6:30 p.m.
Like no time since the 1960’s, American higher education has been roiled by protests and polarization from within, and policy challenges – from student loan program changes to federal grant withholdings to the creation of new, competing academic institutions – from without. Related to these dynamics, our country’s colleges and universities are experiencing historic levels of distrust by the American public.听
Respected globally, American opinion surveys reveal a growing uneasiness with what they perceive to be a radical shift away from high education’s historic mission: the search for truth across all academic disciplines through spirited and civil debate and deliberation. In campus protests, speaker shout-downs, and personal stories, many have come to view our colleges and universities as ideologically narrow, where students and faculty – especially conservative ones –听have to听walk on eggshells in discussions about political and social issues.听
Once believed that “what happens on campus, stays on campus,” Americans are increasingly concerned that the monocultures on our campuses are impacting our politics – from the election of young Democratic Socialists to big city mayoralties, to the election of right-wing populists both in America and abroad.听
Using history, data, and personal stories, Peterson will explore the current state and future of this great American civic institution, the impact of these issues on our polarized politics, and how innovative education leaders are not going back, but going ahead with exciting proposals that will not only shape the future of higher education, but also the future of our public square.听
Registration opens March 11, 2027.
Biography:
Pete Peterson is dean of Pepperdine University’s School of Public听Policy听where he also serves as a senior fellow听in听the program’s听Davenport Institute for Public Engagement & Civic Leadership. Over the course of his ten years in the听dean’s听role, he has听established听the program as a leader in the “viewpoint diversity” movement across higher education. This work has included his leadership of an academic initiative called “The American Project: On the Future of Conservatism,” which听convened听scholars and policy makers to debate and discuss the subject through conferences, an essay series, and research.听
Pete came to his deanship after launching and leading the Davenport Institute, which has become a听nationally-recognized听academic center focused on training local government leaders to听facilitate听more participatory and productive public meetings. Peterson himself has trained over 5,000 local government officials around the country in this set of听skills, and听continues to run seminars for public safety staff throughout California.听
Peterson speaks and writes widely on issues related to viewpoint diversity in higher education, public sector leadership, and civic participation. His opinion pieces have appeared in the听Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, and RealClearPolitics. Peterson was the Republican candidate for California’s secretary of state in 2014. Peterson serves on听numerous听nonprofit boards, including The Jack Miller Center, SOPHOS Africa, and the Los Angeles World Affairs Council. He was recently听elected听to membership in the American Academy of Arts & Sciences.听
Department Sponsors:听The Graduate School, Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy听