Loyola Marymount University has announced the appointment of veteran Indian American infrastructure executive Vini Bhargava as its new vice president for facilities management and planning, effective July 27.
Bhargava joins the private university in Los Angeles, California with extensive institutional experience spanning higher education, corporate technology, real estate, and public-sector environments. In her new role, she will oversee the university’s campus planning, capital development, and infrastructure strategies.
University officials stated that the appointment follows a shift toward a more integrated vision for campus development.
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“Vini Bhargava’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment for LMU Facilities Management and Planning, which is evolving to reflect a broader and more integrated vision for how we ideate and develop the university campus of the future,” John Kiralla, LMU executive vice president and chief operating officer, said. He noted that Bhargava understands successful facilities organizations are ultimately driven by trust, communication, and service.
She most recently served as the associate vice president for planning, real estate, and facilities at Northeastern University’s Oakland campus. In that position, she managed operations, sustainability, utilities, and engineering across a 135-acre campus featuring 67 buildings.
Her career also includes previous leadership roles at Google, the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of California Office of the President. During her tenures there, she directed large-scale infrastructure projects, environmental sustainability policies, and seismic resilience initiatives.
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Bhargava holds a strong foundational background in technical design and engineering. She earned a Bachelor of Architecture from the Birla Institute of Technology in India, followed by a Master of Science in construction engineering and management from the Illinois Institute of Technology.
Additionally, Bhargava holds a commercial real estate certificate from Cornell University. She is a certified Project Management Professional and a LEED-accredited professional, reflecting a specialized focus on sustainable building standards.
Bhargava emphasized the necessity for educational institutions to adapt to broader societal and technological shifts. She also noted that while physical infrastructure is foundational to a university, the central objective of campus strategy remains focused on human development.
“While buildings and infrastructure matter, our work is ultimately about people — creating environments where students, faculty, and staff can thrive,” Bhargava said.