Board of Regents Extends President Jim Gash's Term
The Pepperdine University Board of Regents has unanimously voted to extend by five years the term of President Jim Gash (JD '93) two years before his current contract was set to expire, reaffirming its confidence in his leadership as the University advances its Ascend Together strategic plan and deepens its mission as a Christian institution committed to faith, scholarship, and global impact.
Board Chair Dee Anna Smith ('86) affirmed the alignment of this decision with Pepperdine’s identity and purpose.
“Jim’s unwavering commitment to academic excellence and his devotion to Pepperdine’s Christian identity are evident in every aspect of his leadership,” said Chair Smith. “From wildfires to a global pandemic, Jim has led with courage and humility. Under his stewardship, Pepperdine has held fast to its core Christian values as it boldly pursues its mission. We are grateful for his strong leadership and share his vision for this premier institution.”
Since beginning his presidency in 2019, Gash has overseen a period of substantial progress across the five pillars of the Ascend Together strategic plan, including academic distinction, global reach, student belonging, operational effectiveness, and spiritual vitality. Progress includes:
- Launch of Pepperdine’s newest international campus at Château d’Hauteville in Switzerland, a landmark in global Christian education;
- Recognition as a Research 2 (R2) University by the Carnegie Classification in February 2025, reflecting accelerated growth in research activity and doctoral education;
- Establishment of new centers, including the Ken Starr Institute for Faith, Law, and Public Service, the Hub for Spiritual Life, the Center for Faith and the Common Good, and the newly launched RISE Institute focused on resilience and student flourishing;
- Construction of The Mountain at Mullin Park, a transformative campus destination designed to foster student belonging, spiritual life, and well-being. The centerpiece is a state-of-the-art 3,600-seat basketball and volleyball arena offering rooftop terraces, hospitality suites, a café, sports medicine and strength training facilities, and a multi-activity court. Adjacent to the arena is a three-story 45,000-square-foot student center for student wellness, recreation, and resilience education. This project is scheduled to open in Fall 2026;
- Continued investment in the Great Books Colloquium, a hallmark of Pepperdine’s Seaver College curriculum that invites students into a rigorous, four-semester journey through the foundational texts of the Western intellectual tradition, athletics, the arts, and leadership-enhancing curricular expansions across Pepperdine’s five schools;
- Hosting nationally recognized thought leaders, including Palmer Luckey, Jordan Peterson, Robert George, Cornel West, Condoleezza Rice, Barbara Barrett, Ari Berman, Tani Cantil-Sakauye, and Jon Clifton—demonstrating Pepperdine’s commitment to diverse perspectives and faith traditions;
- Strengthening alumni engagement through initiatives like The Waves Discovery Project, fostering lifelong connection and shared purpose.
Philanthropic momentum has been accelerated under Gash’s leadership:
- Between fiscal years 2020–2024, Pepperdine’s annual donations doubled the average of the prior ten-year period;
- Awards include two Lilly Endowment grants totaling $9.95 million—supporting the Passages project at the Weisman Museum of Art and the Empower and Equip program through Church Relations;
- A $10 million Keck Foundation grant established the Keck Data Science Institute, and numerous NSF and foundation grants have fueled major research, scholarship, and programmatic expansion.
President Gash expressed his appreciation for the Board’s support and reaffirmed his commitment to Pepperdine’s calling.
“I am profoundly grateful to the Board of Regents for their trust and alignment, and to God for His steady provision and sustaining grace,” said Gash. “Joline and I consider it a joy and privilege to serve this extraordinary community. These past six years have been marked by collaboration and perseverance, and I am thankful for the faculty, staff, and administrators who brought bold ideas to life—often exceeding what we thought possible. As we continue this journey together, I remain humbly reliant on God and confident in His plans for Pepperdine as we seek to glorify Him through all we do.”
Vice Chair Fred Ricker shared the Board’s collective affirmation: “President Gash is leading Pepperdine with clarity, conviction, and a strong sense of purpose rooted in faith,” said Ricker. “The Board is united in its support of his continued leadership and the University’s steadfast commitment to being a distinctively Christian institution where academic excellence and spiritual formation go hand in hand.”
Pepperdine University remains anchored in its founding identity as a Christ-centered institution committed to academic excellence.