Pepperdine GSEP Names Nataliane Martins 2026 Recipient of the David A. Levy Scholarship
The Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP) at Pepperdine University is proud to announce Nataliane Martins as the 2026 recipient of the Dr. David A. Levy Scholarship for Excellence in Critical Thinking. This merit-based scholarship honors graduate psychology students who demonstrate exceptional critical thinking skills in their academic and professional development.
Established by professor and psychologist David A. Levy, the scholarship honors graduate students enrolled in GSEP’s psychology programs who demonstrate the ability to apply logical reasoning and empirical evidence to address important and complex problems.
Levy, a professor at GSEP since 1986, has been recognized for his contributions to psychology and higher education. He is the recipient of multiple teaching awards, including Pepperdine’s Howard A. White Award for Teaching Excellence, and is the author of several books, including Tools of Critical Thinking: Metathoughts for Psychology, Cross-Cultural Psychology: Critical Thinking and Contemporary Applications (now in its eighth edition), and Shots of Wisdom: Laughing, Wincing, and Learning Through Life’s Lessons.
“With the breakneck proliferation of artificial intelligence and its dizzying array of applications, critical thinking has become an increasingly invaluable tool to objectively evaluate and understand the world around us,” says Levy.
Applicants for the scholarship must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.5 and submit an essay describing how they have developed and applied critical thinking skills throughout their academic, professional, and personal lives. Critical thinking, as defined by the scholarship, involves systematic cognitive strategies used to examine events, evaluate evidence, solve problems, and make decisions through logical reasoning and objective analysis.
Martins was selected as the 2026 award recipient for her thoughtful reflection on the importance of critical thinking and her ability to apply these principles in both academic and real-world contexts. She will receive a $3,000 scholarship to support her continued academic journey at Pepperdine GSEP.
The scholarship will recognize one recipient annually, highlighting a student whose work exemplifies the intellectual rigor and inquiry that Levy has championed throughout his career.
GSEP congratulates Martins on this achievement and thanks Levy for his continued support in fostering critical thinking among graduate students.
Those interested in contributing to the Dr. David A. Levy Scholarship for Excellence in Critical Thinking can contact Rachel Guettler, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Major Gifts, at rachel.guettler@pepperdine.edu.
Students interested in future scholarship opportunities can learn more by visiting the GSEP Scholarships page.