Pepperdine Caruso Law Celebrates Seaver-Straus Certificate in Conflict Management Program and Graduation Reception 2025
On Friday, May 2, 2025, the Straus Institute and Seaver College came together to celebrate a remarkable group of 40 students who earned the Certificate in Conflict Management (CCM). The reception, held at Pepperdine Caruso School of Law, marked not only the end of a rigorous academic journey but also the beginning of a lifetime of meaningful leadership and service for these graduating seniors.
The CCM program is a unique collaboration between Pepperdine’s undergraduate school, Seaver College, and the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution and Graduate Law programs. Designed to equip students, regardless of their academic major, with practical, real-world tools for negotiation, problem-solving, and managing conflict, the program challenges undergraduates to rise to graduate-level expectations while building cross-disciplinary competence.
At the reception, students were joined by faculty, staff, families, and supporters from both the law school and Seaver communities. The room was filled with pride and applause as each graduate was recognized not only for their academic achievement, but also for their willingness to engage in one of the most challenging and transformative undergraduate opportunities available at Pepperdine.
“We are so thankful for this cohort of students who have a vision in their hearts to address conflict and become peacemakers," stated Sarah Park, associate director of the Straus Institute, in her remarks.
The CCM curriculum consists of four graduate-level courses taught by Straus faculty and two advanced Seaver electives. The law courses, offered in evening and intensive formats to accommodate undergraduate schedules, bring Seaver students into the same classrooms as law students, requiring them to meet the same academic standards and engage in the same high-level simulations, case analyses, and group projects. From psychology to business, international studies to communication, CCM students bring diverse perspectives into the program—and leave with a shared foundation in peacebuilding, advocacy, and ethical leadership.
For many graduates, the program has already opened doors to careers in law, public service, nonprofit leadership, and human resources. For others, it has shaped how they view leadership and interpersonal relationships, deepening their ability to engage conflict constructively wherever it arises.
As the Class of 2025 steps forward into the next chapter of their lives, the Straus and Seaver communities celebrate this cohort not just for completing a demanding certificate but for choosing a path of integrity, skill, and service in a world that urgently needs all three.
Additional information on the program may be found at Conflict Management Certification
