Fundraising Committee Co-Chair

Bhanu Anton Cruz is the Senior Associate Dean and Chief Development Officer of the USC School of Cinematic Arts’ (SCA). She leads the SCA’s Office of Advancement and External Relations team, which is responsible for the fundraising efforts across seven academic divisions and manages a team that includes major gift and annual fundraising as well as alumni relations.

Previously, she served as Assistant Dean for the SCA Office of Advancement, Senior Associate Director of Advancement for USC’s Dornsife College and managed boards for the USC Brain and Creativity Institute and two USC-Huntington Institutes. Her career spans over thirty years at USC, and in addition to fundraising, includes admissions and student life.

Bhanu is an accomplished leader with an extensive background in nonprofit management, student development, and philanthropy. As a first-generation college graduate raised by a single mother, working to provide pathways to access and afford higher education has fueled her professional life.

She earned an executive master’s degree in leadership from USC’s Sol Price School of Public Policy and her undergraduate degree in Journalism/Public Relations from USC’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.

In her free time, Bhanu loves spending time with her family, including her two rescue puppies—Teddy and Mia—as well as traveling, trying new restaurants, and being a loyal USC Trojan sports fan.