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Pepperdine | Caruso School of Law

Meet Our Staff

Director of Career Development - Alexis Joyce

Alexis Joyce headshot taken outdoors

Alexis is the Director of the Career Development Office. She received her Juris Doctor degree from Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from St. John's University. 

Before joining the CDO, Alexis worked in the Career Services Office at Southwestern Law School, where she advised students, conducted employer outreach, and organized career fairs. While in law school, she worked at a mid-sized firm that specializes in insurance defense. Alexis primarily focused on construction defect cases. She also has experience working for the Ventura County Public Defender's Office.

In the Career Development Office, Alexis advises students in career planning, job search strategies, resume preparation, interviewing skills, and networking in legal and professional markets; organizes career forums and alumni networking events; establishes and maintains relationships with legal employers; and acts as a liaison between students, alumni, and employers. Alexis' counseling areas of expertise include careers in public interest and government.

Phone: 310.506.6459
alexis.joyce@pepperdine.edu

 


Associate Director of Career Development - Ann Chang

Ann Chang headshot taken outdoors

Ann Chang is the Associate Director in the Career Development Office. She received her Juris Doctor and Certificate from the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution from Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law in 2011 and her Bachelor of Arts degrees in English and Comparative Literary Studies (ECLS) and Theater from Occidental College in 2005. 

Before joining the CDO, Ann was an associate attorney with Dumas & Kim, APC, a firm that specializes in insolvency, collection, and general commercial litigation and with sub-specialties in representation of bankruptcy trustees and in bankruptcy litigation. Before joining the firm, she clerked for the Honorable Barry Russell, United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Central District of California. Prior to her clerkship, Ann’s legal experience includes representing both plaintiffs and defendants in an array of business litigation cases in both State and Federal courts. She has also represented clients in transactional matters, successfully negotiating and drafting various business transactions and contracts. Before law school, Ann spent two years teaching English as a foreign language and second language in South Korea. 

In the Career Development Office, Ann advises students in career planning, job search strategies, resume preparation, interviewing skills, and networking in legal and professional markets. Ann works closely with the faculty clerkship committee on maximizing federal and state clerkship opportunities; manages the judicial clerkship and externship programs; organizes career forums and alumni networking events; and establishes and maintains relationships with legal employers and acts as a liaison between students, alumni, and employers. Ann’s counseling areas of expertise include judicial externships and clerkships and careers in large law firms.

Phone: 310.506.4665
ann.chang@pepperdine.edu

 


Associate Director of Career Development - Rachel Levy

Rachel Levy headshot taken outdoors

Rachel Levy is the Associate Director in the Career Development Office. She received her Juris Doctor degree from Brooklyn Law School and her Bachelor of Arts degree in Government and Spanish from Hamilton College.  

Before joining the CDO, Rachel worked at Bet Tzedek Legal Services, a nonprofit organization that provides free legal services to individuals across Los Angeles County. While at Bet Tzedek, Rachel worked in the Preventing and Ending Homelessness Project where she represented tenants in eviction cases. Prior to working at Bet Tzedek, she was a public defender in New York City. 

In the Career Development Office, Rachel advises students in career planning, job search strategies, resume preparation, interviewing skills, and networking in legal and professional markets; organizes career forums and alumni networking events; establishes and maintains relationships with legal employers; and acts as a liaison between students, alumni, and employers. Rachel’s counseling areas of expertise include entertainment, business, and real estate. 

 

Phone: 310.506.7438
rachel.levy@pepperdine.edu

 



Assistant Director of Employer Partnerships - Michelle Gubler

Michelle Gubler headshot taken outdoors

Michelle Gubler is the Assistant Director of Employer Partnerships. She received her Juris Doctor degree from Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law and her Bachelor of Science degree in business from Brigham Young University. While in law school, Michelle externed for the Honorable Martin Barash, United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Central District of California. She also externed at SAG-AFTRA and participated in the law school's London Program. 

In the Career Development Office, Michelle is responsible for establishing, developing, and maintaining relationships with legal employers. She works to increase employer engagement with the CDO and create employment opportunities for Pepperdine students. She also facilitates employer/student relationships by hosting networking events and assists in further developing the CDO's recruiting programs. 

Phone: 310.506.4245
michelle.gubler@pepperdine.edu

 


Administrator and Event Coordinator - Jeannie Ruse

Jeannie Ruse

As Administrator, Jeannie is the point person for directing students and staff to the appropriate resources to address their questions and any immediate need they may have. She is also responsible for a variety of tasks, including assisting students in making appointments with their counselors, requesting reciprocity from other schools on a student's behalf, helping with the logistics and execution of the Mock Interview Program, and coordinating all CDO sponsored events. Prior to joining the Career Development team, Jeannie was working with the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution. Jeannie spent thirteen years at Straus as a Coordinator and Program Administrator for Professional Programs and assistant to the Associate Dean.

Jeannie is also the very proud mother of three daughters.

Phone: 310.506.4634

jeannie.ruse@pepperdine.edu

 


Recruiting Coordinator - Jackson Werner

Jackson Werner

Jackson Werner is the Recruiting Coordinator of the Career Development Office. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Communication from Pepperdine’s Seaver College and his Certificate in Conflict Management from the Caruso School of Law’s Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution in 2022. 

A proud Pepperdine alumnus, Jackson also served the University’s International Programs Office as a student ambassador in 2021 and 2022. In this capacity he represented the University’s Washington, D.C. program by creating community amongst, providing information for and delivering orientations to students preparing to study in the capital. When he himself studied in D.C., Jackson served the John McCain Institute of International Leadership as a Communication and Event Planning Intern. Here he researched potential donors, wrote several pieces for the Institute’s blog and news sites, and helped to plan and execute several events at George Washington University, The National Press Club, and the Sedona Forum in Sedona, Arizona. 

As the CDO’s Recruiting Coordinator Jackson is responsible for the updating and maintenance of online job databases and newsletters, managing, implementing and executing recruiting and interview programs, and serving as a liaison between students and employers. He is excited to help students find their best possible career paths so that they may live full lives of purpose, service and leadership. 

Phone: 310.506.6940

jackson.werner@pepperdine.edu