Of Seaver’s eight academic divisions five will have new faces at the helm this fall. Division chairs are initially appointed four four-year terms and are eligible for one three-year term following.
Social Sciences Division: Steve Rouse
Preceded by Department Chair Cindy Miller-Perrin Professor of Psychology Steve Rouse of the Social Science Division is the department’s newest chair. Rouse plans to continue the same level of connection within the department as Miller-Perrin created during her term.
“One of the things that she really focused on was to help us become more aware of what the other faculty members are doing and what their research is Rouse said. Often we prison our research to colleagues in our own discipline but we might not even know what people are doing in different disciplines or even within the same division.”
After years of teaching in the division Rouse’s new leadership role has him emphasizing the lines of communication between himself and his fellow colleagues. In due time Rouse sees the Social Science Division growing through his support of fellow colleagues and the encouragement of academic excellence among students.
Rouse’s new position has him in awe of the talent in the Social Science Department.
“This department is such an impressively high achieving department and for the beginning of my term I simply want to learn the ropes and allow the colleagues I have to continue to do the great work that they’re doing said Rouse.
As the term gets underway Rouse plans to gather more understanding of the division and create further plans for excellence in his division.
“I purposefully decided that my understanding of where the division before I came to this role was limited because it was just coming from my perspective as one individual faculty member Rouse said. So rather than assuming that my perspective was accurate I wanted to give myself more time.”
As far as student involvement in the Division Rouse plans to add more research opportunities. This will allow students who want to further their achievement in Psychology.
“Currently if students want to go to graduate school it’s much more difficult if they don’t have some sort of research experience or professional work said Rouse. We’ve been emphasizing giving opportunities to students who want to get involved in research to conduct their own research projects.”
These research opportunities will then make Pepperdine’s undergraduate program more competitive.
“We have students from many different disciplines who have been able to present research at many national conferences and that is wonderful because it enhances their ability to get into graduate school said Rouse. It also makes other people from other institutions more aware of the strength of Pepperdine’s undergraduate programs.”
Religion Division: Tim Willis
Many recognize professor Willis from his Religion 101 course but few are aware of his newest leadership role in the Religion Division. Appointed Chair of the Religion Department Willis plans to focus on expanding the Religion Department through the hiring of new professors.
“Hiring new professors and first of all just to replace what we were supposed to have to get us back up to where we’re supposed to be Willis said. Then one or two more beyond that if we can.”
Willis and his department also recognize the shift in ministry present within the last decade which emphasizes a more personal spiritual development as opposed to a traditional ministry. These newer methods of teaching Willis believes can be means of enhancing one’s faith.
Methods of thinking that are prevalent today are often more informal or personal and Willis believes that these teaching styles will be more effective in smaller class sizes.
“We’ve been in the process and will continue to be trying to gauge our classes and our majors so that addresses the needs of the students going into the future said Willis.
As well, an evaluation of the methods used to teach religion is under assessment for Willis and his division.
It’s not a matter of it [coming to faith] being easy or anything it’s just a matter of how are we programmed to be receptive to ideas that we haven’t bought into before said Willis. In the same way that learning has changed in society its changed in ministry too in how people come to faith.”
According to Willis the Religion Division is doing well as far as support from fellow colleagues. The main issue in the department stems from not having enough professors to teach the students in a more one-on-one setting.
“We definitely need a couple more people to help with classes said Willis. I’d like to have the problem of not having enough classroom space for something but we haven’t gotten there yet.”
Communication Division: Ken Waters
Newest Communication Department Chair Professor Ken Waters recognizes the need to stay current with technology in a changing society. Since his appointment to Chair of the Department Waters plans to add a class Storytelling in the Media which will introduce students on how to takes stories and relate them to multiple media outlets.
“Traditionally we’ve focused on newspapers and television and now that obviously has expanded to the Internet Waters said. There are a lot of different kinds of storytelling not just that on television.”
When asked about the department’s future Waters stresses the need for assessment in the department. This idea will then help the division to address the needs of students and expand the curriculum.
“We have opportunities to expand the curriculum and there is more staff we can hire in different positions he said. Next year we’ll have more of an emphasis on media production. ”
Another area of focus for the department is preparing students for lives of purpose outside of Pepperdine by keeping up with the nature of the professions.
“The ultimate goal is to be the best small college communication program in the U.S. and we have fantastic teachers strong scholars and people that are great servants said Waters. We do have opportunities to make the experience for students even better and that’s what we’re working on right now.”
Business Division: Jere Yates
Previous department chair in 1977 Jere Yates returns to the job this year as department chair for the business division. Yates started the division in 1973 when the program was a part of the Graziado School and had various titles including assistant dean during his reign.
For 27 years Yat
es was the department chair until 2000 when he decided to step down and focus more on teaching and fund-raising.
“Things have changed in ten years said Yates. It’s a new ball game for me.”
This time around Yates and his department plan to open up concentrations to Business majors.
“Our preference is not to expand the number of majors but to open up more concentrations available to people said Yates. Currently we have some minors but we’re thinking of moving to concentrations.”
Courses are currently offered in these areas of study however through the addition of concentrations students will be able to further specialize their areas of focus.
Other exciting events planned for the Business division include a junior retreat and a meet and greet with Warren Buffet the legendary investor.
“We’ve been invited to send 20 students to Omaha to meet with Warren Buffet Yates said. We are going to have a selection process in the next two weeks.”
As well Yates plans to do more hiring and work with alumni more extensively during this term as Business Department Chair.
“We’re proud of the fact that we’re an undergraduate Business program embedded in a liberal arts college and not even a part of it he said. We really buy into that and we hire faculty that support that.”
Through the expansion of faculty addition of concentrations and opportunities made available to students to further their business careers Yates and the Business division feel that students will be ready to begin their Business ventures upon graduation.
“I think we provide a superior undergraduate education in a liberal arts setting that will make our students competitive whether they go to graduate school or they enter the professional work force of the business world said Yates.
Fine Arts Division: Gary Cobb
After 28 years at Pepperdine, professor Cobb returns for a second run as chair of the Fine Arts Division.
Some of the new challenges that face the department include advocacy.
“This is a pretty strong department in terms of the arts and it sometimes is a secret to everyone and so we got a few thousand students out there who need to share the experience said Cobb.
For the first time a scholarly organization the College Music Society will come to Pepperdine to have a Pacific coast meeting. This is a way for students to get involved and learn from musical scholars.
“We have a flourishing theater program an expanding vocal music program and especially an instrumental program that is growing said Cobb. All of those are pillars of what a fine arts program is about.”
Integration of the divisions within the Fine Arts Department as well is a goal of Cobb during his time as chair. Due to the diverse specializations within the Fine Arts Department Yates plans to better incorporate each division.
“Each of our areas has its own distinctive mission statement said Cobb. We’re trying to bring it all under one fine arts vision statement this year.”
Collectively the Fine Arts Division strives to enrich the lives of its students.
Cobb said “We are engaged in the creative dimension in a person’s life such as enriching the public with the arts and giving freedom of expression to our students.”