Pepperdine Celebrates Tenure Achievements of Erlanger Turner and Veronica Viesca

Pepperdine University proudly announces the granting of tenure to two esteemed faculty members from the Graduate School of Education and Psychology: Erlanger Turner and Veronica Viesca.

Erlanger Turner, a dedicated scholar and mentor, has significantly contributed to the field of multicultural psychology. Turner's research expertise spans topics such as access to behavioral health services, therapy use among parents, and the impact of race-based stress. He has authored several influential publications, including the acclaimed book Mental Health among African Americans: Innovations in Research and Practice. Turner has also impacted the field through his leadership roles including being elected the 1st Black male to serve as president of the Society for Child and Family Policy and Practice (APA Division 37) and has been recognized for his service as the 2021 awardee of the Emerging Professionals Contributions to Service Award by the Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity, and Race (APA Division 45). Turner's commitment to fostering inclusive learning environments is evident in his leadership of the Race and Cultural Experiences Research Laboratory at Pepperdine. Reflecting on his achievement, Turner shares, "Receiving tenure is not just a personal career milestone, but it’s a testament to my commitment to fostering inclusive learning environments and teaching the next generation of clinicians and scholars to address critical issues."

Veronica Viesca, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Board Approved Supervisor, has made significant contributions to understanding biopsychosocial-spiritual influences on health behaviors. With her expertise in couple therapy supervision and emotion-focused couple therapy (EFT), Viesca has received recognition such as the Loma Linda University Research Excellence Award and the Family Process Institute New Writers Fellowship. Her dedication to mentoring students and advancing research in family therapy has been instrumental in shaping the learning environment at Pepperdine. Viesca expresses her gratitude stating, "I am deeply honored and thrilled to have been awarded tenure at Pepperdine University. This milestone not only reflects my dedication to academic excellence but also underscores the unwavering support and mentorship provided by my colleagues and students throughout this journey."

We are incredibly proud to celebrate the achievements of Erlanger Turner and Veronica Viesca. Their tenure not only honors their remarkable talent and dedication but also reaffirms Pepperdine's commitment to fostering inclusive excellence in education and psychology.