GSEP Hosts 9th Annual Research Symposium at Pepperdine Château in Switzerland
The Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP) hosted its 9th Annual Research Symposium on June 19–20, 2025, at the Pepperdine Château d’Hauteville in Switzerland and virtually via Zoom. This year’s hybrid event brought together a global community of students, alumni, faculty, and scholars to celebrate research that challenges, inspires, and connects.
Set against the backdrop of the Swiss Alps, the symposium featured a wide range of presentations spanning education, psychology, leadership, and social impact. Attendees explored timely topics such as culturally responsive pedagogy, mental health innovations, language acquisition, and equity-centered leadership. The event served as a dynamic space for scholarly exchange and collaboration across disciplines and borders.
Keynote speaker Dr. Dominik Schoebi, director of the Institute of Family Research and Counseling and professor of psychology at the University of Fribourg, delivered remarks on the intersection of research and practice in family systems. A featured panel showcased alumni from the Pat Lucas Center—including Jensine Lucas, Ellin Avanesian, Eliana Campos, and Cristina Arellano—who were joined by GSEP faculty and leaders Dr. Aaron Aviera, Dr. Anthony Collatos, Dr. Melissa Huy, and Allison Annerino.
Over 40 presenters across the GSEP community contributed to this year’s lineup, offering insights from doctoral dissertations, program evaluations, fieldwork, and classroom innovations. Attendees engaged in critical discussions, built cross-campus and cross-cultural connections, and celebrated the role of research in shaping positive change.
The success of the event was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the symposium planning committee and generous support from the Danhakl Family Foundation, Dean Farzin Madjidi, and the Dean’s Excellence Fund. Special thanks were extended to Vice Chancellor Marc Goodman and Director of Hospitality Mireille Roquigny for hosting attendees at the historic Château.
As GSEP continues to elevate research that drives transformation in communities worldwide, the annual Research Symposium remains a powerful platform for discovery, dialogue, and impact.