Academic Advising
One of the many offerings the GSEP Student Services department offers is academic advising. Academic advisors and program administrators are available to assist you with a variety of topics such as:
- Counseling on enrollment options, academic progress, degree requirements, and degree audit
- Transfer credit/waivers, course and program petitions, and probation status
- Assist with registration holds, leave of absence, readmission, and course and program withdrawal
- Comprehensive exams: submission of papers and notification of exam results
Students are highly encouraged to work with their academic advisor or program administrator throughout their program and address any academic questions or needs they have.
To get to know and contact your academic advisor or program administrator, select
your respective division below:
Education
Doctor of Philosophy, Global Leadership and Change
Jane (Tado) Tucker, Assistant Director of Academic Advising, PhD
Jane (Tado) Tucker has served the Pepperdine University community since 2008 and has been in her current role since 2014. Prior to her career in higher education, she spent over 10 years in the field of Sports Medicine. She is a graduate of Pepperdine University, earning both a Bachelor of Science in Management degree and a Master of Business Administration degree from the Graziadio School of Business. She is committed to serving others and is dedicated to assisting our students achieve their educational goals.
Jane.Tucker@Pepperdine.edu | 310.568.5738
Master of Arts in Education, Social Entrepreneurship and Change | Master of Science in Education programs | Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership
Andrew Disney, Sr. Academic Advisor, SEC, MS ED/Leadership, EDOL
In the capacity of senior academic advisor, Andrew assists students with academic planning, course registration, answers program related questions and helps connect students to various campus resources needed to help guide them to a successful completion of their degree program. Prior to his advising role, Andrew served in various student support roles at a number of different universities. He has served as an admissions officer for Pepperdine University's Graduate School of Education and Psychology and the USC Marshall School of Business. He helped identify and recruit high caliber students for a variety of academic programs for each of these institutions. Prior to his work in admissions, he served as a NCAA Compliance Officer at the University of South Carolina, Georgetown and Radford University. In this capacity, he would support the athletic department in the areas of recruiting, initial/continuing eligibility, financial aid, academic planning and rules education.
Andrew.Disney@Pepperdine.edu | 310.568.5770
Master of Arts in Education | Teaching | TESOL | Doctor of Education in Learning Technologies | Educational Leadership Pre-K-12
Moises Olavarrieta, Academic Advisor, MAT, TESOL, EDLT, EDLP
Moises assists students with academic planning, course registration, answers program related questions and helps connect students to various campus resources. Prior to his academic advising role, Moises worked in the admissions office at GSEP to recruit high caliber students. Previous to that, he served in various student support roles at different universities since 2014. His experience includes working as the Graduate Coordinator at a biological sciences department, Student Relations Specialist at a financial aid office, Office Manager at a New Students and Parent Programs department, and an Administrative Assistant for Fraternity and Sorority Life at a University-Student Union. Moises earned a B.A. in Anthropology with honors and graduated with a M.A. in Education with a 3.9 GPA.
Moises.Olavarrieta@Pepperdine.edu | 310.568.5543
Psychology
Master of Science, Applied Behavior Analysis - ABA
Amarillys Loew, Program Administrator, MS Applied Behavior Analysis
Amarillys serves as the Program Administrator for the MS in Applied Behavior Analysis program (MSABA). In addition to her administrative role, she also serves as Student Advisor for MSABA students supporting them with matters such as course planning, registration, practicum, and much more. Amarillys holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Management from California State University of Los Angeles. She has been a part of the Pepperdine GSEP community since 2018, serving the Psychology Division students and faculty, and is dedicated to continuing to support our students as they reach their academic goals and go on to pursue their careers.
amarillys.loew@pepperdine.edu | 310.568.2317 | West LA Campus
Master of Arts, Clinical Psychology - MFT I Aliento
Lily Vasquez, Program Administrator, MFT (Aliento Format)
Lily joins Pepperdine in 2021 as the Program Administrator for the Clinical Psychology, Aliento program located at our Irvine graduate campus. She is a first generation college graduate holding a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a minor in Latinx/Latin American studies. Her experiences in the classroom and students affairs deeply impacted her and cemented her dedication to improving the lives of those in her community. Lily enjoys connecting with students and using her skills and knowledge to help them accomplish their goals. She looks forward to supporting and working with students during their graduate journey.
Liliana.Vasquez@pepperdine.edu | 949.223.2571 | Irvine Campus
Master of Arts, Clinical Psychology - MFT | Daytime
Andrea Lipnicki, Senior Program Administrator, MFT (Daytime Format)
As an alum of the Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with Marriage and Family Therapy (daytime) program, Andrea enjoys helping prospective students learn about the program and the benefits of an excellent education. She takes pride in getting to know everyone who applies to the program. Andrea has been graciously supporting students through all aspects of the application process and all aspects of their program since 2003. She seeks to provide each student with the individualized support they need to successfully complete their program and reach their professional goals. There are not many questions that Andrea cannot answer about applying to and completing the MFT - Daytime program located at our Malibu Drescher Campus.
Andrea.Lipnicki@Pepperdine.edu | 310.506.4608 | Malibu Campus
Master of Arts, Psychology-Clinical MFT | General
Sandy Ghoubrial, Senior Academic Advisor, MFT | General (Evening On-Campus Formats)
Sandy Ghoubrial is the Senior Psychology Academic Advisor for the on-ground, evening-format Master of Arts in Psychology and Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage & Family Therapy. She has experience working in the fields of outreach, teaching, and counseling/advising. She is dedicated to student success and enjoys being a support system for students in their Pepperdine graduate journey. Sandy graduated from California State University, Fullerton with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a minor in Human Services. She earned her Masters in Education in Educational Counseling from the University of Southern California. She plans on continuing her education to pursue a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership.
sandy.ghoubrial@pepperdine.edu| 310.568.5618 | West LA and Irvine Campuses
Trudy-Ann Gordon, Academic Advisor, MFT | General (Evening On-Campus Formats)
Trudy-Ann joined the GSEP family in 2024 as an academic advisor for our evening-format Master of Arts in Psychology and Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage & Family Therapy programs located at our Calabasas graduate campus. She is a tenured counselor, with a B.S. in Criminal Justice and a MSEd in School Counseling. Additionally, Trudy-Ann will soon sit for the certification examination to become a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC.) With her passion for supporting the human experience, and a great emphasis placed on individuals' perspectives; she seeks to improve the lives of others by providing guidance and a safe place to be their authentic self. Trudy is an avid traveler with a plethora of interactions and different cultural experiences that have given her a unique learning platform. She is a dedicated vegan, who enjoys cooking vegan meals, bonding with friends and family, and hiking.
trudyann.gordon@pepperdine.edu | 818.702.1319 | Calabasas Campus
Chris Walther, Academic Advisor, MFT | General (On-Campus Formats)
Chris is originally from New York and has a B.A in Psychology and a M.S. in Counseling Psychology from Pace University. He has been working within higher education for over 20 years as an adjunct professor in Psychology, professional academic advisor, and student affairs administrator. With a holistic approach to professional advising, he will provide students academic and personal support through integrating and enhancing myriad support services into a seamless, timely, and personal experience for every student. It takes a team effort to achieve our shared goals and he looks forward to being part of the new Pepperdine team.
christopher.walther@pepperdine.edu | 310.568.5503 | West LA Campus
Doctor of Psychology, Clinical Psychology
Yasmin (Makki) Rahdari, Senior Program Administrator, PsyD
Yasmin earned her Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pepperdine. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT #90870) and has several years of experience working in the field of mental health with children, adolescents, and families doing individual, couples, and family psychotherapy. Yasmin is the Senior Program Administrator for the Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) program, and also serves as an adjunct faculty member for our online psychology programs. She supports the educational needs of current, incoming, and prospective Psy.D. students, as well as alumni. Yasmin also oversees clinical workshops, continuing education and professional development events, and provides administrative support to PsyD faculty and internal and external clinical supervisors. She has a passion for working with students and helping them excel in the field of psychology.
Yasmin.Rahdari@Pepperdine.edu | 310.568.2324 | West LA Campus
Online Psychology
Beth Benn, Student Success Advisor, MFT | General | ABA (Online Formats)
Beth Benn was born and raised in Fort Collins, Colorado. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Women's Studies from the University of Northern Colorado and her Master of Arts in Sociology from the University of Colorado Denver. Beth worked as a teaching and research assistant throughout graduate school and most recently as a social worker in the division of child welfare. Beth is passionate about the opportunities higher education can offer individuals and communities and will support each student on their unique path. Beth also enjoys yoga, snowboarding, hiking, camping, and live music.
bbenn@onlinepsych.pepperdine.edu | 310.340.6840 | Online Campus
Bree Clanton Student Success Advisor, MFT I General | ABA (Online Formats)
Bree Clanton was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. She attended and graduated from the University of Northern Colorado and, from there, started a career in education that has taken on many forms. As a former middle school teacher and Varsity coach, Bree realized that she had a passion for motivating students in their educational endeavors. Throughout her career, she often advocated and supported students to pursue higher education opportunities, and she finds a great amount of joy in helping those who do navigate through this journey. In her free time, Bree enjoys spending time with her family and friends, taking on home improvement projects, and practicing yoga.
bclanton@onlinepsych.pepperdine.edu I 424.390.5847 I Online Campus
Chad Johnson, Student Success Advisor, MFT I General | ABA (Online Formats)
Chad Johnson is originally from Texas and has lived in Colorado for 8 years. He earned his Bachelors in Political Science from Oklahoma State University and has an M.A. in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary with an emphasis in Contemplative Spirituality. He has worked in education for over 10 years, the majority of them in K-12 and online formats. Chad has worked in advising since 2016 and is passionate about helping students achieve their educational and professional goals. He loves the outdoors and enjoys hiking, skiing, and camping.
cjohnson3@onlinepsych.pepperdine.edu I 424.372.1969 I Online Campus
Elizabeth Fuller, Student Success Advisor, MFT I General | ABA (Online Formats)
Elizabeth Fuller is originally from Long Island, NY, and has lived in Colorado for 12 years. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art with a Concentration in Oil Painting from Wheaton College. For several years, she developed curriculum and instructed adults in classical drawing and painting technique in an atelier setting. She went on to manage multi-site enrichment programs for elementary-aged children. She has been supporting students as an academic advisor and coach for over three years now. In her free time, Elizabeth continues to paint and enjoys showing her work, collaborating on creative projects, and just having fun with it. She loves to support students to overcome challenges in the pursuit of their passions.
efuller@onlinepsych.pepperdine.edu I 424.356.0880 I Online Campus
Emily vonSchondorf, Student Success Advisor, MFT I General | ABA (Online Formats)
Greetings, everyone; I'm Emily vonSchondorf. I've been working within higher education for the last five years, and really feel grateful. Prior to this I taught programs as a park ranger and in public schools as a classroom teacher. My path has been so rewarding as I've been able to empower others to learn and to make an impact in their own lifes and their community. In my free time I enjoy live music, creating art, and cooking for friends. When the crew is together, my three-legged cattle dog Ace, my partner Sam, and I enjoy sunrise hikes and breakfast sandwiches from a local neighborhood market.
evonschondorf@onlinepsych.pepperdine.edu I 424.392.6897 I Online Campus
Heather Scott, Student Success Advisor, MFT | General | ABA (Online Formats)
Heather is originally from Boston, MA but has lived in Colorado for the last 12 years. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Education from the University of Arizona. Heather started her career in the K-12 public school sector, but has since transitioned from the classroom into higher education. Heather has been a Student Success Advisor for over five years and has a passion for supporting her students as they navigate their programs. In her free time, Heather enjoys spending time with her daughter, husband, and two dogs.
hscott@onlinepsych.pepperdine.edu I 424.416.2391 I Online Campus
Jordan Sien, Student Success Advisor, MFT I General | ABA (Online Formats)
Jordan is originally from Baltimore but has lived in Denver since 2015. She earned her Bachelors in Special Education from the University of Colorado Denver and has worked in Education since 2011. In 2021, Jordan decided to take a new path in her career, shifting from the classroom to higher education advising. Her motivation lies in her genuine passion for facilitating students' success, and this is the driving force behind her work. In her free time, Jordan enjoys Muy Thai kickboxing, snowboarding in the rocky mountains, and traveling to new places.
jsien@onlinepsych.pepperdine.edu I 213.996.0653 I Online Campus
Joshua Margolin, Student Success Advisor, MFT I General | ABA (Online Formats)
Joshua Margolin is a New England transplant who moved westward after spending almost three decades on the east coast. Josh was awarded his Bachelors of Arts in Media and Communications from the University of New Hampshire before earning his Masters of Arts in Business Technology from Georgetown University. He then became one of four founding members of a tech startup immediately after graduate school and worked there for seven years before deciding to leave Washington, DC. From there, Josh made his way to Pepperdine and served as an admission officer for nearly three years prior to becoming a student success advisor for the very same grad programs.
jmargolin@onlinepsych.pepperdine.edu | 310.340.2807 | Online Campus
Kathryn Schoenfeld, Student Success Advisor, MFT I General | ABA (Online Formats)
Kathryn is a graduate of the University of Denver and holds a BSBA degree in Business Management. She used her degree in business to work in finance and in the non-profit sector. After completing her graduate degree in school counseling, her passion for student success developed and she spent the past 7 years as a high school counselor. She enjoys traveling, taking road trips, playing golf, and spending time with her family. Kathryn is one of many advisors eager to assist our online student population.
kschoenfeld@onlinepsych.pepperdine.edu | 424.392.7971 | Online Campus
Kyle Oliver, Student Success Advisor, MFT I General | ABA (Online Formats)
Kyle Oliver joins the team as a Denver Colorado native. He graduated from the University of Northern Colorado where he played basketball and graduated with a degree in Human Services. Kyle loves playing games, sports, comic books, and anything geeky. He has been in education for several years and has experience working with all ages. Helping people is his passion and he is excited to be a part of this great program and advising team!
koliver@onlinepsych.pepperdine.edu I 424.363.8269 I Online Campus
Marcia Thurston, Student Success Advisor, MFT | General | ABA (Online Formats)
Marcia grew up in beautiful Boulder Colorado, home of the University of Colorado campus. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs and Masters of Education for Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Colorado. She is passionate about empowering others and helping them achieve their goals and has worked extensively with people of all ages in educational, professional, and athletic settings. Outside of work, Marcia loves to travel, exercise, read, spend time with friends and family, and hike. She is thrilled to work with students as they navigate their educational journey at Pepperdine!
mthurston@onlinepsych.pepperdine.edu | 424.570.6111 | Online Campus
Meggie McRae, Student Success Advisor, MFT I General I ABA (Online Formats)
Meggie was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Public Health from Temple University. Through her undergraduate internship opportunities, Meggie discovered her passion for building relationships with students. She enrolled in Teach For America and moved to Denver, Colorado to teach in a K-12 setting, while also earning her Master of Arts in Teaching. After a few years in the classroom, Meggie decided to join the higher education space to serve students who are pursuing their own Master's degrees. In her free time, she enjoys attending concerts, trying out new restaurants, traveling and hiking around beautiful Colorado!
mmcrae@onlinepsych.pepperdine.edu | 424-317-9591 | Online Campus