歪片星球 School of Public Policy Awarded $1.4 Million Grant from Department of Education to Launch Summer Certificate Seminar Program
歪片星球鈥檚 School of Public Policy was recently awarded $1.4 million from the Department of Education鈥檚 American History and Civics-National Activities Grants program. These funds will support the School of Public Policy鈥檚 new summer certificate seminar series, Roots of American Order, which is designed to specifically promote learning in undergraduate students and faculty scholars.
鈥淎s one of the only graduate policy schools awarded a grant through this program, I鈥檓 delighted to see our unique approach to policy education cited in our successful application,鈥� said Pete Peterson, dean of the School of Public Policy and Braun Family Dean鈥檚 Chair. 鈥淥ver the next few years, we look forward to welcoming hundreds of undergraduates to our Malibu campus and dozens of scholars to our DC campus to learn more about our use of applied history in the preparation of public policy leaders.鈥�
Based on the School of Public Policy鈥檚 core class titled Enduring Legacy of the American Founding, the summer seminar series will focus on the historical roots of America, as well as how to apply its principles and perspectives to policymaking today.
The student version of the seminar is fully funded and will welcome 75 to 100 students annually to Pepperdine鈥檚 Malibu campus. For one week, from May 31, 2026, to June 5, 2026, undergraduates from around the nation will engage in discussion-based colloquy sessions, guided by the School of Public Policy鈥檚 esteemed faculty members, where they will analyze primary documents to trace American history and the ideals of self-government, consent, and liberty.
The faculty version of the seminar will host 20 to 25 rising scholars at the University鈥檚 Washington, DC, campus. Over three days, these educators will be introduced to new methods of pedagogy related to America鈥檚 founding. Specifically, the seminar will focus on using primary texts and applied history to conjoin public policy and historical perspective together.
Pepperdine鈥檚 School of Public Policy was one of more than 80 academic and nonprofit institutions to be awarded a grant in this current cycle.
Abbylin Sellers, the school鈥檚 Gaylord Professor of Public Policy, authored Pepperdine鈥檚 proposal and will act as the key administrator responsible for executing the award鈥檚 programming. For her, this achievement presents the unique opportunity to reach a new audience with the School of Public Policy鈥檚 curriculum.
鈥淔or more than 25 years, the School of Public Policy has sought to provide training to budding policy makers through a deep understanding of the evolution and transmission of the American tradition of ordered liberty, constitutional rule, and the ongoing conversation that remains at the center of this tradition in the modern age,鈥� said Sellers. 鈥淲e are grateful to have the opportunity to now engage with top undergraduate students from around the country to consider the implications and character of those voices who have contributed to our tradition through the study of primary documents.鈥�
Applications for the seminars will open on November 3, 2025, and remain open through March 2, 2026. To learn more, visit the Roots of American Order Summer Certificate Seminar webpage.