Charles and Rosemary Licata of Westlake Village have made an endowment to the Pepperdine University School of Public Policy, creating the Charles and Rosemary Licata Lecture Series.

Most recently, Michael Novak—theologian, author and former U.S. ambassador—spoke at the school’s Malibu campus on "Religion and Democracy: The Case of Islam."

His lecture was the sixth in the school’s series on "The Prospects for Democracy in the Middle East" and was based on his most recent book, "The Universal Hunger for Liberty."

Novak has taught at Harvard, Stanford, Syracuse University and the University of Notre Dame. In 2002 he was John M. Olin Distinguished Visiting Professor at the Pepperdine School of Public Policy.

The Licata Lecture Series unites students, alumni and community leaders with leading academics and practitioners who shape policy matters in the 21st Century. Rosemary Licata is active in Republican Party activities.