School of Public Policy to Host Augustus and Patricia Tagliaferri Dean's Distinguished Lecture in Malibu

Join the Pepperdine School of Public Policy (SPP) on Saturday, June 5, 2021, at 5:00 PM for its first in-person event since March 2020. Hosted on the Pepperdine Malibu Campus in the Elkin's Auditorium, this year's lecture is significant to the school as it renamed the Patricia Tagliaferri Dean's Distinguished Lecture Series to include and honor the late Dr. Augustus "Gus" Tagliaferri (MBA '74). 

Renamed to the Augustus and Patricia Tagliaferri Dean's Distinguished Lecture Series, the lecture series was established through an endowment for the School of Public Policy by benefactor Gus Tagliaferri. From its founding, the SPP has uniquely considered the role all the liberal arts play in shaping sustainable policy and great leaders. The Augustus and Patricia Tagliaferri Dean's Distinguished Lecture Series hosts leading scholars to explore the many facets that comprise wise public decision-making. 

Last year's wave of public protests across America literally and figuratively placed the question of race front and center in the nation's public square. The debates around the best ways forward—politically and in public policy—have been polarizing and wide-ranging. But a common thread running through even disparate policy proposals has been the quest for increasing the "social capital"—the relational foundations of economic opportunity—of African Americans.

In this lecture titled "Preserving the American Project: The Bias Narrative vs. the Development Narrative," by one of the country's foremost experts on social capital, economist Dr. Glenn Loury will explore the components that lead to greater economic opportunity and broader societal flourishing . . . and those that don't. In doing so, we might realize anew the common aspirations we all have for "the pursuit of happiness."

“I consider Dr. Loury to be one of America’s foremost public intellectuals, and a terrific public policy scholar,” described dean Pete Peterson. “I’m excited to have Glenn begin this new chapter in the lecture series following Gus’ passing, and for this to be our first on-campus public event in over a year,” he added.

About the Speaker

Glenn C. Loury is the Merton P. Stoltz Professor of Economics at Brown University. He holds a BA in mathematics from Northwestern University and a PhD in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. As an economic theorist, he has published widely and lectured throughout the world on his research. He is also among America's leading critics writing on racial inequality. He has been elected as a Distinguished Fellow of the American Economics Association, as a member of the American Philosophical Society and of the US Council on Foreign Relations, and as a fellow of the Econometric Society and of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Important Registration Instructions

All guests must be registered and should have available all guest's names, mobile phone numbers, emails, and residency, and vaccination information prior to beginning the registration process. By registering to attend this event you are agreeing to abide by the County of Los Angeles and State of California COVID-19 and Pepperdine University COVID-19 safety protocols which include but are not limited to the following:

• Face masks are required to be worn over the mouth and nose while on the Pepperdine University campus. Masks may be briefly removed while seated to eat and drink before being replaced.
• Attendees are required to remain 6' apart from anyone not in their own household.
• Attendees must not come if they are experiencing cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, fever, chills, or if they are under current isolation or quarantine orders.
• Attendees should remain in their seats throughout the event except for visits to the restroom.

Note: This event will be live-streamed for those unable to attend in person.