Pepperdine GSEP Welcomes New Members to the Board of Visitors
Pepperdine University’s Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP) is pleased to welcome five new members to its Board of Visitors: Seta Khajarian, EdD; Kent Rhodes; Shelley Mydra; Ryan Dusick, LMFT; and Edward J. van Luinen, EdD. Khajarian also assumes a new leadership role as co-chair of the Board of Visitors.
The GSEP Board of Visitors supports and advances the mission of GSEP and Pepperdine University. As ambassadors for the school, board members serve as advisors to the dean and faculty, introduce leaders in the education, mental health, and business communities to Pepperdine, and support public relations efforts on a national and global level.
“I consider it a privilege to work alongside this distinguished group of leaders representing various segments of our community. Their unique blend of experience, perspectives, passion, and commitment to service will propel GSEP toward its vision of ‘transforming lives to purposefully make a difference.’ I look forward to our continued collaboration with GSEP’s Board of Visitors.”
— Farzin Madjidi, EdD, Dean of the Graduate School of Education and Psychology
Seta Khajarian, EdD serves Pepperdine as the Accreditation Liaison Officer and Associate Provost for the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Assessment. With 30 years of experience in educational settings, she has led accreditation efforts resulting in successful reaffirmations, is a graduate of WSCUC’s Assessment Leadership Academy, and teaches courses including learning design and evaluation.
Kent Rhodes is a Senior Consultant with the Family Business Consulting Group and a Clinical Professor in Pepperdine University’s executive and doctoral programs. His background includes founding and serving as CEO of an internet education company, and he has taught across Pepperdine programs in areas related to leadership and organizational development.
Shelley Mydra is an Adjunct Professor of Psychology at Pepperdine GSEP, with teaching focused on areas including substance use disorders and clinical modalities and applications. She holds a doctorate and is an AAMFT-Approved Supervisor, with published work exploring research on the gut-brain axis and mental health.
Ryan Dusick, LMFT earned his MA in Clinical Psychology with an Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pepperdine in 2021 and achieved full licensure as a psychotherapist in 2025. Prior to his clinical career, he was known for his work in the music industry as a founding member and former drummer of the band Maroon 5. He is a recipient of GSEP’s Distinguished Alumnus Award and now serves as an author, speaker, and advocate in the mental health community.
Edward J. van Luinen, EdD is the CEO and Board Advisor at Global Talent Builders, LLC, bringing more than 20 years of leadership experience in global human resources and organizational development. He also serves as co-author of Collaborate to Compete, a forthcoming book focused on the power of collaboration in today’s evolving workplace.
The addition of these members strengthens the Board’s collective expertise across institutional effectiveness, leadership, clinical practice, and organizational development. GSEP looks forward to its guidance and partnership in advancing the school’s continued growth and impact.
To learn more about the GSEP Board of Visitors, visit the Board of Visitors page on the GSEP website.