Michael Nicks ('00, MBA '02) joined the University in 2002. Prior to joining Pepperdine, he served in a variety of roles in the business world, including programming, database creation/management, technical support management, and marketing management in the technology sector. In 2004 Nicks became the director of Absolute Return Strategies, primarily overseeing the University's hedge fund investments. As director of investments, his primary areas of responsibility include the endowment's marketable alternative investments (hedge funds), risk management, analysis of managers, asset classes, and quantitative analysis and modeling. This includes portfolio management responsibilities for both