City Manager in Residence Alexis Brown speaks at Davenport Discussion
On March 25, 2024, the Davenport Institute concluded its discussion series for the semester with their City Manager in Residence Program featuring Alexis Brown, Deputy City Manager of Malibu. This program is a part of the Local Government in Residence initiative which is designed to bring in local government leaders to the Malibu campus.
Prior to becoming the Deputy City Manager of Malibu, Brown served as the Assistant City Manager for the City of Imperial. Brown’s outstanding work in local government has led to her being named as a “Top 20 leaders under 40 in Imperial County” by Valley Women’s Magazine in 2022 and a “Key Influencer” by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels in 2020.
During the one-on-one conversations, four students engaged in personalized discussions with Brown, delving into topics such as career guidance and navigating the intricacies of local government. Following these individual sessions, Brown was extended an invitation to participate in a special Davenport Discussion event.
Brown then participated in a Davenport Discussion where she provided an insider's perspective on her role, shedding light on both the challenges and rewards she encounters. She discussed Malibu's public engagement strategies and her collaborative efforts with other government agencies. Brown shared insights into the operations of the City Manager's office, particularly its interactions with the City Council, where Brown underscored the significance of considering the long-term impacts of various projects.
At the conclusion of the discussion, Brown opened the floor for questions from the SPP students. During this time students asked questions pertaining to how the city Malibu incorporates Pepperdine as a part of the community and how city officials engage with the public. Brown emphasized that it is important for city officials to stay engaged with the community by attending the Farmers market, PTA meetings, community events and by utilizing Nextdoor to communicate with the community. The discussion closed with Brown providing some last words of advice for those seeking a career in local government about the importance of building connections and forming relationships.