Scott Palanjian serves as the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Marketing and Communications at Loyola Marymount University, where he leads the strategic direction for the Lions' brand, fan engagement, and department-wide communication efforts.
A veteran leader with over 20 years of experience in collegiate athletics and the sports entertainment industry, Palanjian joined LMU following a successful tenure at the University of Florida. As the Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing and Promotions for the Gators, he led a team responsible for the game presentation and marketing of all 21 varsity sports. His impact in Gainesville was highlighted by 18 consecutive football sellouts, which was the program’s longest streak in 14 years. He also drove a 9.3% increase in men’s basketball attendance with 19 sellouts dating back to December 2024. He oversaw the Gators men’s basketball run through the 2025 National Championship and was the creative architect behind high-profile brand activations, including “Tom Petty Day at The Swamp,” the rejuvenation of “GatorBoys,” and Gatorade’s 60th Anniversary at Florida Football.
Prior to his time at Florida, Palanjian built a robust professional portfolio with leadership roles at UCLA, UNC-Chapel Hill, and UCF. During his five years at UCLA, he led initiatives such as the UCLA Athletics partnership with Under Armour and the Bruins Centennial Campaign, as well as the UCLA men’s basketball team’s improbable run to the Final Four in 2021. His diverse background also includes significant experience in the private sector and professional sports, having held marketing and event roles with Anheuser-Busch, the Washington Wizards, the XFL, and HBO.
A former football student-athlete at Wake Forest, Palanjian earned his bachelor’s degree in Communication from the University of Maryland and later a master’s degree in Sport Administration from UNC-Chapel Hill. Originally from the Philadelphia area, he now resides in the South Bay.
