Buenos Aires
Program Staff
Faculty-in-Residence
2026-2027
Ame Cividanes
Professor of Hispanic Studies
International Studies and Languages Division
Dr. Ame Cividanes, Professor of Teaching of Hispanic Studies, will serve as the Faculty
in Residence for Pepperdine’s Buenos Aires program for the 2026-2027 academic year.
She received her Ph.D. from Florida State University, where her primary area of
expertise is Contemporary Spanish Literature. Dr. Cividanes brings a wealth of
experience in language education and program leadership, having served as Director
of
the Spanish and Portuguese Language Program at Yale University, prior to her faculty
appointment at Pepperdine, where she also directed study abroad programs in Latin
America and Spain. Her career includes teaching all levels of Spanish language,
literature, and culture. With over 20 years of experience in international education,
including leadership roles in Pepperdine's International Programs in Argentina,
Switzerland, and Madrid, she looks forward to guiding students throughout their study
abroad experience.
Central to Dr. Cividanes’ vocation is the intentional integration of faith and learning,
a
commitment rooted in Pepperdine’s Christian mission. She views her role as Faculty
in
Residence as a divine calling, where her foundational Christian values directly inform
her approach to teaching and mentorship. By weaving spiritual reflection into academic
inquiry, she seeks to nurture both the intellectual and spiritual growth of her students
as
they navigate new cultural environments. This holistic dedication to student
development is also expressed through hospitality; she loves to cook and is especially
looking forward to sharing meals with students, fostering a space for community and
connection around the table. Dr. Cividanes and her family are incredibly excited to
immerse themselves in the city’s vibrant energy and explore the diverse landscapes
of
Argentina, viewing this journey as a transformative opportunity in the lives of her
students firsthand.
Fall 2027
John Ned
Assistant Professor of Teaching of Finance
Business Administration, Seaver College
Dr. John P. Ned is an Assistant Professor of Teaching of Finance in the Business Administration Division in Seaver College at Pepperdine University. He received his PhD in Business Administration from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, with a concentration in Finance. He previously taught at Pepperdine as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Finance in 2017-2018 academic year and from 2021 to 2026. Dr. Ned teaches Financial Management, International Finance, and Accounting and Finance for Non-Business majors. He is deeply committed to Pepperdine’s Christian Mission and enjoys meaningful experiences with students in and outside the classroom to help them with their personal and spiritual growth. He looks forward to the exploring the cultural opportunities that await him in Buenos Aires.
Spring 2028
Laura Estes
Assistant Professor of Religion
Laura Estes teaches courses in New Testament and Early Christianity and researches ancient and medieval Jewish-Christian-Muslim interactions. She credits her own semester abroad in Belgium with helping her to discover a love for language, history, literature, and theology, and she looks forward to connecting her religion courses with hands-on experience of the vibrant cultural and religious landscape of Buenos Aires.
Dr. Estes and her family spend their free time camping, cheering on Pepperdine athletics, and dissecting competitive reality television shows. She and her husband, Pepperdine ethics professor Derek Estes, have visited the Buenos Aires campus twice during their new faculty retreats, and are excited to share the beauty of Argentina with their sons Miles (8) and Henry (3).