Pepperdine University Appoints Dr. Lee Kats as Dean of Seaver College

MALIBU, California – Pepperdine University president Jim Gash announced today that Lee Kats has been appointed dean of Seaver College. As dean, Kats will serve as the chief academic and administrative officer of Pepperdine’s liberal arts undergraduate school. Kats, who has served as interim dean since 2023, succeeds Michael Feltner, who concluded his nine-year tenure on July 31, 2023.

“Since his appointment as interim dean, Lee has demonstrated outstanding leadership, a deep commitment to academic excellence, and a clear vision for the future of Seaver College,” said Pepperdine President Jim Gash. “Throughout his tenure at Pepperdine, Lee has put student success first and championed the advancement of faculty scholarship in innovative ways. His deep love of science and discovery has been evident both inside and outside the classroom as he has imagined new opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration. This next, important step in Lee’s journey will continue to strengthen the University’s commitment to academic excellence, foster innovative opportunities for students and faculty, and ensure Seaver College remains at the forefront of preparing future leaders to make a meaningful impact in the world.”

With more than three decades at Pepperdine, Kats has held roles ranging from faculty member to administrator. He previously served as vice provost from 2011 to 2023 and as associate dean of research from 2001 to 2011. As vice provost, he worked closely with Pepperdine's Information Technology Department; Office of Research, Grants, and Foundation Relations; and Office of Institutional Effectiveness. Kats also serves as academic director of the Center for Faith and the Common Good and is involved in the University's strategic planning process and implementation.

As a professor of biology and the Frank R. Seaver Chair of Natural Science, Kats has focused his research on animal ecology, tropical ecology, and conservation biology, working extensively in the Santa Monica Mountains, Costa Rica, and Argentina. He has published numerous research articles on amphibian ecology, sits on the board of editors for the scientific journal Conservation Biology, and serves on the editorial board of Hydrobiologia.

Kats earned a BA from Calvin College in Michigan and a PhD in biology from the University of Kentucky. As dean, Kats will advance Seaver College’s mission to integrate faith and learning and lead faculty in fostering a dynamic intellectual community on campus.

About Pepperdine University
Founded in 1937, Pepperdine University is an independent, Christian university located 30 miles west of Downtown Los Angeles in scenic Malibu, California. The University enrolls approximately 10,300 students across its flagship liberal arts school, Seaver College; the College of Health Science, and four graduate schools—the Caruso School of Law; the Graziadio Business School; the Graduate School of Education and Psychology; and the School of Public Policy. Pepperdine is committed to the highest standards of academic excellence and Christian values, where students are strengthened for lives of purpose, service, and leadership. Follow Pepperdine on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

 

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