On Wednesday afternoon, March 14, Pepperdine University announced that its seventh and longest-serving president, Andrew K. Benton, will be concluding his tenure following the 2018-2019 academic year.
According to information released by the university, Benton will continue to serve as president emeritus following the term conclusion.
“This is a significant change that, while difficult, we believe comes at just the right time – for Pepperdine, for our students, and for us,” he said, adding that he was confident that the university was in a strong place “academically, spiritually, and financially.”
Benton first came to the university in 1984, as part of its central administration team. Later, he was officially brought on as president in Sept. 2000. A number of changes and programs were created under the president, including construction of the Drescher Graduate Campus and a number of campuses both in the U.S. and abroad.
In July 2017, Benton was elected for a 19-month stint as chair for the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities Board of Directors.