James A. Gash Named the Eighth President and CEO of Pepperdine University.

James A. Gash, associate dean for strategic planning and external relations and professor of law at the Pepperdine School of Law, has been named the eighth president and CEO of Pepperdine University.

Gash is a renowned education administrator, legal scholar, global justice advocate, and attorney. He was selected by the Board of Regents Wednesday afternoon and will succeed Andrew K. Benton on August 1, 2019. Benton announced last March that he planned to step down at the end of the 2018–2019 academic year after 19 years as president.

"I am both humbled and thrilled to have the opportunity to build on his administration's legacy of growth and excellence, fueled by the imagination, innovation, and creativity of Pepperdine's talented faculty, staff, students, and alumni around the world," said Gash.