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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.