Patti Paniccia (JD '81) Presented with David McKibbin Excellence in Teaching Award

Patti Paniccia (JD ’81) has been awarded the David McKibbin Excellence in Teaching Award, which is given each year to an adjunct faculty member who exemplifies excellence in teaching and devotion to Pepperdine Law students. The award is named after one of our former full-time tax professors, who was beloved by our students.

Dean Naomi Goodno stated that Pepperdine Law students consistently rate Patti’s teaching and her classes with the highest of marks. Dean Goodno added, “The work you have done, and continue to do, is groundbreaking.”

Patti attended Pepperdine Law from 1978-1981. She is a member of the very first class that began classes at the newly-opened Malibu campus in 1978. She is also a founding member of the Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity.

In 1987, Patti returned to Pepperdine and began teaching Media Law while she was working as a television news reporter and media lawyer – living those cases – arguing her way into closed hearings, urging judges to allow cameras in their courtrooms, and sitting on many media-related ABA and State Bar Committees. She then became very busy as a CNN correspondent and stopped teaching for a year or two. When she returned to teaching, Patti instituted the class on Gender and the Law. Years later, Gender and Law was changed to Sex Discrimination. Subsequently, she instituted an Employment Discrimination course and began to alternate teaching between the two courses.

Patti said, “Over the years, I have seen many changes at Pepperdine. One thing that has not changed is the devotion and kindness with which professors have always treated the students. We are blessed!”