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Cedric Michael Weston Halloran was welcomed into this world on August 11, 2000, in Boulder, Colorado to his loving, excited parents, and many cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends of the Halloran/Weston families. Cedric’s life was marked by his many travels, starting with road trips at 3 months to Montana, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, a semester in Oklahoma, and then taking his first steps at the Pepperdine Law retreat at Disneyland on his first birthday. Cedric went to the Malibu Jewish Center, Malibu Presbyterian, Webster Elementary, Our Lady of Malibu, Malibu High, Boulder High, and Agoura High. He spent his freshman year at Texas Christian University, which was abruptly interrupted by the pandemic in March 2020. Adjusting to online classes, Cedric enjoyed his teachers at Pierce College, and was thrilled at his acceptance to Pepperdine for Fall 2021.

Cedric loved his annual trips to the family farm in McMinnville, Oregon. As a baby, Cedric would be parked next to a blueberry bush or tennis court. He was “Spiderman” for approximately three years, refusing to wear anything else. Cedric was fierce on the soccer field, behind the pitcher’s mound, and spent endless hours on the skateboard. He was disappointed when he developed Osgood Schlatters that prevented him from boarding and sports in 7th grade. Cedric developed a love and talent for cooking, meticulous with his food preparation, execution, and plating. Cedric also had a green thumb for gardening. Cedric is sweet natured, brilliant and has his own very unique interests including gems, jewelry, and real estate - in fact he found our home, set up and managed an AirBnb for our pool house, and convinced us that we would both financially manage and fall in love with our home with Cedric as we have.

With his parents, Cedric traveled and became the trip planner for our many excursions around the world, to all continents, except Antarctica. Cedric’s travels include South Africa, Europe, Japan, Australia, with a special affinity for Columbia. In his many long road trips to Oregon, Colorado, and on, Cedric rode upfront with Dad asking millions of questions across the miles, while Mom and Lily & Rosie happily rode in the backseat listening. Cedric developed an acumen for finance, stock-trading, and investigated corporate stability before making his purchases. Cedric was blessed with family, friends, and in his final months, a loving friendship and connection with Ivy Leroux. Cedric is the best son any parents could dream of and we love each other to the moon and back.

Pepperdine University mourns the passing of Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Political Science Dan Caldwell, who passed away on January 8, 2025, at the age of 76. For 43 years, he shaped students' understanding of international politics, security, and US foreign policy at Seaver College.

“Early in my career at Pepperdine, I looked for role models to emulate who exhibited great teaching, meaningful scholarship, and commitment to Pepperdine’s Christian mission. It was easy to identify Dan as one of the leaders at Seaver College in all three of those areas,” says Lee Kats, interim dean of Seaver College. “His commitment to students, student-veterans, and academic excellence at Seaver was always paramount throughout his career. We are a better place because of Dan’s dedication to Pepperdine.”

Born in Oklahoma City in 1948, Dr. Caldwell earned degrees from Stanford and Tufts before serving in the US Navy. He later completed his PhD at Stanford University and joined Pepperdine in 1978, where he played a key role in advancing political science and international studies programs. A dedicated mentor, he founded the Pepperdine Committee on Student-Veterans, which ultimately led to the creation of the Office of Student-Veteran Affairs in 2020.

To honor Dr. Caldwell’s profound impact, Pepperdine has launched an effort to endow the recently established Dan Caldwell Student Veteran Emergency Fund. This fund will ensure financial support for Pepperdine student-veterans in need of financial assistance due to an emergency need, such as housing, food, or school supplies. It is designed to provide an avenue for immediate financial resources to help students who find themselves facing unexpected challenges or difficult life circumstances. The Caldwell family is grateful for this opportunity to honor Dr. Caldwell’s deep commitment to serving the needs of Pepperdine’s student-veterans, and to serve as a reminder of his instrumental role in establishing the Student Veterans Affairs office.

Please join us in celebrating Dr. Caldwell’s extraordinary contributions by helping us to endow the Dan Caldwell Student Veteran Emergency Fund. Together, we can uphold his vision and ensure that Pepperdine’s student-veterans always have the resources they need to succeed.

Forty years ago, Pepperdine launched the Florence International Program. So much has changed since then, but one thing is certain, the lives of students have been forever impacted by stepping foot in the historic city of Florence. These trips are not just vacations, they are meaningful experiences that help turn young adults into the people they are meant to be. 

To celebrate this landmark anniversary, we want to ensure that no student is denied this life-altering trip because of a lack of funds. Will you help us and support a student today?

The Impact for Good Fund was established to assist Pepperdine’s students in their efforts to serve the neediest of people around the world, in accordance with Pepperdine University's mission to strengthen students’ lives for purpose, service and leadership.

This fund is used to assist students engage in life-changing and transformative service initiatives locally and internationally. Some of the service opportunities include our work with Made in the Streets in Kenya, the village of El Negrito in the northern province of Santiago del Estero in Argentina, and Kinderreich children's program in Heidelberg, Germany.

The Impact for Good Fund helps to make these meaningful experiences more accessible to our students.

Joe Rokus (’76) devoted nearly five decades to Pepperdine—as a pioneering Malibu campus freshman, distinguished alumnus, Life Regent, and generous benefactor whose leadership touched every corner of the University. Arriving on campus in 1972, Joe met his wife Tari (’76) at Seaver College and together they built a faith-centered life raising five remarkable children and leading successful global businesses. A lifelong University ambassador and dedicated Waves fan, Joe served as a member of the Board of Regents for almost 30 years.  

To honor Joe’s unwavering commitment to faith, scholarship, and service, his family is establishing an endowed scholarship that will empower future Waves to pursue their own callings just as Joe did. Your gift—of any amount—will help us reach the $100,000 endowment threshold, ensuring that Joe’s legacy of opportunity and excellence lives on in perpetuity. Join us in celebrating a life well lived by investing in the students and values Joe championed so passionately.