The best piece of advice Tim Perrin, Vice Dean at the School of Law, ever received is to focus on improving the lives of others.
“’It’s not about you,’ he quoted, opportunities to lead are calls to service.” The significance of this statement has largely defined Perrin’s time at Pepperdine, as well as his overall outlook on teaching. As my eyes scan across the interior of his office, it is clear that Perrin has worked hard to improve both the lives and academic careers of students at the School of Law.
Perrin is surprisingly a huge fan of the eatery Chick-fil-A—convenient given the abundance of Chick-fil-As in Lubbock, Texas, the location of his newly appointed position as president of Lubbock Christian University, his alma mater.
After 20 years at Pepperdine, Perrin still vividly remembers back in 2002 when the Law School’s trial team won the tournament of champions in Austin, Texas. He cherishes the time that he shared with the faculty and students at the School of Law. Announced Feb. 3 by LCU Chancellor Ken Jones, Perrin will assume his duties June 1, 2012 as the sixth president of Lubbock Christian University, a position that he feels both honored and excited to undertake.
“It’s a very rare circumstance to be asked by your alma mater to come back and serve in a leadership capacity,” Perrin said. “My family is deeply invested in Lubbock Christian University—both my parents taught there and all my siblings attended school there. It’s a place that my family has been very deeply connected with almost from the very beginning of the school’s existence.”
After graduating from LCU in 1984, Perrin went on to earn his law degree at Texas Tech School of Law. Since coming to Pepperdine in 1992, he has served as an associate provost, professor of law and vice dean.
Perrin developed a passion for law in the seventh grade when his oldest brother went off to law school. As well, his parent’s connections to LCU made the decision to attend the university seem like an ideal fit. His mom taught English and his dad taught History, as well as coached basketball for his first 8 years before becoming a full time history professor at LCU.
“I feel such a calling to be a teacher and it was deeply put into my heart by my parent as I watched them as a young person,” Perrin expressed. “It feels right. Passion I think starts with the heart. It’s deep and it’s an attitude that is a total commitment, total engagement. When you’re passionate about something it brings you joy.”
Throughout his time at Pepperdine, Perrin has grown in his love for the school and its ability to shape both the lives of students and faculty.
“For me, Pepperdine has been a great teacher. I can here to teach. I came here to serve, and it turns out that I was the student. I came here to try to host students and it turns out that I was the guest and they hosted me. How has Pepperdine changed my life? The answer is in almost every way.”
President Andrew K. Benton commented in a press release about the impact that Perrin has left on the university.
“We will be sad to bid farewell to our esteemed colleague, Tim Perrin,” commented Benton. “He and his wife, Lucy have enriched our campus community for the past 20 years and his scholarship and seasoned administrative leadership will be greatly missed. The pain of our loss is eased just a bit anticipating the great contribution he will make at our sister university in Lubbock.”
