October 21, 2026 – San Diego, CA – San Diego Foundation (SDF) today announced three leadership promotions and a new hire to strengthen its work in education, family well-being, environmental initiatives and philanthropy.
The leadership appointments are:
- Allan Gamboa, promoted to director of Family Well-Being.
- Miguel Lopez, promoted to director of Development.
- Cecilia Morales, promoted to director of College Success.
- Emily Wier, hired as director of Environmental Initiatives.
As the largest community foundation in San Diego County, SDF brings donors, nonprofits and community partners together to expand opportunities and improve quality of life across the region.
“Cecilia, Allan, Emily and Miguel share a deep commitment to San Diego and to making a difference in our communities,” said Mark Stuart, president and CEO of San Diego Foundation. “Whether they’re helping a first-generation student finish college, connecting families to care, tackling pollution in the Tijuana River Valley or helping donors turn their generosity into lasting community impact, they’re efforts are making our region stronger.”
Cecilia Morales, Director of College Success
Cecilia leads SDF’s efforts to help more students across San Diego County enter college, persist and earn a degree. Her work focuses on students furthest from opportunity, partnering with schools, colleges and community organizations to strengthen pathways from kindergarten through college and into careers that strengthen their families and communities.
Before assuming her new role, Cecilia served as senior manager of Education Initiatives. Prior to joining SDF, she worked in higher education and college access, engaging donors, institutional leaders and first-generation college students. Cecilia earned bachelor’s degrees in ethnic studies and sociology from UC San Diego and a master’s degree in postsecondary educational leadership from San Diego State University. Born and raised in Barrio Logan and Southeast San Diego, she now lives in City Heights.
Allan Gamboa, Director of Family Well-Being
Allan leads SDF’s work to advance health equity and improve the health of children and families across the region. He brings a decade of experience in community health centers and health programming.
Allan previously served as assistant director of Family Well-Being. Before joining SDF, Allan was a program director at the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations, where he focused on reducing barriers to care in under-resourced communities disproportionately affected by diabetes. He also served as associate clinic director for Family Health Centers of San Diego and clinic supervisor for La Clínica de La Raza in Oakland, overseeing clinic operations and helping connect health care with social services.
Allan holds a master’s degree in health care administration and interprofessional leadership from the University of California, San Francisco, and a bachelor’s degree in public health science from the University of California, Irvine.
Miguel Lopez, CFRE, Director, Philanthropic Advisor
Miguel helps donors connect their generosity with the causes they care about, from building personal giving plans to exploring legacy gifts. His approach starts with listening and making giving feel personal and approachable.
In more than a decade at SDF, Miguel has worked in philanthropic planning and community grantmaking, most recently as senior manager of development. He co-leads the El Camino Fund, which brings donors and nonprofit partners together to help support entrepreneurs, and previously served on the board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals San Diego Chapter.
Raised in central San Diego, Miguel mentors through Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County. He is bilingual in English and Spanish, holds the Certified Fund Raising Executive credential and earned a bachelor’s degree in business management from California State University, Northridge.
Emily Wier, Director of Environmental Initiatives
Emily leads SDF’s environmental initiatives and grantmaking, working with community partners to address climate change, coastal resilience, outdoor access, and water and air pollution in the Tijuana River Valley. With more than a decade of experience working on environmental issues in San Diego County, she brings partners together to advance solutions that protect the environment and improve quality of life.
Before joining SDF, Emily was chief policy and strategy officer for the Policy & Innovation Center, an SDF affiliate, where she helped secure federal and state funding for the region and launched pilot projects to address water pollution. Earlier, as policy director for the former District 4 county supervisor, she led the county’s climate and environmental agenda, including the Climate Action Plan and the Electric Vehicle Roadmap. Her experience also includes government affairs at a climate technology company, environmental consulting and an internship with the White House Domestic Policy Council during the Obama administration.
Emily was appointed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom to the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board. She holds a master’s degree in environmental management from Yale University and a bachelor’s degree in biology from Tufts University.
About San Diego Foundation
San Diego Foundation believes in just, equitable and resilient communities where every San Diegan can prosper, thrive and feel like they belong. We partner with donors, nonprofits and regional leaders to advance solutions that respond to community needs and strengthen San Diego. Since 1975, SDF has granted more than $2 billion to nonprofits to improve quality of life in San Diego County and beyond. Learn more at SDFoundation.org.
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