Pepperdine Caruso Law Celebrates the Class of 2026
Pepperdine Caruso Law honored the class of 2026 with several ceremonies to celebrate the graduates' many impressive achievements.
The festitivies began on May 19 with the Palmer Center for Entrepreneurship and the Law's certificate ceremony, held in the atrium, recognizing graduating JD students who earned the Palmer Center certificate. The 2025-2026 Palmer Fellows student board, including chair James El-Deiry and communications director Shaina Aswani, joined in the celebration. Associate dean Arnold Barba began the ceremony with an invocation, followed by Palmer Center interim faculty director Victoria Schwartz. The evening was led by Palmer Center executive director David Feingold, who announced professor Mark Kubisch as the Palmer Center new academic director. The graduates were then presented with their Entrepreneurship and the Law certificates.
The following morning of May 20, all graduating JD students gathered in the atrium for the annual 3L Breakfast celebration. The program included a welcome and invocation by dean of students Naomi Goodno, comments from dean Paul Caron, an address by professor Michael Helfand, and student speaches from Caroline Hebert and Isaac Rabbanian. At the celebration, Pepperdine Caruso Law alumnus Charlie Walker (JD '15) was honored as the Young Distinguished Alumnus of 2026. Walker serves as general counsel for Graham Healthcare Group and is a member of Pepperdine University's Board of Regents. The graduates were then recognized and presented awards for their academic and advocacy achievements.
In the afternoon of May 20, a Graduate Law reception was held in the atrium to honor the graduates of the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution and Graduate Law Programs. The graduates recognized during the event earned Master of Laws, Master of Dispute Resolution, or Master of Legal Studies degrees, or certificates in Dispute Resolution. The reception included remarks from Straus managing director David Dowling, professor Thomas Stipanowich, professor Stephanie Blondell, and associate dean Jason Jarvis. The reception concluded with a prayer from Straus executive director Selina Shultz.
The evening of May 20 concluded with the seventh annual Baccalaureate Service held in Stauffer Chapel on the Pepperdine campus. Graduates from all the programs, including their family and friends, attended the traditional Christian worship service of prayer, Bible readings, and worship songs. At the service, Dean Caron delivered a message to the graduates and each graduate was presented with a Bible signed by him.
Pepperdine Caruso Law is proud to congratulate the class of 2026 and is pleased to welcome them into the alumni community.
