2025—26
PEPPERDINE GR A ZIADIO BUSINESS SCHOOL
Dean’s Report
PREPARING LEADERS FOR GREATER PURPOSE At Pepperdine Graziadio Business School, purpose is not an abstract ideal. It is the foundation of how we teach, research, lead, and serve. Rooted in Pepperdine’s
Christian mission and strengthened by a rigorous commitment to academic excellence, Graziadio prepares business leaders who understand that success is measured by more than profit alone. Here, students learn to think strategically, lead ethically, and make decisions that create lasting value for organizations, communities, and the world. CULTIVATE A MEANINGFUL LIFE In a rapidly changing marketplace, the world needs leaders who bring both competence and character to the challenges before them. Through values-centered education, applied learning, and close mentorship from accomplished faculty, Graziadio equips students to become principled professionals prepared to lead with clarity, courage, and conviction. MAKE A LASTING IMPACT Across classrooms, boardrooms, research centers, and global industries, the Graziadio community is building something that lasts. Our faculty produce scholarship that shapes conversations in business and society. Our students solve real-world challenges through experiential learning. Our alumni launch companies, lead organizations, strengthen communities, and model the kind of leadership the world needs now.
Seeing students grow in the classroom, in their careers, and as people of purpose are what drew me to this work and continue to inspire me every day. DAVID SMITH Interim Dean
2026
TOP 50
#1
BEST BUSINESS SCHOOL IN THE NATION The Princeton Review
PART-TIME MBA IN THE NATION U.S. News & World Report
MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO STUDY U.S. News & World Report
R2
PREMIER GLOBAL
#33
PRESTIGIOUS RESEARCH DESIGNATION Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education
DOCTOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION CEO Magazine
BEST ONLINE MASTER’S PROGRAMS FOR VETERANS U.S. News & World Report
Graziadio Business School Dean’s Report
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STUDENT BODY ETHNICITY
White
35.8%
Black
Hispanic
23.1%
Two or More Races 7%
Asian
17.2%
Unknown
Gender
2.2
GENDER 45.3
52.5
Male
4.7%
Citizenship
2.2
Female
12.2%
13.6
CITIZENSHIP
Male
52.5%
Domestic
84.2%
Female
45.3%
International
13.6%
Unknown
2.2%
Unknown
2.2%
Unknown
84.2 International
Domestic
Unknown
ENROLLMENT UPDATE
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38.3%
29.7%
5%
6.4%
20.6%
Master of Business Administration Programs
Master of Science Programs
Online Bachelor of Science in Management Program
Executive Doctor of Business Administration Program
Online Master’s Programs
bschool.pepperdine.edu
FACULTY PUBLICATION HIGHLIGHTS FT50 Publications
Top-Tier Discipline-Specific Publications
ORGANIZATION SCIENCE The Refugee Journey: An Exploration of the Role of Organizations and Psychological Processes by Cristina B. Gibson
ACADEMY OF MANAGEMENT DISCOVERIES f The Crisis of Dignity at Work: Dehumanization during Digital Transformation, Societal Upheaval, and Workforce Uncertainty by Cristina B. Gibson and Jaclyn Margolis
ACADEMY OF MANAGEMENT ANNALS Community Inside and Out: Moving Community Front and Center in Management Research by Cristina B. Gibson JOURNAL OF FINANCIAL AND QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS Agency Conflicts in Securitization: Evidence from Ginnie Mae Early Buyouts by Dongshin Kim JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES Situational Antecedents of CEOs’ Intrapersonal Constructs: The Case of Regulatory Focus by Cole E. Short
f Virtual Nature, Real Consequences: How Immersive Virtual Work Environments Shape Pro-Environmental Behavior, Performance, and Employee Well-Being by Cole E. Short NATURE HUMAN BEHAVIOUR Analysis of demographic variation and childhood correlates of financial well-being across 22 countries by Cristina B. Gibson NATURE MENTAL HEALTH The Global Flourishing Study: Study profile and initial results on flourishing by Cristina B. Gibson JOURNAL OF ADVERTISING Sharing the Spotlight: Understanding Consumer Response to Joint Advertising by Clark D. Johnson
Editorial Highlights ACADEMY OF MANAGEMENT ANNALS Cristina B. Gibson | Editor ORGANIZATIONAL DYNAMICS Jaclyn Margolis | Editorial Review Board
ACADEMY OF MANAGEMENT DISCOVERIES and STRATEGIC ORGANIZATION Cole E. Short | Editorial Review Boards ACADEMY OF MANAGEMENT REVIEW Dana Sumpter | Editorial Review Board
RESEARCH AND APPLICATION IN MARKETING (RAM) Cristel Russell | Associate Editor
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IMPACTFUL SCHOLARSHIP NATURE: HUMAN BEHAVIOUR The Long Economic Shadow: How Childhood Shapes Adult Fortune by Cristina B. Gibson We view financial health as a matter of current earnings, but data from 202,898 adults across 22 countries proves it is tethered to our past. Childhood adversity and early financial strain cast a decades-long shadow over adult economic stability, proving that true financial security is a lifelong developmental journey.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT The Corporate Smoke Screen: Balancing Lobbying and Ethics by Agus Harjoto When corporations spend millions lobbying, they face immediate reputational risks. Analyzing 1,362 US firms, this study reveals how companies strategically use political risk disclosures to safeguard their moral capital and navigate the delicate tightrope between political influence and public accountability.
JOURNAL OF CONSUMER RESEARCH How to Sustain Sustainable Practices? The Journey Toward Zero Waste Lifestyle by Cristel Russell Sustaining a Zero Waste lifestyle is challenging because consumers must navigate interconnected daily habits within market infrastructures that favor unsustainable options. By studying this journey through a practice-theoretical lens, the research demonstrates how shared core values and pooled adaptive capabilities help individuals stabilize eco-friendly habits and drive long-term sustainable change.
ALUMNI FEATURES GENE EIDELMAN (MBA ’19, PKE 142) Waves of Service Alumni Award Gene Eidelman is the cofounder of Azure Printed Homes, a pioneer in eco-friendly, 3D-printed modular construction that reduces building time by 70 percent and costs by 30 percent. Prompted by wildfire recovery efforts, Azure provides rapid-deploy housing solutions to help displaced families rebuild resiliently. Recognized as one of Pepperdine’s Most Fundable Companies and featured on TIME magazine’s Best Inventions list, Azure is expanding its factories globally. Eidelman is also an Amazon international best-selling author and a TEDx speaker whose talk on the future of housing has surpassed one million views.
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bschool.pepperdine.edu
RODRIGO GONZALEZ (MBA ’11) Outstanding Alumni Winner Rodrigo Gonzalez is the founder and managing partner of DEODATE, one of the largest real estate–focused management consulting firms in the western US. Across offices in California and Missouri, DEODATE has advised on nearly $5.5 billion in international engagements spanning corporate, private equity, and government sectors. A recognized national strategist, Gonzalez has earned accolades from the Los Angeles Business Journal and GlobeSt.com. He is highly active in executive networks like YPO and PREA, and serves as president of the Our Lady Queen of Angels Housing Alliance for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
Beyond the Classroom FROM HONOR TO OWNER: E2B PARTNER SPOTLIGHT Demonstrating the power of values-centered education, Pepperdine Graziadio Online MBA student Paul Ocampo led a student consulting team in a high-impact partnership with VetFran. Through the signature Education-to-Business (E2B) program, the team tackled critical transition barriers for veterans, such as gaps in business acumen and program awareness. By conducting deep-dive market research across 10 major states, the students delivered a data-driven marketing roadmap and local partnership framework. This collaborative project highlights the core of the Graziadio E2B experience, equipping future leaders with the analytical tools to solve real challenges while driving meaningful social impact.
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MARQUEE EVENTS
Fundable MOST
ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY AND HEALTHCARE:
C O M P A N I E S® 2025
THE AGE OF AI
FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE SYMPOSIUM
MOST FUNDABLE COMPANIES SHOWCASE
GEORGE AWARDS
SEER SYMPOSIUM
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