Student Organizations

Will Anderson is a Senior Political Science major from Washington D.C. During the summer, Will has pursued his political interests by interning for The National Republican Congressional Committee, The Republican National Committee, The White House, and on Capital Hill. On campus, he is an active member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity and a member of Pepperdine’s Club Ice Hockey team. He has studied Mandarin Chinese for seven years and hopes to travel to China in the near future.

John Michael Chapman is a Senior International Studies and Political Science double major, with a minor in Marketing. Originally from Turlock, CA, he has studied abroad in both France and Italy. His passion for sports and politics has led him to China to play exhibition basketball games and to Washington D.C. for an internship with the State Department. On campus, he has served as a Spiritual Life Advisor and now works as a Residential Advisor.

John Deniston, a native of Colorado Springs, CO, is a Senior Political Science major and Asian Studies minor.  A pioneering participant in the Hong Kong International Program, John's Pepperdine voyage has also taken him to study counter-terrorism in Middle East and to Washington, DC as a researcher at National Defense University.  In addition to his current service as President of the Inter-Club Council, John has been active on campus as a founding member of a pregnancy support organization and an international clean-water campaign.  Upon graduation, John will be commissioned as an Intelligence Officer in the United States Air Force.

Brendan Groves, a Senior Political Science major from Wichita, KS, Brendan is thrilled to begin his second year on the Council.  Brendan’s passion for activism has led him to found and lead two different organizations while at Pepperdine: the Step UP Employment Training program, teaching employability skills to convicted juveniles, and the Wishing Well Initiative, an organization that has raised $10,000 to fund the construction of clean water wells in sub-Saharan Africa.  His love for public service, confirmed by his status as a national 2006 Truman Scholar Finalist, cumulated into internships for a US Senator and in the US Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.  Brendan is also a senior cadet in the Air Force ROTC program and an honors graduate of Air Force ROTC Field Training.  Brendan will commission as a Lieutenant in the Air Force following his graduation.  Thereafter, he intends to attend law school and serve as a JAG Officer. 

Justin Hall is a Psychology and Sports Medicine major from Thousand Oaks, CA. He is a graduate from the Heidelberg International Program and has served on mission trips to Sierra Leone, Thailand, Croatia, and Mexico. Justin has served on the Student Government Council as well as performed in Songfest and Dance in Flght. Justin is a member of Psychology Honors Society and participates actively in volunteer and research opportunities around campus. Justin's hobbies include playing his guitar, singing, reading, and playing all sports.

Rachel Johnson is a Junior Journalism major with a Spanish minor from Wheaton, Illinois. While at Pepperdine some of her activities have included working with NewsWaves26, the Graphic as the Perspectives Assistant, Young Life, the Office of Intercultural Affairs as the Marketing Manager, the St. Jude's Up Til Dawn campaign, and volunteering as a Rush Recruitment Counselor while also doing work for Color Esperanza, an organization that helps Spanish-speaking teens with their schoolwork. She is an alumna of the London International Program and volunteered for Project Serve in Croatia. Rachel is also a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority. She loves to run, go to the beach, and hopes to one day explore every corner of the world.

Melissa Leonelli is a Junior Music Theory/Composition major from Cypress, California. She has served on the University Ministries leadership team, on SGA as Fine Arts Director, and has recently been elected President of Colleges Against Cancer. She is an alumna of the Heidelberg Summer Music Program and her hobbies include surfing, playing piano, and buying and learning other instruments she doesn’t know how to play!

John Mammen is a junior from Portland, Oregon studying Finance.  Currently, he is very involved with high-school students serving as a volunteer leader through a faith-based organization called Young Life.  John is an alumnus of the Florence International Program where he served as a Resident Advisor. Last year John was blessed enough to spend his Spring Break in New Orleans helping with the relief effort through Project Serve.  He is also a member of the Phi Eta Sigma National Honors Society. 

Kevin Mills is a senior international studies and political science double major from Wenatchee, Washington.  While at Pepperdine he has been active in Young Life, Project Serve, Rotaract, Student Government, Students for the Defense of Democracies, and Golden Key Honor Society.  He is an alumnus of the Heidelberg International Program where he served as resident advisor.  Kevin now serves as President of the Pepperdine Student Government Association.

Mushambi Mutuma is a senior Political Science and Studio Art double major from Austin, TX. While at Pepperdine he has been actively involved in Campus Recreation, Project Serve, BSU, and Genesis Gospel Choir. Recently, he co-founded the Wishing Well Initiative to help build clean water wells in Africa. He currently serves as Senior Class President of the Student Government Association. Mushambi is an alumnus of the SACI Italy International Program. During the summer he worked for Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa in Pretoria, South Africa and hopes to attend Pepperdine's Public Policy school to further his knowledge and ability to aid crises in his birthplace of Zimbabwe.

Savannah Ré Overton is a senior double major in Intercultural Communications and Sociology. Born and raised in Santa Monica and Los Angeles, CA, she has a relentless passion for human rights and social justice. As well as a former Spiritual Life Advisor and Spiritual Life Coordinator, she is the International Youth Ambassador for Peace for the African Diaspora Foundation and Head Youth Advocate for Visionary Farm, Inc. Organizations which provide her with outreach into the community and a path to bring justice and peace to the world’s dispossessed peoples. She has been involved with several on and off-campus, non-profit organizations, and is a delegate to Pepperdine’s Model United Nations and is serving on the board of Pepperdine’s Wishing Well Initiative.

Noel Paasch is a senior International Business and German double major from Camarillo, California. She spent her sophomore year in Heidelberg, Germany and interned in Washington, DC this past summer.  She currently works in the Crest Associates Office under the guidance of Heidi Bernard.  Noel is also a part of student life with her involvement in the Pepperdine German Club, University Ministries and Songfest.

Carly Pippin is a Senior Humanities Major. She spent her sophomore year studying abroad in Heidelberg, Germany and made lasting friendships and memories.  During the summer of ‘06, she traveled to Japan, China, and Tibet to study eastern religions. Some of her favorite experiences at Pepperdine include being in the musical “Anything Goes,” Songfest, and Dance in Flight. She loves the arts, all things international, and is looking forward to serving on PAC this year!

Andrew Richdale is a Senior English major from Dana Point, CA. In his spare time he enjoys watching CNN, writing, and playing bocce ball with friends. While at Pepperdine he has been involved with SGA, Inter-Fraternity Council, Project Serve, Step Forward Day as a site leader, Newswaves 26 as an entertainment producer, The Graphic as a contributing writer, and is an alumnus of the Heidelberg International Program. Andrew has also served as an RA and SLA. He has been social chair and an executive-board officer for his fraternity, Psi Upsilon. He is currently the intern for University Ministries. After graduation, he will be pursuing a career in either broadcast journalism or editorial print journalism.

Monica Rodriguez is a Senior from Southern California. After being raised on the mission field in Puebla, Mexico, her passions for the Spanish language and Latin American culture have led her to pursue a career as a high school Spanish teacher. Her activities have included serving as a freshman Residential Advisor, a Project Serve team member in Philadelphia, Albania, and Panama, and an active member of her sorority. She is an alumna of the Heidelberg and Buenos Aires International Programs and has attended the Biblical Sites Tour, the Honduras Recovery Mission, and the Eastern Religion Tour.

Shannon Rollert is a senior from Denver, Colorado studying psychology and biology.  While at Pepperdine she has been involved as a leader for Project Serve, a player on the women’s lacrosse team, a member of the Pi Beta Phi fraternity, a service-learning volunteer at the Esperance Center in Malibu, and a researcher in the Pepperdine ecology lab.  She is also an alumna of the Florence program, and loves to travel and spend time outdoors.

Andrea Ruiz is a Junior International Business and Spanish major from Lake Forest, CA. She serves as president of Pepperdine Rotaract and the Spanish Honors Society. While at Pepperdine, Andrea has been a member of the Latino Student Association as well as the Pepperdine Symphony Orchestra. She has participated in activities such as the Malibu Labor Exchange and is also a student worker in the International Studies and Languages Division. Andrea is an alumna of the Madrid Summer Program. Her passions include music, travel, and the ocean.

Janie Smothers is an Advertising major from San Diego, California and is currently serving in her second year as a student Ambassador. While at Pepperdine some of her activities have included filming for NewsWaves26, serving as a New Student Orientation Leader, participating in Diversity Summit, dancing for Dance In Flight, and choreographing and directing for Songfest. She is an alumna of the Heidelberg International Program and volunteered for Project Serve in Croatia.  Janie is also a member of the Delta Gamma fraternity.

Savannah Swearer is a Senior Organizational Communication major with a business emphasis. After arriving at Pepperdine as a sophomore transfer student from Sacramento California, Savannah is active in several on campus organizations including her sorority Delta Gamma.  This year, she currently the Vice President of Student Alumni Organization’s Alumni Connections Program and spends much of her time focused on her small marketing business serving the Malibu community. 

Jaeyoon Um is majoring in psychology and communication with a minor in industrial/organizational psychology.  She is a senior international student from Korea.  Currently, she is a career ambassador for Seaver College Career Center.  Last year, she served as a RA for a freshman dorm.  She has served as a Jumpstart Corp member for one year.

Neal Washburn is a Senior Pre-Med student from Cypress, California, who is majoring in Sports Medicine.  He is an alumnus of the Heidelberg International Program, is currently a Vice President for SAO, a member of the Phi Delta Epsilon Pre-Med Society, a member on the Student Disciplinary Committee, and an active volunteer at the LA Free Clinic.  Neal has competed for the men’s Cross Country team, served on SGA as the Athletics Director, worked as an RA on campus, and has had the privilege of being an NSO Coordinator. 

Catherine Whittinghill is an English Literature and French major from Camarillo, CA.  Currently a junior at Pepperdine, Catherine serves as a Spiritual Life Advisor for returning students in Rockwell Towers.  She has lived overseas in France and in Italy with the Pepperdine Florence program.  In the past, Catherine has rowed for the Pepperdine Crew team, volunteered at inner city elementary schools, and served as a worship leader for several Spiritual Programs at Pepperdine.  She loves singing, writing, traveling, and riding horses.

Ashley Wilkerson is a Senior Public Relations major with a Marketing minor from Vacaville, CA. She has served as a Resident Advisor and currently is a member of Dance in Flight, Delta Gamma fraternity, and the Lambda Pi Eta Communications Honor Society. Ashley is also an executive director for The Wishing Well Initiative. She is an alumna of the London Summer Internship program. With a great interest in corporate social responsibility and public affairs, Ashley hopes of attending graduate school in the fall to obtain a Master of Public Policy.