Our Leadership
Dr. Peter Pirnejad, ICMA-CM - Executive Director
Dr. Peter Pirnejad, ICMA-CM is the Executive Director of the Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership at the Pepperdine University School of Public Policy, where he leads research, graduate student education, professional education, and leadership initiatives focused on strengthening civic engagement and public sector governance.
Dr. Pirnejad brings more than 27 years of experience in local government, public administration, and civic leadership. Prior to joining Pepperdine, he served as City Manager for the Town of Los Altos Hills and the City of Foster City, and previously held senior leadership roles including Assistant City Manager for Napa and Development Services Director for Palo Alto.
He served as President of Cal-ICMA for the 2025–26 term, representing local government executives across California. He also co-directs the Santa Clara County City Managers’ Leadership Academy and frequently lectures on governance, public innovation, civic engagement, and the responsible use of emerging technologies in government.
Earlier in his career, Dr. Pirnejad worked in the private sector as a Senior Director in Oracle’s Global Public Sector Industry Strategy group, advising governments on digital transformation and technology strategy.
A recognized advocate for innovation and leadership in public service, he has received multiple awards for advancing sustainability, collaboration, and the effective use of technology in government. Dr. Pirnejad holds a BA in Environmental Studies and Geography from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and both a Master’s and Doctorate in Policy, Planning, and Development from the University of Southern California.
Robert Jordan (MPP '22) - Assistant Director
As Assistant Director of the Davenport Institute, Robert is able to combine his passion for local government and working with students. He leads on-campus programming, builds partnerships with local government leaders, and connects graduate students with opportunities in the public sector. Robert also leads and supports the Institute’s training programs, speaks at conferences and serves as an Adjunct Professor at the Pepperdine Graduate School of Public Policy, teaching a course titled "Leadership and Public Engagement". Robert brings experience in local government and community engagement from time spent working in the Mayor's office in the City of Riverside and the local government consulting firm, Tripepi Smith. Outside of work, he enjoys coaching swimming and exploring new restaurants in his neighborhood.
Fellows
Pete Peterson - Senior Fellow, Civic Engagement Training
Pete Peterson was the first executive director of the bi-partisan organization Common
Sense California (CSC). In 2010, CSC became the Davenport Institute for Public Engagement
and Civic Leadership at Pepperdine University. Currently, Peterson serves as dean
of Pepperdine's School of Public Policy. Along with teaching a class on the subject
at Pepperdine, Peterson co-developed the Davenport Institute's training seminars which
have been offered to more than 1,000 public sector leaders. He's also consulted on
many participatory governance projects throughout California on issues ranging from
budgets to water policy. Pete serves on the advisory boards of California's Institute
for Local Government, the Public Policy Institute of California, and the DaVinci Charter
Schools in Hawthorne, CA. Pete earned his BA in History from George Washington University,
and his Masters in Public Policy from Pepperdine's School of Public Policy. He was
the 2014 Republican nominee for California Secretary of State.