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School of Public Policy Announces the Bruce Herschensohn Endowed Scholarship


Bruce Herschensohn

In February, the Pepperdine School of Public Policy (SPP) established the Bruce Herschensohn Endowed Scholarship in honor of Bruce Herschensohn's passing in late 2020. 

A member of the SPP's "Founding Faculty" in the 1998 academic year, Herschensohn should be considered one of our program's "Founding Fathers." Herschensohn has been involved with teaching our graduate students since that first year through last year when he gave a riveting presentation on the protests in Hong Kong.

“Bruce’s impact on hundreds of his former students continues through their careers in public service. I’m delighted that through this new scholarship program, hundreds more will both learn about and benefit from his amazing legacy,” said Pete Peterson, dean of the School of Public Policy.

More than a teacher, Herschensohn was a true mentor to many of our students, and a friend to the school, who often led "friend-raising" efforts through his popular foreign policy roundtables. Herschensohn maintained decades' long relationships with students who have gone on to incredible careers in public policy and politics.

With Herschensohn's passing, the opportunity now exists to engage and support our next generation of public leaders through an endowed scholarship program in his name. Through the Bruce Herschensohn Endowed Scholarship Program, future generations of leaders will learn about Herschensohn as it offers his many friends and former students the opportunity to carry on his legacy.

This scholarship will support graduate students pursuing their master of public policy and are interested in the following: 

  • Graduate students who share Herschensohn's passion for foreign policy, and seek careers in the Foreign Service and/or the national intelligence agencies.
  • Graduate students who share Herschensohn's interest in the media, and seek careers in political/policy communications.

Scholarship recipients will be profiled in the School's bi-annual Dean's Report, and each will receive a background on Herschensohn's incredible life and contributions to SPP.

To continue building an impact, additional donations can be made on our giving page or through consultation with the school's director of development, Matt Cutler at Matt.Cutler@Pepperdine.edu.