Building Futures: How One Alumnus Turned Experience into Impact

Randal Lunsford

Randal Lunsford (BA ’78, EMBA ’11) was raised in Carlsbad, New Mexico, and earned his undergraduate degree in accounting in Oklahoma before settling in Albuquerque to begin a successful banking career. Randy credits much of his success to the Executive MBA program at UNM. To help others experience the program and the opportunities it provides, he has chosen to give back to UNM through his estate plan by making UNM the beneficiary of a gift of real estate—a condo in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

It all started with a KOB radio ad for Anderson School of Management’s Executive MBA program at UNM. Designed for mid-career professionals, the two-year, weekend-based cohort program caught Randy’s attention. He enrolled, paid out of pocket, and used vacation days to attend classes while serving as CFO of a banking institution.

Randy and his classmates tackled challenging coursework, collaborated on team projects, and traveled to China. “You meet people you wouldn’t normally meet,” he says. “It’s like a leadership conference. Everyone already has a degree and wants to do something better.” The experience created lifelong friendships and a strong professional network.

One week after graduation, Randy’s board expressed interest in promoting him to CEO if he had an MBA. They didn’t know he had earned the degree days earlier. That promotion and experience shaped the philosophy he carries as a teacher and a leader. Randy says, “It’s important that the business community sends their up-and-coming employees who can benefit from the Executive MBA program.”

Randal Lunsford

Later, Randy and fellow alumni formed an LLC and invested in property near UNM. When they sold it seven years later, he used his share to fulfill a long-held dream: buying a vacation home in Puerto Vallarta.

Now in his twelfth year as CEO of Southwest Federal Credit Union, Randy has guided it through a major merger and has also spent 25 years teaching part-time—including for the Executive MBA program. Teaching reminds him how impactful his professors were on his life. “Education should make you a better person,” he says, “someone more equipped to deal with the world.”

A seasoned traveler who has visited 33 countries, Randy believes in the power of global perspective and encourages students to explore the world. “Travel opens your mind and changes how you see the world,” he says.

His giving philosophy is simple: “You don’t have to give today. Think about the legacy you want to leave and choose something close to your heart.”