Thomas Poon, Ph.D., Named LMU’s 17th President
Photo by Jon Rou
The LMU board of trustees announced April 8, 2025, that it unanimously elected Thomas Poon, Ph.D., as the university’s 17th president, effective June 1, 2025. Since 2017, President-elect Poon has served as LMU’s executive vice president and provost, shaping nearly every aspect of academic life. Under his leadership, LMU achieved Carnegie R2 status, expanded tenure-line faculty diversity, launched new academic programs, and advanced major strategic goals. Poon will succeed President Timothy Law Snyder, Ph.D., LMU’s 16th president.
“President-elect Thomas Poon puts students, faculty, and staff at the center of his decisions. With reverence for LMU’s values and the courage to meet the demands of a changing world, he will guide our university to new heights in academic distinction, visibility, and global engagement,” said Paul Viviano, chair of the LMU Board of Trustees. “After a robust search, this decision confirmed what many already knew: Tom is a mission-driven leader of character, clarity, and consequence.”
Poon’s appointment follows a comprehensive national search led by a committee that included trustees, regents, students, faculty, staff, and alumni.
“President-elect Poon is a perfect selection to lead LMU into its future with boldness and clarity. His vision is expansive, his leadership grounded in mission, and his commitment to inclusive excellence unwavering,” said President Snyder. “Under his guidance, LMU will set new standards for how a values-based, innovative, and globally engaged Catholic university can thrive.”
At LMU, Poon has ushered in the introduction of 21 new programs in areas such as business analytics, education leadership, and computer science, while increasing research and creative work support by more than 80%. His efforts secured LMU’s first national research classification, reinforcing LMU’s standing as a premier Catholic research university. He has also reinforced LMU’s teacher-scholar model by investing in faculty development and inclusive excellence. He also helped launch LMU’s Playa Vista Campus and signature programs like the Global Conversations speaker series. During Poon’s tenure as provost, LMU earned federal recognition as both a Hispanic Serving Institution and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution. Poon also serves on the Coordinating Board of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities Assembly, to be held in 2027.
A hallmark of Poon’s leadership is his focus on students. He has championed well-being initiatives, expanded identity and spirituality resources, and launched the Summer Internship Fund, enabling hundreds of students to pursue career-building opportunities. He has also elevated LMU’s global engagement — expanding study abroad participation by more than 60%. Poon has represented LMU on national and international stages, including the American Council on Education and The Beijing Center, in Beijing.
“I welcome Dr. Thomas Poon as the next president of Loyola Marymount University, and I look forward to working with him,” said Most Reverend José H. Gomez, archbishop of Los Angeles. “It is a noble calling to lead a Catholic university. I pray that God will grant Dr. Poon humility, wisdom, and the courage to serve from the heart of the Church, guiding students to seek all that is beautiful, good, and true, and inspiring them to build a society that promotes the sanctity and dignity of the human person created in God’s image.”
A tenured professor of chemistry, Poon is a nationally recognized educator, researcher, and author. His work in science education — supported by multiple NSF grants — has improved hybrid learning, increased STEM representation, and produced widely used pedagogical tools. Prior to LMU, Poon served in academic and executive roles at Pitzer College, including interim president. He earned his Ph.D. in chemistry from UCLA and his bachelor’s degree from Fairfield University, a Jesuit university in Fairfield, Connecticut.