November 2022

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Nov. 9, 2022—Santa Clara University announced today that Lawrence Lokman has been named vice president of marketing and communications. Lokman will report directly to Julie Sullivan, president of Santa Clara University, and serve on the president’s leadership team with responsibility for all brand, marketing, public relations, social media, and stakeholder communications.

A native of California, Lokman will join Santa Clara on January 17, 2023, following eight years as vice president for strategic communications at Pennsylvania State University. While at Penn State, Lokman led the creation of award-winning brand, identity, and public-relations campaigns and established and oversaw the university’s crisis communications program over 20 campuses. With more than 30 years of proven marketing and communications leadership, Lokman’s career has spanned public relations firms, advocacy organizations, and academic institutions. He also led communications at the University of California, Los Angeles, for eight years as associate vice chancellor, university communications and public outreach, where he launched a series of nationally acclaimed advertising, advocacy and social media campaigns.

Lokman will serve as Santa Clara’s first vice president of marketing and communications, a cabinet position created by President Sullivan, who joined Santa Clara July 1. The position was created to help advance recognition of Santa Clara University and attract Broncos, partners, and collaborators in its next phase of growth. 

“I am thrilled to welcome Lawrence to Santa Clara University and our leadership team,” said Sullivan. “He’s a proven builder of highly effective teams and programs, and his impressive marketing and communications experience will elevate our work to engage others in our distinctively Jesuit, Catholic education. His inclusive style, ‘we’ mentality, and natural curiosity will prove advantageous as we continue to connect our stakeholders with the trajectory of our world-class university.”

Lokman earned his bachelor’s degree in international relations from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel. He is a member of The Arthur W. Page Society, an association of chief communications officers who seek to enrich and strengthen their profession, and previously served on several nonprofit boards focused on access to health care and child and family services. 

The decision to recommend Lawrence following an extensive national search was unanimous, said Jim Lyons, vice president for university relations and search committee chair.

“Lawrence’s impressive track record in both academia and industry make him an especially compelling candidate,” said Lyons. “Having worked in complex, matrixed organizations, Lawrence uniquely understands the importance of trust and collaboration in uniting an entire community behind a distinctive vision and voice. He will be an outstanding addition to our leadership and marketing and communication teams, and I join our entire search committee in welcoming him to Santa Clara University.”

“Santa Clara University’s unique educational model, values, history, and aspirations inspire me, as does the palpable sense of community that has been evident throughout the process,” said Lokman. "It is a privilege to join such a dedicated and talented leadership team. I want to thank President Sullivan and the search committee for this opportunity to help continue generating recognition and support for this great institution. I can’t wait to start.”  

About Santa Clara University
Founded in 1851, Santa Clara University sits in the heart of Silicon Valley—the world’s most innovative and entrepreneurial region. The University’s stunningly landscaped 106-acre campus is home to the historic Mission Santa Clara de Asís. Ranked among the top 15 percent of national universities by U.S. News & World Report, SCU has among the best four-year graduation rates in the nation and is rated by PayScale in the top 1 percent of universities with the highest-paid graduates. SCU has produced elite levels of Fulbright Scholars as well as four Rhodes Scholars. With undergraduate programs in arts and sciences, business, and engineering, and graduate programs in six disciplines, the curriculum blends high-tech innovation with social consciousness grounded in the tradition of Jesuit, Catholic education. For more information see www.scu.edu. 

Media Contact
Deepa Arora | SCU Media Communications | darora@scu.edu | 408-554-5125