Dan Hentschl

What does being one of Pepperdine's Outstanding Alumni Abroad mean to you?

It's a great honor to be recognized among a field of individuals that are doing tremendous things for humanity. Sometimes the challenges and struggles we experience working in such a difficult environment negatively impact our mindset. Being recognized for this effort is very uplifting.

Describe any significant achievements in your life in vocation, service, and/or philanthropy.

Since the start of the Liberia program last year, we've launched and incubated two locally-owned well drilling enterprises, completed 105 manually drilled borehole wells in three regions that serve approximately 62,000 people, and are developing a replicable model for well maintenance that will ensure these villages have safe water and functional wells into the next generation. We are most proud of the fact that every well is developed by local leaders empowered to solve local problems through locally-owned businesses. During our six years serving the indigenous Mapuche people in southern Chile, we designed and implemented a rainwater harvesting system that the government began developing at scale for more than 1,000 families in the Araucanía region.

How has Pepperdine played a role in these achievements?

The Pepperdine Volunteer Center and School on Wheels in Downtown Los Angeles offered me my first real opportunity to confront poverty and understand the role I could play in alleviating it. My experience traveling abroad on Project Serve allowed me to comprehend the outsized role I could play in the lives of others if I chose to use my education and resources to serve abroad. My studies created a path for me to combine the nonprofit sector with marketing principles to make substantial contributions in the lives of entrepreneurs in the undeveloped world.

Who inspires you and why?

My wife, Danielle, is my hero and greatest inspiration. She graduated with me from Seaver College in 2009, and has selflessly shelved her professional ambitions in the field of biology so that together we could have an impact on God's kingdom. She inspires me every day because she intentionally gives up her comforts, her friends, and her culture so that those with little can live dignified lives.

What's next for you? Five-year outlook? Ten-year plan?

We are committed to our current role through 2020 when management responsibilities will be passed over to local leaders that we're now training. At that point, we hope to return to Latin America, where we lived from 2011 to 2017. We'd like to leverage our experience working in demanding environments to continue supporting local entrepreneurs in a way that honors God. We see ourselves starting a socially conscious enterprise that could financially sustain a Christian community and foster transformation in society. We'll see what that looks like when the time comes.

What is your "secret sauce?"

A good sense of humor.

How do you prepare for a busy day?

Coffee and exercise.

What is one of your favorite hobbies?

Frisbee.

What is your favorite quote?

"God doesn't call us to be comfortable. He calls us to trust Him so completely that we are unafraid to put ourselves in situations where we will be in trouble if He doesn't come through." — Francis Chan

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

Bush pilot.