PEPPERDINE ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM RANKED #1 DOCTORAL PROGAM BY THE LEADERSHIP 500 EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Los Angeles – March 1, 2016 – Pepperdine University’s Graduate School of Education and Psychology’s (GSEP) Doctorate in Organizational Leadership program was recognized as the top doctoral program with an emphasis on leadership and organizational development by the Leadership Excellence Awards for 2016 for outstanding achievements in leadership and organizational development programs in the area of education. Honored at the LEAD2016 event held at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee, the prestigious Leadership Awards salute the world’s top leadership practitioners and programs and highlight their roles in developing their most important asset – their people.

"Effective leadership development programs and activities are a must in today’s business.  Without leadership, all other resources are ineffective, whether you are operating a non-profit, educational institution, government department, small business, or a large corporation. Programs and individuals recognized in the Leadership Excellence Awards program have made significant contributions developing leaders," stated Debbie McGrath, CEO of HR.com.

For more than 33 years, Leadership Excellence, now a part of HR.com, has identified and recognized the top leadership organizations and their strategies and solutions in a yearly ranking by appropriate category.

Embodying the scholar-practitioner program, which blends theory with real-world experience, the EdD in Organizational Leaderships (EDOL) was designed for rising executives and administrators who would like a doctoral degree to advance academic and professional goals. Emphasizing a humanistic approach to leadership, management, and change, the program prepares individuals to be visionaries within their organizations.

“I am extremely pleased that we have been awarded the best Organizational Leadership Doctorate Program out of hundreds of applicants,” stated Dr. June Schmieder-Ramirez, PhD, Program Director of Pepperdine GSEP’s Organizational Leadership program. “This is due to our excellent EDOL staff and faculty, and the ability to utilize creativity and innovation, as well as attention to the needs of our students and the mission of the University.”

The complete list of this year’s award winners has been published in the February edition of Leadership Excellence Essentials.

This year’s award recipients were selected based on both an application or nomination process, reviewed by HR.com’s expert leadership panel, as well as feedback from the program’s participants.

About the Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP)

The Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP) is an innovative learning community where faculty, staff, and students of diverse cultures and perspectives work collaboratively to foster academic excellence, social purpose and personal fulfillment. Through its integrative coursework and practical training, GSEP prepares students to serve the needs of others through skilled leadership. GSEP offers six masters’ and four doctoral programs across its five graduate campus locations throughout Southern California and online. Programs are fully accredited by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and the American Psychological Association.

About LEAD2016

LEAD2016 is a 2-day leadership forum designed to inspire leadership in people from all walks of life, live simulcast to hundreds of remote host sites internationally. The event brings top thought leaders and the world’s best leadership practices into any organization and communities and was February 3rd and 4th, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee, at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. www.LEAD2016.com

About HR.com

HR.com, the largest global social networking and resource site for HR Professionals is committed to providing a deeper understanding of the HR function for 280,000 members by offering a Global Leadership annual event, Leadership Excellence Awards, HR Certification Exam Prep Courses, real-time matching for job seekers and employers, certification programs, a personal development app, monthly themed HR e-publications, 4,500+ webcasts, 1,200+ eLearning credits, 230+ virtual conferences, blogs, community networks, industry news and advisory boards. www.HR.com

Media Contacts:

Emma Gibson | Dashaun Gasque

Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology

emma.gibson@pepperdine.edu | dashaun.gasque@pepperdine.edu