Lady Margaret Thatcher Receives Honorary Doctorate from Pepperdine University

Lady Margaret Thatcher, former prime minister of the United Kingdom, received an honorary doctorate during a very special, official reopening ceremony of Pepperdine University’s residence in London, England.

“Lady Thatcher has been front and center in the making of history and, in many respects, in shaping the free world,” Pepperdine President Andrew Benton says. “To honor her was a rare and memorable opportunity to bring her into the Pepperdine community and to say ‘thank you’ to her. What a privilege.”

After months of renovation, Pepperdine’s property in Knightsbridge, London officially reopened on October 30, and the two international programs that reside there are fully operational after residing temporarily in nearby Imperial College and the Oxford Hotel. This marked the first renovation of the 123-year-old building since Pepperdine purchased it 20 years ago. The $5 million project refurbished infrastructure, electrics, plumbing, and heating, as well as redecorating the facility with new furniture.

Joining Benton at the ceremony was Charles F. Hall, Pepperdine dean of international programs; Rick Marrs, Seaver College dean; and Kenneth W. Starr, Duane and Kelly Roberts Dean of the Pepperdine School of Law.

The London House is used by students of both the Pepperdine University School of Law and Seaver College. Since 1981, the School of Law has offered its second-year students a six-week summer session (plus a final exam week) or full fall semester program in London, fully approved by the American Bar Association. The program for Seaver College students includes visits to museums, art galleries, libraries, houses of Parliament, and other historical and cultural sites. The central location of the London House allows students to reach London’s theatres, concert halls, and shopping areas in a matter of minutes.

About Pepperdine University

Pepperdine is a private, mid-sized Christian university committed to the highest standards of academic excellence and Christian values, where students are strengthened for lives of purpose, service, and leadership. The university enrolls approximately 8,300 students in five colleges and schools. Seaver College, the School of Law, the Graduate School of Education and Psychology, the Graziadio School of Business and Management, and the School of Public Policy. Courses are taught in Malibu, at six graduate campuses in Southern California, and at international campuses in Germany, England, Italy, Switzerland, China, and Argentina.

Contacts

Pepperdine University
Molly Drobnick, 310-506-6586