Sam Lagana has been appointed Chancellor of Catholic Polytechnic University.
Long-time Palisades resident, Pacific Palisades Honorary Sheriff and the stadium “Voice” of the L.A. Rams, Sam Lagana was appointed as the inaugural Chancellor of Catholic Polytechnic University (CatholicPoly).
The University, which was approved by Archbishop Gomez in 2020 and by the state of California in December 2023, focuses on STEM teachings and was initially developed as an online-first model. At present, the institution offers two approved bachelor’s and master’s degrees in computer science, with a strong emphasis on artificial intelligence.
The university’s mission, “to promote the intersection of faith and science,” has 25 Catholic scientist and engineers from institutions such as NASA, Caltech, MIT, Stanford and USC. The tuition at this university is currently donation-based. “We care for our students and reject the idea that accumulating debit is necessary to obtain a higher education,” the school’s website explains.
“CatholicPoly is building something extraordinary — a university where faith and the most transformative technologies of our era come together,” Lagana said. “I am honored to serve as Chancellor and committed to helping build the foundation that will allow this institution to flourish for generations to come.”
Laganà was President & CEO of Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, where he oversaw day-to-day operations, the overall annual operating budget and the endowment, and led campaigns that constructed a multimillion-dollar STEAM Center.
Prior to that, he served for two decades at Pepperdine University, culminating as Associate Vice Chancellor for Advancement & Public Affairs, where he made substantial contributions to the university’s major gift, estate planning, and corporate partnership strategies.
As Chancellor, Laganà will work in support of Founding President & CEO, Jennifer Nolan, Ph.D., to lead fundraising and advancement strategies, and build and mentor a development team. He will also serve on the university’s governing board, contributing strategic vision to the institution’s long-term trajectory and scale his role and commitment to expand alongside the institution’s growth.
About Lagana, Nolan said, “Sam Laganà is exactly the kind of leader CatholicPoly needs at this pivotal moment in our history. His proven ability to build lasting donor relationships, inspire communities, and translate institutional vision into tangible results will be invaluable as we grow.”
Laganà received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Loyola Marymount and his master’s degree in business from Pepperdine University’s Graziadio Business School. He is an active member of Corpus Christi Catholic Church and in September 2025 received the Catholic Charities of Los Angeles Humanitarian Award.
Lagana’s deep roots in Los Angeles — span roles at California State Universities Dominguez Hills and Northridge, the Los Angeles Athletic Club, and as a long-standing board leader for the John R. Wooden Award Foundation and the Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Commission.
“My appointment, along with a broader team, will continue to develop in step with the institution’s growth, particularly as we expand or effort in research, academic programming and public engagement,” Lagana said. In addition to assisting in the University’s growth, he will work towards fostering relationships with individuals as well as K–12 schools and districts, foundations, trusts, and grant-making organizations.