Leadership
Austin Hurwitz ('97)
President / Founding Father
Austin architected the merger of local fraternities Tau Rho Sigma and Phi Phi Phi, as well as led extensive planning and pitch to University leaders for affiliation with SigEp (and garnered approval to affiliate all Greeks with national orgs). As a result, CA Psi was first to colonize and charter; simultaneously, Austin was selected as Pepperdine’s first IFC President. He is a 20-year marketing vet working with world-class brands: Oakley, TaylorMade-adidas, Gatorade, NBC...
Frank Ko ('97)
Vice President / Founding Father
Frank has been CA Psi’s most consistently involved alumnus, having been involved with Pepperdine’s SigEp chapter since its chartering and receiving the fraternity’s Distinguished Alumnus award. Professionally, he travels the world year-round and splits time living in LA and China while leading strategic partnerships between aerospace industry suppliers and his family’s international business. Frank cultivates a strong global network, both fraternally and beyond.
Jesse Cripps ('97, '02 Law)
Treasurer / Founding Father
Jesse was CA Psi’s Treasurer during the chapter’s colonization and chartering. Professionally, he is a partner at Gibson Dunn, and a member of the firm's Labor and Employment, Litigation and Class Action Practice Groups. Jesse is a leading, decorated employment lawyer; has handled the full range of labor and employment matters under both federal and state law, specializing in the defense of high-risk, complex and class action employment litigation.
Chris Romero ('98)
Secretary / Founding Father
Chris has been an active, local CA Psi alum since graduating. He is the VP of Finance for Applied Minds, founded in 2000 by ex-Disney Imagineers providing technology, design, R&D and consulting services to multiple organizations such as: GM, Intel, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Herman Miller, Sony and more. Applied Minds has also spun out several companies, including Metaweb Technologies (the creators of Freebase, which was acquired by Google).
Advisory
Claudia Sangster ('76)
Pepperdine Sr. Counsel, Estate/Gift ‘93-’00
CA Psi was truly blessed to have the Sangsters as advisors, championing its journey throughout planning and chartering processes while ensuring Pepperdine standards and key stakeholders were engaged. For over 7 years, Claudia was a highly-respected and accomplished executive leader with the university. She has remained a resident of Pepperdine, and is now a Director of Family Education, Governance and Wealth Planning with Northern Trust in LA.
Sam Lagana (PKE-MBA '17)
Pepperdine Associate Vice Chancellor
Sam represents the University across the nation, and is a key ingredient in Pepperdine’s networking and fundraising endeavors. Lagana arrived at Pepperdine in 2002 with a decorated career and over 25 years of expertise with numerous prominent organizations in the LA area. Also recognized as the "Voice of Beach Volleyball" for the Pro Beach Volleyball Tour, he was recently selected by the LA Rams to be their stadium public address announcer.
Giuseppe Nespoli ('04, '17 Bus)
Pepperdine Dir., Seaver Assoc. / SigEp Alum
As an undergrad, Giuseppe was a key member of CA Psi as well as actively involved with numerous other student organizations and philanthropies. He has over 10 years of experience on Pepperdine’s staff, demonstrating a history of building relationships locally and globally while serving in roles with the university’s Alumni, Executive Associates and Seaver Associates offices. Giuseppe also recently graduated from the School of Business, receiving his MSOD.
David Calderon ('91 Law)
SigEp National Board of Directors
Dave has been practicing law for 25 years, and is a partner with BarthCalderon LLP. As a volunteer with SigEp for over 20 years, he has been extensively involved with the fraternity and recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus. Currently, Dave is on the Board of Directors for SigEp’s Educational Foundation as well as the faculty of SigEp’s award-winning Ruck Leadership Institute. As a Pepperdine Law alum, he has mentored many of CA Psi’s undergrads and volunteers.