Buenos Aires

Dr. Cindy Miller-Perrin

cindy.perrin@pepperdine.edu

Distinguished Professor of Psychology
Social Science Division, Seaver College

Dr. Cindy Miller-Perrin is a clinical psychologist and distinguished professor of psychology at Pepperdine University. Dr. Miller-Perrin enjoys teaching introductory psychology, developmental psychology, child clinical psychology, advanced research seminar, and positive psychology. Dr. Miller-Perrin has authored a number of books and numerous journal articles covering a range of topics, including child maltreatment, family violence, interventions to reduce physical punishment of children, positive psychology, vocation and life purpose, and faith development in college students. She is a HUGE fan of Pepperdine’s international programs because of their life changing impact on students. This will be her ninth time serving as visiting faculty having served previously three times in Florence, twice in Heidelberg, twice in Buenos Aires, and once in the East Africa program. She is married to Robin Perrin, a sociology professor here at Pepperdine, and they enjoy travelling, hiking, camping, and backpacking.

Dr. Robin Perrin

robin.perrin@pepperdine.edu

Professor of Sociology
Social Science Division, Seaver College

Robin Perrin received his doctorate in sociology from Washington State University in 1989. Following his doctoral studies he was an assistant professor of sociology at Seattle Pacific University in Seattle, Washington. Currently, he is professor of sociology at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. Perrin's research interests and publications are in the areas of family violence, deviance theory, the social construction of social problems, and the sociology of religion. He is the coauthor of four books; Social Deviance: Being, Behaving, and Branding (with David Ward and Tim Carter, Allyn and Bacon, 1991), Child Maltreatment: An Introduction (with Cindy Miller-Perrin, Sage, 1999, 2007, 2012), Family Violence Across the Lifespan (with Ola Barnett and Cindy Miller-Perrin, Sage, 1997, 2005, 2011), and Violence and Maltreatment in Intimate Relationships. He is also the author or coauthor of numerous articles on a variety of topics including family violence, deviance theory, and the sociology of religion. At Pepperdine Professor Perrin teaches Introduction to Sociology, Deviant Behavior and Social Control, and Sociology of Religion. He is the recipient of the 2004 Howard A. White Award for Teaching Excellence.

Perrin is married to Cindy Miller-Pepperdine, who is also a Pepperdine professor (Clinical Psychology). The Perrins, both of whom graduated from Pepperdine, enjoy many activities together, including traveling, camping and backpacking, fly fishing, golf, and sailing. They live on the Pepperdine campus and have two adult children. Jacob (34) is married and a primary care physician in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Madison (29) is in graduate school (English) at Wake Forest University in North Carolina. Both Robin and Cindy are IP alums, having attended Heidelberg as Pepperdine students. As Pepperdine faculty, they have taught in Heidelberg twice (1995-1996, 2007-2008), Florence twice (1999, 2010-2011), East Africa (2010), and Buenos Aires twice (2015-2016, 2022-2023).

Yvette Gellis

yvette.gellis@pepperdine.edu

Visiting Assistant Professor of Arts

Yvette Gellis is a contemporary artist with an active exhibition program both nationally and internationally. She serves as a full-time Assistant Professor of Art at  Seaver College, where she teaches courses in drawing, painting, printmaking, and art fundamentals and design. Additionally, she has taught First Year Seminar and Chapel Connections at Seaver. 

Yvette skillfully weaves the spiritual foundation of Pepperdine's mission into her programs, providing students with a holistic and enriching experience. One of the most significant and profoundly impactful years of her life was spent as an undergraduate abroad in Aix-en-Provence. Yvette is now thrilled to help students embrace the experience of living in Buenos Aires. She views discovering and venturing into a new community as a welcome adventure and looks forward to sharing this journey with her students.  Yvette is married to Andy, and together they have a son and daughter who are now young professionals pursuing their careers. They love the outdoors, enjoying activities like hiking, biking, and exploring new places as a family.

Dr. Carrie Wall

carrie.wall@pepperdine.edu

Professor of Teacher Education
Teacher Preparation Program Undergraduate Coordinator

Carrie Wall is a Professor of Teacher Education at Seaver College. She teaches courses in human development, educational foundations, literacy, and teaching methods and researches trauma-informed practices within education. She and her husband, Andy, are Pepperdine sweethearts whose three daughters also graduated from Pepperdine. Participating in International Programs is a family tradition in the Wall household. Carrie and Andy experienced the magic of living in Heidelberg as Pepperdine students and then in Florence during spring 2019 as the faculty family. Additionally, their oldest daughter, Jenna (30), studied in Heidelberg and Florence. Jessica (28) studied in Heidelberg and Buenos Aires. Michaela (26) studied in Buenos Aires and New Zealand. Carrie and Andy love to witness the transformation that occurs when students go abroad, only to return as well-traveled, confident, culturally sensitive, relationally connected, spiritually deepened, reflective adults.

Carrie and Andy love to travel and adventure as well as get to know and meaningfully invest in students. Whether welcoming people into their home for dinner, grabbing coffee in a local café, or seizing a spontaneous moment to connect, they look forward to building relationships with the people they meet along the way. 

Amy Johnson

amy.johnson2@pepperdine.edu

Executive in Residence of Business
Business Administration Division, Seaver College

Amy is a seasoned consultant and educator with a diverse background in business and social impact. She holds a BS in Business Administration from Pepperdine University and has extensive experience in IT strategies, ERP implementations, and change management, having worked with Arthur Andersen and led Strategic Vision Consulting, which she and her partners sold to Cognizant Technologies. At Cognizant, she managed global IT and business process projects. Amy's career took a turn when she spent a year traveling and learning across various countries. She later earned a Master’s in Social Entrepreneurship where she spent a few months living in Buenos Aires working with local nonprofits.  She has spent the past 11 years teaching one of the capstone classes Servant Leadership. Amy continues to run her own consulting firm, Go Make a Difference Ventures, where she actively supports nonprofits, and serves on the boards of the Al Wooten Jr. Youth Center and Pepperdine’s Board of Visitors.