor of Strategy

Dr. Short's research focuses on the intersection of corporate governance and stakeholder management. His background also includes medical diagnostics and information technology investments stemming from his family's entrepreneurship in the life sciences. Dr. Short received his PhD in Strategy and Entrepreneurship from the University of Georgia, his MA in Economics from Boston University, and his BA in International Studies from Baylor University.

Steve Rapier
Assistant Professor of Marketing

Dr. Rapier has been actively engaged in marketing as both a practitioner and lecturer since 1982. As a practitioner, he has over 25 years of experience on both the agency and client side. He has provided strategic insight to brand and marketing, advertising, public relations, and market research to a range of organizations. He holds an Executive MBA and a PhD in Philosophy from Claremont Graduate University.