Distinguished Lecture Series: Navigating Disasters with Faith and Fortitude

Wednesday, February 26, 2025
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM PST
Pepperdine West LA Graduate Campus and Via Zoom

Mass disasters and personal crises can upend our lives, leaving us searching for meaning, strength, and hope. To discuss the intersection of faith, resilience, and disaster response, the Pepperdine Graduate School of Education and Psychology welcomes Dr. Jamie Aten, Founder and Co-Director of the Humanitarian Disaster Institute and Blanchard Chair of Humanitarian and Disaster Leadership at Wheaton College. 

As a disaster psychologist who has spent 20 years researching, responding to, and personally experiencing disasters—including surviving Hurricane Katrina and battling stage IV cancer—Dr. Aten will share scientific wisdom and spiritual insights on resilience and compassionate care. Whether facing personal hardship or large-scale tragedies like the recent California wildfires, this lecture will offer practical steps for finding hope and offering help amidst adversity. 

Key Takeaways:

• Practical guidance on offering emotional and spiritual support to individuals facing challenges ranging from everyday stress to disaster-related trauma
• Discussion on spiritual fortitude and resilience—emphasizing endurance in the face of long-term suffering 
• An introduction to Spiritual First Aid, an evidence-informed, peer-to-peer, disaster spiritual and emotional care intervention
• Complimentary access to Spiritual First Aid resources, enabling attendees to continue their learning and support efforts following the event