Diversity and Belonging

The Pepperdine School of Public Policy (SPP) and SPP Diversity and Belonging Committee provides a forum for students, faculty, staff, and alumni to engage in events, professional development, and mentorship opportunities that aim to build a diverse community founded on a set of core values that strive toward academic excellence and a shared sense of belonging with the understanding as noted in the Pepperdine University Diversity Statement.

School of Public Policy's Committee Members

The SPP Diversity and Belonging Committee consists of five members from the SPP community, which includes (at minimum):

• 1-2 Full time faculty
• 1 Alumnus
• 1-2 Staff member
• 1-4 Students 

All committee members serve a term of one academic year with an option to renew.  The 2023-2024 committee co-chairs are Dr. Luisa Blanco, professor of public poicy and Melissa Espinoza, director of strategic initiatives and student engagement at Pepperdine School of Public Policy. 

Students interested in becoming members of the SPP Diversity Committee will be asked to submit a statement of interest that will be reviewed by the chair. The alumni member will be outreached by the chair at the beginning of each academic year.

Meetings

The committee will host 1 - 2 meetings per semester.
The committee chair will coordinate both in person and zoom meeting as needed. 

Committee Goals

The School of Public Policy diversity committee will:

• focus on executing at least one (1) diversity event per semester
• strive to create a forum for diversity related issues throughout the University
• collaborate with the UDC on programming
• develop a mentorship/ resource program
  
  

2024-2025 Committee Members

• Evelyn G. Aleman, (MPP '00) Founder at Our Voice: Communities for Quality Education
• Luisa Blanco, Professor of Public Policy (Co-chair) 
• Kamila Campos, MPP ’26
• Melissa Espinoza, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Student Engagement (Co-chair) 
• Baely Gulbins, MPP ’25
• Christopher Jones, Senior Director of Student Services
• Stephanie Mendoza Hernandez, MPP ’26
• Jonathan Tejeda, MPP ’25
• Zoey (Yichi) Zhang, MPP ’25

2023-2024 Committee Members

• Luisa Blanco, Professor of Public Policy
• Steven Chio, MPP 1st Year Student 
• Melissa Espinoza, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Student Engagement
• Noah Jackson, MPP 2nd Year Student
• Christopher Jones, Senior Director of Student Services
• Alaya McKinney, MPP 2nd Year Student 
• Hattie Mitchelle (MPP '12) 

Events