Announcing SVP for University Advancement Cindy Galindo

Dear LMU Community,

As we continue our shared work of strengthening Loyola Marymount University’s future with purpose, ambition, and hope, I am pleased to announce that Cindy Galindo will join LMU as our next senior vice president for University Advancement, effective July 1, 2026.

Cindy is an accomplished philanthropic leader who has helped shape and advance some of the most ambitious fundraising organizations in Southern California. Her career spans higher education, academic medicine, Catholic philanthropy, public media, and private and family philanthropy. She has held leadership roles with the University of Southern California, California Institute of Technology, Claremont McKenna College, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, and PBS SoCal. This breadth of experience positions her exceptionally well to lead LMU’s advancement efforts at a pivotal moment in our university’s trajectory.

Cindy currently serves as chief development officer for PBS SoCal, where she leads the organization’s advancement efforts and is a key partner to the president and CEO and the board of directors. In this role, she helped drive a bold and forward-looking approach to philanthropy, expanding the organization’s reach, strengthening its culture of giving, and positioning it for transformational growth. Under her leadership, she implemented strategies that more than doubled philanthropic support and created a revenue plan to help ensure the organization’s future. 

Before PBS SoCal, Cindy served as assistant vice president of Advancement at USC, where she helped lead strategy for the USC Campaign for Health, a $3 billion campaign advancing patient care, research, and medical education. She played a central role in shaping the campaign’s vision, developing principal gift pathways, and partnering with senior leadership to drive momentum across USC’s health enterprise. Earlier in her USC tenure, she helped lead and support the university’s broader advancement efforts, including work connected to USC’s landmark $7 billion campaign, gaining direct experience within one of the most ambitious and successful fundraising environments in higher education.

Cindy also served as chief development officer for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the largest and most diverse Catholic diocese in the U.S., where she led philanthropic strategy and oversaw its historic $500 million campaign. In that role, she significantly strengthened and expanded the development operation—doubling the team—and helped build a high-performing fundraising enterprise generating $140 million annually. She worked closely with the archbishop, senior Catholic leaders, and a wide network of donors and volunteers across nearly 300 parishes throughout Southern California.

Earlier in her career, Cindy’s roles at Caltech, Claremont McKenna College, and Whittier Family Foundations helped shape her expertise in donor relations, alumni engagement, stewardship, and philanthropic strategy. Together, these experiences demonstrate her ability to navigate institutions of varying scale and complexity while advancing mission-driven outcomes.

Cindy earned a Master of Public Administration from Portland State University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Finance from Oregon State University. Beyond her professional pursuits, Cindy enjoys traveling the world, baking and cooking in her kitchen, crafting greeting cards, and spending time with her family and friends.

In 2024, Cindy was named as one of the top 50 women chief development officers by Women We Admire for being “at the forefront of driving innovation and development across various industries.” Across every stage of her career, Cindy has demonstrated the qualities that matter most in a great advancement leader: the capacity to see possibilities where others see limits, to inspire confidence and generosity in others, to build strong teams, and to connect philanthropy meaningfully to institutional mission. She has worked at the highest levels with presidents, senior leaders, trustees, volunteers, and donors; guided ambitious campaign strategy; and helped organizations translate bold vision into lasting philanthropic support. 

As LMU continues to build momentum for the future, Cindy will play a vital role in helping us enhance our culture of philanthropy, strengthen our partnerships with alumni and friends, and advance the university’s mission with even greater reach and impact. Her leadership will be instrumental in completing our current campaign and preparing for the next chapter of philanthropic ambition—one that exemplifies the full promise of LMU’s Catholic mission in the Jesuit and Marymount educational traditions and the transformative impact we seek to make in Los Angeles and beyond.

I am grateful to the many colleagues who participated in the search process and whose insights and perspectives helped shape my discernment.

Please join me in warmly welcoming Cindy, her husband Oscar, and their daughters to the LMU community. 

Sincerely,

Thomas Poon, Ph.D.
President and Professor