Dear LMU Community:
I am heartbroken to share that Christian Sosa ’26, a recent marketing graduate, died tragically in a small-plane crash on Sept. 7, 2026, near the Bahamas. His grandfather, Mario Lamar; his grandmother, Lili Lamar; and his sister, Sofia, also died in the crash. Christian was 22.
Christian brought tremendous creativity and energy to his life at LMU. As a student of the LMU M-School program, he was an active and inspiring presence. Christian represented CBA in the Effie Collegiate Brand Challenge in New York City this past May, where he helped the LMU team capture both first- and second-place honors against teams from universities across the country.
In his senior year, Christian worked in the Study Abroad Office, and as a junior, he studied in Madrid, where he began an ongoing portrait series, Talk to Strangers, which included written entries. He continued the project on every trip he took, and his work can be viewed on See Sosa Art.
Christian dreamed of photographing professional football. Last year, he fulfilled that dream through connections he made during the LMU Mentorship and Internship programs with the Los Angeles Rams, and eventually became a freelance photographer for the team. For the past three years, he also shared his talents as a photographer for LMU Athletics.
Christian was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity and participated in an extraordinary range of student organizations spanning business, culture, sports, fashion, wellness, and the outdoors. The breadth of his involvement reflects how fully he embraced the LMU community and how many members of our community feel his loss.
As we grieve, please remember that support is available. Students may contact Student Psychological Services, Community of Care, Campus Ministry, and the Dean of Students during this difficult time. Student Psychological Services also offers TimelyCare, a teletherapy service staffed by licensed providers. Faculty and staff may seek support from the Employee Assistance Program or the Center for Ignatian Spirituality.
Details about a celebration of Christian’s life will be shared once arrangements are finalized.
Please keep Christian, his parents, his family and friends, and fellow Lions in your thoughts and prayers.
With care,
Thomas Poon, Ph.D.
President and Professor