RISE Institute

The Pepperdine Resilience-Informed Skills Education (RISE) Institute takes what began as a powerful campus program and brings it to the world. Built on the proven success of the RISE program at Pepperdine, the Institute educates, equips, and empowers students and communities with wellness and resilience skills that last a lifetime.

Today only, every gift to the RISE Institute will be matched dollar-for-dollar through 11:59 p.m. PT up to $50,000—doubling your impact.

At Pepperdine, RISE has transformed student life by teaching resilience across six dimensions—physical, social, cognitive, spiritual, service, and life skills. Through small groups, peer educators, a living-learning community, coaching, faculty partnerships, and campus-wide events, students have found support and strength to thrive.

Now, while still doing extensive resilience programming with our students, the RISE Institute expands this model beyond Pepperdine to create a global ripple effect helping meet a need in the world . The Institute is expanding to partner with other colleges and universities, K-12 private and public schools, and even international initiatives—including emerging opportunities in India—to share tools that strengthen resilience and well-being for people everywhere. RISE Student Leaders are critical in these efforts.

Your gift empowers Pepperdine students while fueling new opportunities for the Institute to bring these transformative skills to schools, universities, and organizations across the globe.

Make a gift today to help Pepperdine lead the way in resilience education—locally, nationally, and internationally.

A special message from Connie Horton

“The Pepperdine RISE Institute is our invitation not only to our students but to the world: to develop resilience skills, to care for ourselves and others, and to stand strong in the face of life’s challenges. I am thrilled to partner with student leaders as we see this work grow beyond Pepperdine and take root in so many communities in need”.

—Connie Horton

Vice Chancellor, RISE Institute