Lausanne Program Director Mary Mayenfisch-Tobin has been let go from Pepperdine University. International Programs Director Jeff Hamilton confirmed the move earlier Tuesday afternon. Hamilton was unable to offer an official statement on behalf of the IP office as to the reason or reasons Mayenfisch-Tobin has been released, only referring to it as a “personnel issue.”
News of the change broke today when Pete Lessing, assistant director of the Lausanne program, sat down students currently in Lausanne’s internship program and told them Mayenfisch-Tobin would not be with them the rest of the program.
“They won’t tell us why,” said senior Michele Williams, who also previously attended the Lausanne program in the 2009-2010 school year. Williams is currently interning at Mercy Ships through the Lausanne program. The students were told Dr. Charles Hall, dean of International Programs, made the decision and that the program is now looking for an interim director.
“We were all so shocked and not sure how to react to such heavy news with so little information,” Williams said.
Dean Hall would not provide the reason(s) for the layoff.
“At times like these, it is really important to respect the dignity of people involved,” Hall said.
“As a general rule, it is not appropriate to comment on personnel issues. I’m really not going to comment any further on this case other than to say that Mary Mayenfisch, as the founding director of the Lausanne program, tirelessly worked to help Pepperdine launch and establish the Lausanne Program. I will always be grateful for her boundless energy and enthusiasm for teaching and modeling a global perspective.”
Mayenfisch has worked with the Lausanne program since its inception in 2007.
Jerry Derloshon, director of Public Relations at Pepperdine, on behalf of Pepperdine said that “the University does not comment on personnel issues.”
In addition to her work with Pepperdine, Mayenfisch-Tobin works as a lobbyist for Amnesty International’s Business and Human Rights group in Berne, and is the president of Business and Professional Women in Lausanne.
“I think the biggest impact she has had on me was her ability to have me realize through her numerous connections to influential businessmen and women that the world is global and we need to make more sustainable decisions in the corporate world,” said rising junior Patricia Donnelly, a Lausanne 2011-2012 alumna.
“She was one of the most caring people I ever met. She really took the time to make her relationships with other people count,” said 2012 graduate Erik Morentin, a Lausanne Internship alumnus, who interned at the International Bureau of Education at UNESCO.
The Graphic will continue to follow this story until more details can be released.
