By Juana Diego
Staff Writer
Teaching Pepperdine students to become citizens of the world is no easy task.
Two recent appointees hope to have an impact on that process. Sharon Beard has filled the position of judicial administrator and 2001 alumnus Chris Van Velzer has taken on Nicole Phillips’ responsibility as student organizations coordinator.
Beard, following Phillips’ transfer to the Washington, D.C. internship program, left her title of associate director of Campus Life in October 2000. During that time, Beard still helped plan Midnight Madness, Summer Conference and New Student Orientation, and also had a son, Parker, who is now almost six months old. Her decision to come back was not a difficult one, she said. Her desire to work with students and Dean of Student Affairs Dr. Mark Davis laid any question of not returning to rest.
Beard’s primary role as judicial administrator is to chair the Student Disciplinary Committee and conduct informal hearings in which students meet with her on a one-on-one basis. Davis created the position this year. Prior to her return, associate deans Tabatha Jones and Stacy Rothberg filled this role.
“With her educational training and experience in conflict mediation and her love for students and Pepperdine, I’m confident that she will do an excellent job in her new role as judicial administrator,” Davis said.
Beard wants students to see her as someone who deeply cares.
“I know it is much easier for students to see me as a ‘rule enforcer’ but that is for the small percentage of students who violate policies,” she said. “Although I will meet individually with very few students, I believe that consistently upholding the values of the university leads to a stronger sense of community. I will strive to build on that sense of community and help foster a positive environment.”
Among these tasks, one of her goals is “to be a resource to the Resident Advisors, Student Advisors, Student Affairs, and above all, to be fair and consistent.”
Jerin Renfroe, senior intern at Seaver College Career Center, has worked with Beard in the past and is glad to have her back.
“I expect that Sharon will serve as a very positive member of Student Affairs whose heart is in service to students,” he said.
Van Velzer is said to have a similar heart for service.
After graduating from Pepperdine in 2001 with a major in humanities and a minor in religion, Van Velzer worked for a year and a half as the events manager for students. Now in his new job, he is also working on obtaining his MBA degree from Graziadio School of Business and Management on the Malibu campus.
As an undergraduate here, he was involved in Psi Upsilon fraternity as a member of its executive board. He also served as an editor for the Arts and Entertainment section of the Graphic.
He began the task of overseeing 14 Greek chapters and 60 clubs last December. He has already fired up a plan to meet with the president of each club to better inform himself of what is happening on campus, so that “students put a face with my name and for me to put a face with their names.”
Van Velzer loves his fast-paced job.
“I feed off the energy of students,” he said.
Most important, he wants students to see him as someone who is there to fundamentally serve them and not to “boss” them around. He also said his job is to help in developing the lives of students.
“On a personal level,” he said, “I want to be available as an adviser or as a friend to the students.”
Sophomore intern Laurie Cox appreciates Van Velzer’s interest in students.
“The first thing that comes to mind is his passion for the students,” she said. “Along with planning Homecoming he has other daily tasks to fulfill.”
She further described him as “fun to be around and personable” and said he has done a “phenomenal job” of meeting the standards Phillips left behind.
“I expect for him to give (his time) to both groups, males and females,” said senior Jeff Hamilton, a Psi Upsilon fraternity member. “To not impose too many rules. I expect him to be there and be available, and to always be open to new ideas.”
January 23, 2003