Tech entrepreneur and thought leader Peter Trepp ’88, ’98 MBA takes reins as chair of the UCI School of Social Sciences Board of Councilors

Leadership efforts will build upon the board’s on-going mission, vision put in motion by successful tenure of outgoing chair Larry Kugelman who has been elected a UCI trustee
 

The UCI School of Social Sciences is excited to announce the appointment of Peter Trepp, ’88 UCI economics and ’98 UCLA Anderson School MBA, as chair of the Board of Councilors. As the school’s most senior advisory council to the dean, BOC members play an active role in advocating with friends and colleagues the outstanding quality of social sciences programs while championing the school’s mission to create positive change in societies, economies and for human wellbeing.

In his new role, Trepp will be building upon the successes and achievements of outgoing chair Larry Kugelman who, in his three-year tenure, helped steer the school’s leadership board through the pandemic while also supporting the launch of the Women of the Dean’s Leadership Society in partnership with his wife, Dulcie. The couple continues to support WDLS and the Kugelman Fellowship program which provides graduate funding for students studying global conflict and peacebuilding efforts. Larry will also continue to serve as an advisory member of the BOC, in addition to his new campus-level role as a UCI trustee.

“I’m so grateful to Larry for sharing his visionary leadership with our board these past few years and I look forward to our continued relationship and the many ways both Larry and Dulcie make a difference for our school, students and research,” says Bill Maurer, social sciences dean. “I’m also very excited to welcome Peter into this new role. His decades of entrepreneurial experience in the tech and finance world will be an asset to our team and school. I’m looking forward to his seasoned guidance and sharp business approach to helping us think about dynamics, structure and priorities as we move into a world that is constantly being shaped by new technologies and changing norms.”

Trepp is a leading tech entrepreneur and former investment banker whose career ventures have been valued beyond the billion-dollar mark. In his current work, Validiti, he and his team are building the world's first secure data marketplace that is designed to disrupt the $200B-per-year personal data monetization market. The author of The New Rules of Consumer Privacy, which details how consumer-facing organizations can balance their customers' needs for privacy, security, and convenience, Trepp is a recognized thought leader in tech and frequent media contributor. Prior to founding Validiti, he served as the CEO of FaceFirst, a renowned leader in the global facial recognition market. He earned a bachelor's in economics at UCI in 1988 and a decade later, an MBA at the UCLA Anderson School where he also served as president of the Alumni Association. Trepp joined the UCI School of Social Sciences BOC as a member in 2022.

“When I first met Bill, I was so inspired by his enthusiasm and vision for the School of Social Sciences that I felt a call to come be helpful any way I could,” says Trepp. “As an Anteater alumnus, I have such a deep sense of pride for the university that I’ve watched grow into the powerhouse, top-ranked public institution it is today. And being from the social sciences in particular, I’m so proud of the forward momentum the school is achieving in its mission to educate a diverse and highly talented student body who will be the next generation of leaders.”

“Bringing my experience helming the Anderson School’s Alumni Association—which was really rewarding—and in conjunction with my background in tech and business, I’m excited about helping Bill grow more connections with business and community partners to expand research and curriculum opportunities within social sciences while also finding more ways to engage the school’s rapidly growing alumni community.”

Trepp has already put his service into action by helping the school launch the first of many planned economic forums and serving as the moderator. Catch a recap of the inaugural talk held in November.

To learn more about the Board of Councilors, please contact Tracy Arcuri, senior executive director of development in social sciences, at tarcuri@uci.edu or 949.824.8093. 

 - Heather Ashbach, UCI Social Sciences