While many aspects of the Latino culture were celebrated in September, during Latino Heritage month, the issues of immigration and undocumented students still remain in the forefront of Latino communities.

The Urban Institute estimates that there are approximately 3.4 million children and young adults under the age of 24 living in the United States who are undocumented. The academic and emotional fate of undocumented youth has gained much attention as of late. The debate in California's gubernatorial race includes some candidates favoring an end to a 2001 state law that allows undocumented California high school graduates to attend public universities. Currently, they must pay the in-state tuition and do not qualify for financial aid.

In response to the academic future of undocumented students, the Diversity Council at the Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology invited William Perez, Ph.D., author of We Are Americans: Undocumented Students Pursuing the American Dream, as the speaker for the fall 2010 Diversity Council Speaker Series event on Wednesday, September 29, at the West Los Angeles Graduate Campus. 

Dr. Perez’ presentation is titled, Exceptional Students, Marginal Lives: Achievement and Civic Engagement Among Undocumented Latino Youths. In his book, We Are Americans, Dr. Perez comments, “despite public investment in their education, high levels of achievement, community service, leadership experience, and a deep sense of commitment to American society, undocumented students remain without legal status, are not considered American and thus are not eligible for any type of assistance to attend college, even though over 90% of the students surveyed aspire to obtain a Masters degree or higher.”

William Perez, Ph.D.
Born in San Salvador, El Salvador, Dr. Perez came to the United States in the early nineteen eighties at the age of 10 to escape the civil war that began in 1979. He spent his remaining childhood in Pomona, California, attended Pomona College, and later earned a Ph.D. in child and adolescent development from Stanford University.

A professor at Claremont Graduate University, he is an emerging leader on research that examines the social and psychological development of immigrant and Latino students. He strives to bring a depth of research experience to the complex problems of academic achievement and higher education access.

The June 9 event brought together three prominent women in education. The program focused on how the “glass ceiling” is no longer an accurate metaphor for the limits women face. A better descriptor is a labyrinth – several paths leading to varied destinations. Women continue to find obstacles within the labyrinth and often do not reach their end goals at all. Three female panelists discussed their perspective on the labyrinth journey, as well as anecdotes from their own personal journey.

Panelists included Dr. Margaret Weber, dean of GSEP; Tabatha Jones Jolivet, the associate dean of student affairs at Pepperdine University Seaver College; and Mónica García, president of the board of the Los Angeles Unified School District, the second-largest school district in the nation. Dr. Thema Bryant-Davis, associate professor of psychology, served as moderator.

Mónica García
Mónica García was elected to the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Board of Education in June 2006, becoming the third Latina to serve on the Board in its 155 year history.

As a board member, she gives voice to the hundreds of thousands of children and families that rely on education for access to good jobs, healthcare and a sustainable quality of life. In affirming her commitment to a quality and equitable educational system, García supports initiatives that provide all students access to a college preparatory curriculum and to career and technology pathways. She has earned a reputation as a bold, optimistic, and aggressive leader in education reform.

García was born and raised in East Los Angeles. She attended local schools and graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Chicano Studies and Political Science. She later earned her Master's in Social Work from the University of Southern California.

Tabatha Jones Jolivet
Tabatha Jones Jolivet is the Associate Dean of Student Affairs at Pepperdine University, Seaver College, where her applied work is college student administration. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities and Master’s degree in Religious Thought from Pepperdine University, where she teaches part-time, co-chairs the University Diversity Council, and chairs the Access and Equity Sub-committee of the Seaver College Diversity Council. She is doctoral student in the School of Educational Studies at Claremont Graduate University, where she recently completed coursework for a PhD in the subfield of higher education.

Her research interests involve Critical and Sociocultural Issues in Postsecondary Education, which include: the study of access, equity, and social stratification in postsecondary education; intersectional analysis of race, gender, and class, Critical Race Theory, and Womanist perspectives in education research; social and cultural capital and forms of cultural logic; student and faculty engagement. She is committed to critical community engagement, advocacy, and ministry. She tutors children from undocumented and low-income families on a weekly basis at a local Title I elementary school; is an active member of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Association of Black Women in Higher Education (ABWHE); and co-leads the women’s ministry at her local church.

Jones Jolivet speaks regularly on topics related to postsecondary education, and was recently the keynote speaker at the Fulfillment Fund’s Destination College 13, a community-based educational program for low-income students in the Los Angeles area. Currently, she is a Research Associate for a national study, The Project on the Future of the Academic Profession. Jones Jolivet is also part of a research team studying work-life issues for women. Ultimately, she is committed to a critical education agenda that promotes solidarity with local communities and the pursuit of social justice.

Margaret Weber
Margaret Weber leads faculty and students in an academic community of interactive learning and practice at the Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology. As an administrator and strong advocate of the scholar-practitioner model of learning, which educates students in theory as well as practical application, it has been Weber's priority to go beyond simply managing students and faculty. Her purpose has been to nourish and enrich professional development and academic competencies in others.

Weber participated in the fourth annual Session on Women’s Leadership at Exeter College of the University of Oxford in 2007. The Oxford Round Table invited a small interdisciplinary group of individuals who share a common concern for women’s rights. The Round Table considered topics of social, religious, and cultural practices that restrain women’s achievement of leadership roles in the modern world. Weber’s presentation was titled, “Leadership Perspectives: Faith Influences on Women.”

Thema Bryant-Davis

The Diversity Council organized a panel of speakers to discuss the intersection of faith and social justice challenges from a historical and contemporary perspective.

In honor of black history month, the event was held on February 17, 2010, at the West Los Angeles Graduate Campus.

The panel included GSEP distinguished alumnus, Dr. Lou Jenkins and former faculty member Dr. Erylene Piper Mandy, current president and CEO of the Center for Cross Cultural Competence, a consultant agency through which she and her colleagues train public and private agencies in a variety of issues related to ethnic diversity and community relations. Dr. Spring Cooke, visiting professor in the Education Division at GSEP, served as moderator.

Erylene Piper Mandy, PhD.
Dr. Erylene Piper Mandy, formerly an adjunct professor at GSEP, is the president and CEO of the Center for Cross Cultural Competence, a consultancy that trains public and private agencies on issues related to ethnic diversity and community relations. Her work as a psychological anthropologist has allowed her a unique perspective to comment on both the theories and practices of mental health professionals, and she enjoys challenging students to explore the limits of psychology and education for effecting large-scale change amongst marginalized populations. Piper Mandy received a B.A. in African American Studies and a B.S. in Psychology from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York. She earned a master’s in Boston University’s African American Studies Program, and a master’s and Ph.D. in psycho-cultural anthropology from the University of California, Irvine. A recipient of the prestigious Fulbright Fellowship, Piper Mandy was afforded the opportunity to work and study in Senegal, West Africa. She is a highly sought after public speaker, and participates in up to one hundred and fifty engagements per year.

Louis Jenkins, PhD.
Dr. Jenkins is a professor of psychology at the School of Science and Technology at Loma Linda University. He received his Ph.D., in 1973, from Pennsylvania State University. Jenkins attended George Pepperdine College, on Vermont Avenue in Los Angeles, and received his master’s in psychology in 1970. He returned to Pepperdine University in 1987 as a psychology faculty member, and taught through the 1996 academic year. He has been a tireless voice for change and justice within the field of psychology, having served on the Board of Psychology for the State of California and creating many culturally competent initiatives to improve how services were both conceptualized and delivered to African Americans and other minority populations. Jenkins’ research interests include diversity issues and psychology and religion.

The Diversity Council Speaker Series turned its attention to the evolving composition of Los Angeles' communities. On Wednesday, November 4 the speaker event titled Bridging The Divide: Shifting Demographics In Los Angeles, covered the change that has taken place in Los Angeles from 1940 to present and how this has impacted relationships between populations and the city's social and economic development.

Dr. Anthony Collatos, assistant professor of education at GSEP, lead the panel discussion with maps and a historic overview of Los Angeles’ population beginning in the 1940’s. Tracking the migration of different ethnic populations, Collatos brought the group to present day, where his fellow panel members, Mary Johnson, chair of the Los Angeles Unified School District Parent Collaborative; and Donald E. Grant, Psy.D., psychologist; shared their personal stories as firsthand witnesses of LA’s progress and shortcomings, and how the changes affect it’s residents.

An Interview with Dr. Anthony Collatos

GSEP: What inspired this event?

Collatos: Many communities in Los Angeles County have experienced dramatic demographic shifts over the past 20 - 30 years. These shifts are directly tied to social, cultural, and economic events within the communities. As many of our students participate in student teaching and practicum in these areas, and many more of our students will work in these settings following graduation, it is important to GSEP that we provide a context that can help the students and alumni have a successful experience.

As both educators and health care providers, our students should be aware that schools and clinics do not exist in a black box, and that demographic shifts have direct implications for these neighborhoods. If we can help students recognize these shifts, and create spaces for a dialogue to bridge the divide that occurs when communities experience a sudden transformation – especially across race and economic status – the students will feel more comfortable providing service in these settings and have a more positive impact on the families they touch. This event is directly in line with the goals of the GSEP Diversity Council and the GSEP Urban Initiative.

GSEP: Who will be sharing a personal story?

Collatos: I have given an abbreviated version of this presentation to master of arts in education with teaching credential (MAETC) students for many years. In order to broaden the scope of the presentation we decided to include some representatives from the communities we are discussing. People who have witnessed firsthand the changes we will be discussing. They can give their impressions of the shifts they have experienced, both as a local resident, and as an expert in the educational sphere.

Mary Johnson, president of nonprofit advocacy group Parent U-Turn and the chair of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Parent Collaborative representing almost 700,000 students, will be one of our panelists. A long-time resident of South Gate, Johnson will tell her story of navigating the divide of the “Alameda Corridor,” as well as her efforts to unite African American and Latino parents of LAUSD students.

GSEP: What is the relevance of this topic to the Pepperdine community?

Collatos: Without a doubt, educators and mental health professionals are important components of any community. They provide necessary services and directly influence how a community grows and prospers. But to truly be helpful, students must understand the history of the families living in the community. How did they arrive there? What are their trades and skills? Who are their allies and where are their tensions? What resources do they have, in terms of jobs, healthcare, industry, and even local leadership at the school or city level?

By best equipping our students with the tools to work with diverse cultures in a changing landscape, our students can best fulfill the Pepperdine mission of purpose, service, and leadership. And GSEP can bolster its Urban Initiative, by expanding our partnerships and providing more robust services for our partners.

GSEP: What do you hope that attendees will take away?

Collatos: Ultimately, our goal is to help attendees obtain a better understanding of how demographic shifts can impact schools and mental health agencies in a fundamental way, in terms of resources and in terms of culture. We hope that attendees will be inspired by the efforts of our University to reach out to these communities and bridge the divide by creating spaces for all stakeholders to have a voice.

The Diversity Council Speaker Series welcomed a panel of speakers to discuss "Promoting Social Justice; Confronting Racism and Homophobia." The event took place on Tuesday, March 24, 2009 at the West Los Angeles Graduate Campus, and was broadcast to the Encino, Irvine and the Westlake Village Campuses.

Panel members presented their views on promoting social justice - concentrating on groups that have traditionally been marginalized by society; including minority races and religions, as well as the lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual community. To read a recap of this event click here. After their comments a question and answer session commenced; which included questions from all four campuses.

Panel Members

Robert R. Cargill, Ph.D.
Dr. Cargill received his Ph.D. in Archaeology as well as Near Eastern Languages and Cultures and a Master of Arts in Ancient Near Eastern Civilizations from the University of California, Los Angeles. He also attended Pepperdine University, where he received a Master of Science in Ministry and a Master of Divinity. Cargill defines himself as an Academic Christian. He holds the view that Proposition 8 is not a judgment against homosexuality or homosexuals, but a referendum on the civil benefits of same-sex marriages, with no effect upon the doctrines of any religious group. Cargill is also the Chief Architect and Designer of the Qumran Visualization Project, a real-time virtual reconstruction of Khirbet Qumran, the site associated with the composition of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Naveen Jonathan
Naveen Jonathan is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and current student in the Doctor of Philosophy in Marital and Family Therapy program at Loma Linda University. He teaches as an adjunct professor at Alliant International University, Pepperdine University, Chapman University, John F. Kennedy University and California State University, East Bay. Jonathan has written a chapter titled, Carrying Equal Weight: Relational Responsibility & Attunement Among Same-Sex Couples, for a book edited by Carmen Knudson-Martin, Ph.D., titled Transforming Power: How Couples Move From Gender Legacy to Gender Equality, (Springer, 2008). He is a member of the American Association for Marital and Family Therapy, California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, and the National Council on Family Relations.

Carolyn A. O'Keefe, Psy.D.
Carolyn O'Keefe received a Psychology Doctoral degree from the Pepperdine University, Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP). Her dissertation is titled, Mentoring Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Minorities in a University Setting. She has presented at several conferences, including the Multicultural Research Conference at GSEP where her presentation title was, Gaining Competence in Working with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Clients. O'Keefe currently works as a staff psychologist at California State University, Long Beach. She also teaches as an adjunct faculty member in the psychology division at GSEP.

The speaker series hosted Dr. Ronald Takaki, the nation's foremost expert on multiculturalism.  Takaki provided insight on diversity in America and the 2008 presidential election in a lecture entitled "America in a Different Mirror: A History for the 21st Century" on October 28, 2008 at the West Los Angeles graduate campus.

Takaki's lecture shared scholarship from his new, updated edition of A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America (Back Bay Books, December 8, 2008), acclaimed by President Bill Clinton: "In this timely update of A Different Mirror, Professor Ronald Takaki examines the challenges we face in reconciling our differences and forming a secure, sustainable future for our country. Now more than ever, it's essential that we understand and embrace our diversity if we are to grow together as a nation."

Takaki has been a lightning rod for the study of America's diversity. He is a professor of Ethnic Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, and author of Iron Cages: Race and Culture in 19th Century America and Strangers from a Different Shore: A History of Asian Americans, which was selected by the San Francisco Chronicle as one of the best 100 non-fiction books of the 20th century. A Different Mirror is read on college campuses across the country and has more than half a million copies in print.

While most individuals have a cursory level understanding of the racial tensions that exists between African Americans and Latinos, there is little discussion regarding the challenges and struggles between these two cultural groups. For this reason, the Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP) invited the Los Angeles community to participate in a discussion with a panel of African American and Latino high school students, parents, educators, and mental health professionals to further understand the issues between these two groups and generate strategies to resolve them.

On May 13, 2008 the panel and guests gathered at the West Los Angeles graduate campus for an honest dialogue. Panelists included Dr. Anthony Collatos, assistant professor of Education at GSEP; Dr. Donald Grant, site coordinator for CalWORKS Homeless Families projects; Mary Johnson, chair of the Los Angeles Unified School District Parent Collaborative; Valerie Munoz, Lynwood parent representative; Rogelio Serrano, a licensed marriage and family therapist; Francisco Torrero, Los Angeles parent representative; students from Gertz-Ressler High School, Krystal Johnson, Tiffany Mathis, and Matthew Young; and students from South Gate High School, Myra Peña and Brittney Ortiz.

Dr. Molefi Kete Asante, a graduate of Pepperdine College in 1965 and now professor in the Department of African American Studies at Temple University presented to an enthusiastic crowd on February 13, 2008. His lecture, entitled "An Overview of African Consciousness: Classical Egypt to Yoruba Orishas," addressed the origin of humanity, the oral transmission of historical information, and the beginning of time and existence.

Considered by his peers to be one of the most distinguished contemporary scholars, Asante has published 61 books, including The History of Africa: The Quest for Eternal Harmony (Routledge, 2007). Asante has published more scholarly books than any contemporary African author and has been recognized as one of the ten most widely cited African Americans. In addition, Black Issues in Higher Education recognized him as one of the most influential leaders in the last 15 years. Asante completed his MA at Pepperdine and received his PhD from UCLA at the age of 26. He was appointed a full professor at the age of 30 at the State University of New York at Buffalo. He created the first PhD Program in African American Studies at Temple University in 1987.

Psychology Professor Honored by the National Council of Schools of Professional Psychology

Dr. Joy Asamen, professor of psychology at the Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP) was honored by the National Council of Schools of Professional Psychology with the Ethnic and Racial Diversity Award for 2008. The award is presented once every two years to an individual who has made significant contributions to the enhancement of ethnic and racial diversity.

Dr. Asamen was selected for her sponsorship of GSEP's biannual Multicultural Research Conference for graduate students in psychology throughout the Los Angeles region, as well as her work as one of the founding members of GSEP's Multicultural Research and Training Lab.

"Joy has worked tirelessly to promote ethnic and racial diversity for many years at GSEP," commented Dr. Robert deMayo, associate dean of psychology at GSEP. "I am thrilled to see her work honored by a leading national organization in our field."

---

Multicultural Issues Impacting Community

A group of prominent scholars in southern California were invited by the Graduate School of Education and Psychology's Diversity Council to discuss the ethnic variables that impact immigration to the U.S. The event focused on the Mexican, Middle Eastern, and Vietnamese populations and brought together students, faculty, staff, administration and local guests at THE BRIDGE: Cinema de Lux, at the Howard Hughes Promenade.

The panelists included José Zapata Calderón, Ph.D., who serves as a professor in Sociology and Chicano Studies at Pitzer College; Vu H. Pham, Ph.D., who has organized several public programs on Vietnamese Americans at the Smithsonian Institution and other cities where significant Vietnamese American communities exist; and Maryam Sayyedi, Ph.D., who serves as an adjunct professor in the Department of Counseling at California State University, Fullerton and is versed in the psychology of Middle East women and families. Reyna García Ramos, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Education at Pepperdine University served as the master of ceremonies and Miguel E. Gallardo, Psy.D, Assistant Professor of Psychology at Pepperdine University served as the moderator and led the panel through questions crafted by the Diversity Council and those in attendance.

Biographies

José Zapata Calderón, Ph.D., serves as a professor in Sociology and Chicano Studies at Pitzer College. Calderón is the son of immigrant farm workers from Mexico. The United Farm Worker's Union has honored him with their "Si Se Puede" award for his life-long contributions to the farm worker movement. As a community-based participant ethnographer, he has published numerous articles and studies based on his community experiences and observations.

Vu H. Pham, Ph.D., is a partner of Spectrum Knowledge, Inc., a research, consulting, and training organization. He currently serves as a researcher in the Asian American Studies Center at the University of California, Los Angeles and was the researcher/writer for the Vietnamese American exhibition at the Smithsonian Institution. Pham has organized several public programs on Vietnamese Americans at the Smithsonian and other cities where significant Vietnamese American communities exist. He received his doctorate degree in History from Cornell University with emphases in Asian American Studies, modern Vietnam, and organizational culture. Pham's specialties include the areas of culture, organizational development, and leadership.

Maryam Sayyedi, Ph.D., serves as an adjunct professor in the Department of Counseling at California State University, Fullerton and maintains a private practice in Irvine, Calif. She is versed in the psychology of Middle East women and families. Sayyedi is the founder and director of OMID Multicultural Institute for Development, which takes a multicultural, integrative, and multilevel approach to providing comprehensive mental health services, education, and training. Sayyedi is bilingual and fluent in Farsi (Persian).

---

Fourth Installation of the Voyage Project Speaker Series Entitled: Multicultural Perspectives on Vocation, Faith, and the Pursuit of Community

On February 7, the Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP) welcomed Father Allan Figueroa Deck, S.J., President of the Loyola Institute for Spirituality, to speak to students, faculty, staff, and guests on how he integrates faith into his professional work as a Latino theologian, writer, and activist. As part of the Voyage Project Speaker Series Entitled: Multicultural Perspectives on Vocation, Faith, and the Pursuit of Community, Father Deck stated that his faith and culture was a motivator for the life he has led. "Religion and spirituality are strong motivators and part of the solution to struggles in life," said Father Deck. "Religion and spirituality are one of the most powerful parts of people's lives. Often, academia has seen religion and spirituality as only a topic to study, and not implemented faith to change ones thoughts of themselves and their environments."

Father Deck also touched on conflict and resolution. " Religious people may tend to feel that politics and conflict is bad," Father Deck said. "But to me there has been a passion to tap into politics in the social and economic realm."

As a native of Los Angeles Father Deck is known for his textbook on Hispanic Ministry titled, "The Second Wave: Hispanic Ministry and the Evangelization of Cultures." This book won first place in the professional book category of the Catholic Press Association Awards. Father Deck has edited four other books and written more than fifty articles on Hispanic ministry, faith, and culture and Catholic social teaching.

In addition to the speaking engagement at GSEP, many of Father Deck's published articles, books, and online journals are on display at the West Los Angeles Graduate Campus Library.

---

Diversity Council Speaker Series Third Address

Serving others is the foundational value and fundamental responsibility of both educators and mental health professionals. On October 26, the Graduate School of Education and Psychology's Diversity Council welcomed Dr. Jennifer Abe-Kim, whose experience and background reflects how professional lives can be used to authenticate this value. Dr. Abe-Kim is associate professor of Psychology at Loyola Marymount University (LMU), and Associate Dean of the Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts at LMU. She has served in a number of capacities at LMU, including acting director of the LMU Asian Pacific American Studies Department, and chair of the University's Intercultural Faculty Committee.

Dr. Abe-Kim has been affiliated with the National Research Center on Asian American Mental Health since its inception in 1988. She has conducted extensive research related to cultural competence in mental health service delivery, particularly as it relates to mental health service use among Asian Americans. Her research topics have also included explorations of religiosity, spirituality, culture, and help seeking.

Dr. Abe-Kim's speech entitled, "Struggle, Juggle, and Plunge: Journeying with Spirit at the Margins," expounded on her own life experience and influences, and her efforts to reconcile her identity and to work towards wholeness.

The next Speaker Series is set for Tuesday, February 7, 2006 at the West Los Angeles Graduate Campus, and will feature Father Allan Figueroa Deck, who will speak on how he has integrated faith into his professional work as a Latino theologian, writer, and activist.

Photo Caption: From left to right, GSEP professor Shelly Harrell, keynote speaker Dr. Abe-Kim, GSEP professor Reyna Garcia Ramos, and GSEP Associate Dean of Psychology Robert deMayo.

---

Diversity Council Speaker Series Second Address

In continuing with the Diversity Council Speaker Series events, Dr. Maria Pilar Aquino, associate professor of theology and religious studies at the University of San Diego was invited to discuss "The Function of Religion(s) Today: Justice and Reconciliation."

In addition to her role as associate professor of theology and religious studies, Dr. Aquino is associate director of the Center for the Study of Latino/a Catholicism at the University of San Diego.

During her address, Dr. Aquino challenged the audience to think about two statements, one made by Bishop Desmond Tutu, "no future without forgiveness," and the second relating to an individual and spiritual process, "no forgiveness without reconciliation."

The next Speaker Series event will be held in September at the West Los Angeles Graduate Campus.

---

The Inaugural Diversity Council Speaker Series Address

The Graduate School of Education and Psychology and the Center for Faith and Learning hosted Catherine Meeks, Ph.D. at the West Los Angeles Graduate Campus on November 10, 2004, for the inaugural Diversity Speaker Series Address.

Dr. Meeks holds a Ph.D. in Jungian Psychology from Emory University. She serves as executive director of the Wesleyan Center for Community Engagement and Service, and is also executive director of Aunt Maggie's Kitchen Table, a family resource center located in a public housing facility in Macon, Georgia. The primary function of Aunt Maggie's Kitchen is to work with parents and children in the Macon community, who are plagued by poverty, violence, AIDS, homelessness and teen pregnancy.

Dr. Meeks' speech, Walking A Mile in My Neighbor's Shoes: Creating New Boundaries Through Faith and Diversity, encouraged students, faculty, staff and university guests to develop a "diversity collage." Dr. Meeks instructed the audience to design their collages with pictures representing items each individual feels fondly, indifferent, and coldly towards. The collage would then be a visual representation of how diverse items in an individual's life can co-exist – the first step to creating a diverse environment.