Shirley Roper Papers 0016

http://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8rx9g8f No online items The Finding Aid of the Shirley Roper Papers 0016 Lindsey Sommer, Katie Richardson, Lindsey Gant, and Monica Case Pepperdine University. Special Collections and University Archives. 2014 24255 Pacific Coast Highway Malibu, CA, 90263-4786 [email protected] URL: https://library.pepperdine.edu/collections/boone-special-collections-university-archives.htm The Finding Aid of the Shirley 0016 1 Roper Papers 0016 Language of Material: English Contributing Institution: Pepperdine University. Special Collections and University Archives. Title: Shirley Roper Papers Identifier/Call Number: 0016 Physical Description: 41.88 Linear Feet(35 boxes) Date (inclusive): 1963-2011 Abstract: The collection documents the various duties undertaken by Shirley Roper at Pepperdine University during her tenure and range in date from 1963 to 2011. The types of materials include correspondence, administrative documents and forms, policy manuals, committee meeting materials, and official Pepperdine pamphlets and booklets related to special events. Conditions Governing Access Advance notice required for access. Restricted materials have been omitted from the finding aid and will be accessible in 25 years from date of creation. Conditions Governing Use Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder. Preferred Citation [Box/folder# or item name], Shirley Roper Papers, Collection no. 0016, Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Pepperdine University. Immediate Source of Acquisition The collection was transferred to Special Collections and University Archives by Marnie Mitze on January 18, 2011. Biographical note In 1963, Shirley Roper began her 49 year long career at Pepperdine University as a full-time student and part-time student worker. Working for President M. Norvel Young, Roper was responsible for all office filing and typing his articles for various publications. At the time, the president's office consisted of four individuals: the president, the executive secretary, the correspondence secretary, and Roper. This position introduced Roper to the inner-workings of a small college. In 1967, Roper became executive secretary to Undergraduate Dean/History Department Chair/Year-in-Europe Director Howard A. White. As Dr. White's only staff assistant, Roper had the unique opportunity to learn about the academic process inside and out. By this time, Pepperdine had developed its first international program in Heidelberg, Germany. After a year in this position, Roper spent the next three years as a first grade teacher in Watts and South Central. During the summer of 1971, she joined the Coe American Studies Program (for teachers) on the Pepperdine campus in Los Angeles. By doing so, it allowed her to experience the college from yet another perspective. From August 17, 1971 to September 15, 1978, Roper held the position of administrative assistant to Executive Vice President Howard A. White. During her first year in this capacity, Roper worked at the Los Angeles campus while the Malibu campus was being built. In the fall of 1972, central administrative functions moved to the Malibu campus along with the first class of students. There were only two administrative assistants in the university at that time: Phyllis Dorman served as President Banowsky's assistant while Roper served as Dr. White's assistant. During this time period, Dr. White was often referred to as the "internal president." President Banowsky delegated most internal operations to Dr. White in order to focus on fundraising. Roughly 22 administrative areas reported directly to Dr. White with Roper serving as "ombudsman" of sorts--for both campuses for many years. As a result, Roper's name was prevalent on many documents during this time period. All internal matters came through Dr. White's office for many years, both in this role and later as president. When he retired from presidency, many operational matters continued to land on Roper's desk due to her experience and history with numerous issues. In 1978, Dr. White became the fifth president of Pepperdine University. As such, Roper became assistant to the president on September 15, 1978, a position she held until April 15, 1985. Many of the internal operations of the university continued to be supervised by President White, who also took over fundraising and Regent responsibilities. He was additionally assisted by Jan Turner who had worked with President Banowsky for a number of years. Roper's job was to do anything that the president did not have to do personally. She acted as staff liaison to virtually all of the president's meetings with his cabinet or similar bodies. Dr. White's term as president concluded in 1985. Roper transitioned to the position of assistant to Executive Vice President Bill Adrian, who would later become provost (Roper then became assistant provost). Personnel and Budget/Planning offices reported to Roper. When the provost was on sabbatical, Roper acted as the chair of his committees: University Tenure Committee, University Academic Council, and the Provost's Cabinet to name a few. Additionally, she continued to handle The Finding Aid of the Shirley 0016 2 Roper Papers 0016 student petitions, which required working with the Credits Committee and the Finance Office/Registrar's Offices. Ultimately, many of the student requests for letters of credit, and similar matters, were transferred to a newly-created Academic Advising Center. When Thornton Administrative Center was completed, Roper served as chair of the Central Services Committee to facilitate and coordinate many aspects of the moves from former buildings to the new center. In 1991, David Davenport became the sixth president of Pepperdine University and Roper became his assistant. Roper also acted as interim chief information officer (CIO) for a period of 9 to 10 months while a national search was conducted for a permanent CIO. She also held numerous other positions and titles between 1991 and 2000, including: senior staff liaison to University Planning Committee, Budget Hearings, University Management Committee, the President's Cabinet, and chair of the Space Committee at different periods of time. Starting in April of 2000, Roper served as assistant vice president to Andrew K. Benton, the seventh president of Pepperdine University. She continued to serve in many of her previous roles, as well as being the White House liaison for First Lady Laura Bush's visit and overseeing approximately a dozen grievance hearings. She served as chair of University Management Committee when the former chair (Andrew K. Benton) was named president. Roper formally retired on January 5, 2012 after 49 years of service to Pepperdine University. Scope and Content The collection consists of the professional papers of Shirley Roper dating from 1963 to 2011 and is made up of alphabetized subject files and individual files related to numerous university operations, events, activities, issues, and people. Documents cover a wide range of topics including commencement; campus academic program changes; construction projects; computing; international programs; university policy development; grievance hearings; and day-to-day administrative issues related to organizational structure, salaries and tuition. Documents related to numerous Pepperdine University committees, such as the University Planning Committee, Space Committee, and Advisory Committee are also included. In addition to the documents related to Roper's role in overseeing numerous university operations, materials also document her communicative role as a go-between for committees, groups, and other entities, between the president and others on a variety of university topics. Also present in this collection are programs and memorabilia, collected by Roper, related to important Pepperdine University events, such as commencement programs, church programs, presidential inaugurations, anniversaries, new building openings, and numerous special award events held by the university. Items are primarily textual, but a small number of folders contain audiovisual materials such as compact discs and audiotapes, as well photographs of individuals, events, and buildings on the Pepperdine University campus in Malibu. Arrangement The collection is organized into the following series: 1. Subject Files and 2. Individual Files. Within each series files are arranged alphabetically by folder title. Related Archival Materials David Davenport Papers, Collection no. 0020, Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Pepperdine University. Howard A. White Papers, Collection no. 0010, Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Pepperdine University. M. Norvel and Helen Young Papers, Collection no. 0014, Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Pepperdine University. Pepperdine University Management Committee (UMC) Records, Collection no. 0018, Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Pepperdine University. Pepperdine University Office of Public Affairs Records, Collection no. 0065, Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Pepperdine University. University Planning Committee (UPC), Collection no. 0021, Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Pepperdine University. William S. Banowsky Papers, Collection no. 0002, Special Collections and University Archives, University

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