Oscar Lujan

Oscar Lujan has been a part of the University of Arizona for forty-five years, beginning in 1979 when he was hired by UA’s postal services department. 

It was a “means to an end” job, one that allowed him to support his family while taking UA classes a few units at a time. Over the years. he gained a keen understanding of university protocols, expectations, and relationships while serving as executive director of the UA Hispanic Alumni (UAHA), the Arizona Alumni Association’s program coordinator for the Alumni Multicultural Clubs — including the Asian American Faculty Staff Alumni, American Indian Alumni, UA Black Alumni and UAHA. He also served as the UA Alumni Association’s scholarship coordinator, processing thousands of applications to award scholarships to more than 400 students annually. 

In his tenure overseeing UAHA, Oscar directed the club’s fundraising, its events, and its mentoring/student retention program. He also oversaw UAHA’s scholarship endowment program, valued at more than $1.2 million — the largest scholarship endowment program of its kind among public universities. 

He became an active and loyal member of UAHA before being hired as executive director, serving as corresponding secretary and a mentor and orientation leader for the club’s scholarship/mentoring program. 

More importantly, he used his experience to work directly with students, spearheading the Juntos Podemos Mentoring Program in collaboration with the university’s Chicano/Hispano Student Affairs Office.

Lujan continually works to enhance opportunities for UA students' development and success. He is co-advisor for Gamma Alpha Omega sorority and Sigma Lambda Beta fraternity, UA Latino service organizations. In 2000, Sigma Lambda Beta honored him as Latino of the Year in recognition of his service. Oscar’s community service extends beyond the UA campus, however. He assists — and has been “adopted” — by Los Universitarios, a group of alums who graduated in the 1950s, and is chairperson of the Pueblo High School Class of 1975 50th Reunion Committee.

A native Tucsonan, Mr. Lujan holds a BA in Political Science. But he is most proud of his son, Michael Lujan, and daughter, Elizabeth Lujan Villanes, and his three grandchildren.