Sacramento, California - Continuing his commitment to strengthen California’s systems of higher education and partner with its leaders, Governor Gavin Newsom announced today the formation of the Governor’s Council for Post-Secondary Education. The Council will serve as an independent consultative resource to the Governor around the economic and social impact of higher education in the state. They will examine issues relating to future capacity, enrollment planning, community college transfers, general education and coordination at the state and regional levels, and make recommendations to the Governor for action. In addition to this Council, the Governor has convened – and will continue to engage – higher education advocates and stakeholders to advise him on issues relating to student access, affordability and success.
“The university and community college systems in the state operate in silos,” said Governor Newsom. “To develop best practices and help our students reach their full potential, we need to work together across institutions. I look forward to working with our state’s higher education leaders to set bold statewide goals and partnering together to achieve them.”
- Janet Napolitano, President, University of California
- Timothy White, Chancellor, California State University
- Eloy Ortiz Oakley, Chancellor, California Community Colleges
- Kristen Soares, President, Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities
- Tony Thurmond, California State Superintendent of Public Instruction
- Linda Darling-Hammond, President, California State Board of Education
- Allan Zaremberg, President and Chief Executive Officer, CalChamber
- Art Pulaski, Executive Secretary-Treasurer, California Labor Federation
- Lenny Mendonca, Governor’s Chief Economic and Business Advisor
- Keely Bosler, Director, California Department of Finance
- Lande Ajose, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of the Governor
The Governor also announced several appointees to higher education boards:
Janet Reilly, 55, of San Francisco, has been appointed to the University of California Board of Regents. Reilly has been co-founder and president of the Board of Directors for Clinic by the Bay since 2008. She was appointed by President Barack Obama to be director of The Presidio Trust from 2015 to 2018. Reilly was director of the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District from 2003 to 2015, where she was president of the Board of Directors from 2010 to 2012. She was executive producer and on-air television host of The Mix with Janet Reilly for NBC Bay Area – KNTV from 2014 to 2015, a trustee of the Golden Gate Transit Amalgamated Retirement and Health and Welfare Plans from 2010 to 2015 and director of public relations for Mervyn’s Department Stores from 1997 to 2001. Reilly was a district representative for Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan from 1993 to 1995 and an on-air television reporter and anchor for KGWN-TV from 1990 to 1992. She is an advisory board member of the Walt Disney Family Museum and the Leo T. McCarthy Center for Public Service and the Common Good at USF, and a board member of the Dignity Health Foundation and the local governing board of the Seton Medical Center. Reilly earned a Master of Science degree in journalism from the Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Reilly is a Democrat.
Denise Bradley-Tyson, 60, of Pleasanton, has been appointed to the University of California, Hastings College of the Law Board of Directors. Bradley-Tyson has been founder and chief executive officer of Inspired Lux Inc. since 2015 and principal consultant at Denise Bradley Consulting since 2007. She led the opening on the Museum of the African Diaspora, where she was executive director from 2005 to 2007. She is a member of Links Incorporated, the Harvard Alumni Association and the Stanford Alumni Association. Bradley-Tyson earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Bradley-Tyson is a Democrat.
Albert “Chip” Zecher, 54, of San Francisco, has been appointed to the University of California, Hastings College of the Law Board of Directors. Zecher has been general counsel of Intevac Inc. since 2013. He was director of compliance at Comtech Xicom Technology from 2008 to 2013. Zecher was civil litigation partner at Pond North LLP from 2002 to 2006 and litigation associate at the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies from 1995 to 2002. Zecher is chair of the Board of Trustees of the Harker School. Zecher earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Zecher is a Democrat.
Maryana Khames, 18, of El Cajon, has been appointed to the California State University Board of Trustees. Khames has been a student assistant at the Center for Student Success in Engineering and a justice on the Judicial Affairs Council for Associated Students at San Diego State University since 2018 and a marketing intern at Partners in College Success since 2019. She was a district representative for the Office of California State Senator Joel Anderson from 2016 to 2017. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Khames is a Democrat.
Jeffrey Krinsk, 70, of San Diego, has been appointed to the California State University Board of Trustees. Krinsk has been chief executive officer and managing partner of Finkelstein and Krinsk since 2005. He was chairman and chief executive officer of Fabulous Inn America Inc. from 1985 to 1987, president of licensing at Guess? Inc. from 1983 to 1985 and vice president and general counsel at Hang Ten International from 1978 to 1983. Krinsk was executive officer at Norton and Christensen from 1975 to 1977. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Boston University School of Law. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Krinsk is a Democrat.
Romey Sabalius, 56, of San Jose, has been reappointed to the California State University Board of Trustees, where he has served since 2017. Sabalius has been a professor in the Department of World Language and Literatures and coordinator of the German Program at San Jose State University since 2003, where he was an assistant professor from 1995 to 1998 and an associate professor from 1998 to 2003. He was a visiting professor at Monash University from 1999 to 2000 and an assistant professor at Utah State University from 1992 to 1995. Sabalius was a visiting assistant professor at Vassar College in 1992 and instructor at the University of California, Los Angeles Extension in 1991. Before his appointment to the Board of Trustees, he was a member of the San Jose State University Academic Senate, the Academic Senate of the California State University and the California Faculty Association, San Jose State University Chapter, Executive Board. Sabalius earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in German literature and a Master of Arts degree in German literature from the University of Southern California and a Master of Arts degree in German literature from the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Sabalius is a Democrat.
Felicia Escobar Carrillo, 42, of Los Angeles, has been appointed to the California Community Colleges Board of Governors. Escobar Carrillo has been director of immigration for the Beacon Fund since 2017. She was a consultant for the implementation of the Los Angeles Justice Fund for the California Community Foundation from 2017 to 2019, special assistant to the President for immigration policy at the White House from 2014 to 2017 and senior policy director for the Domestic Policy Council at the White House from 2012 to 2014. Escobar Carrillo was senior legislative assistant to U.S. Senator Ken Salazar from 2004 to 2007 and associate director of the Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee from 2003 to 2005. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law and a Master of Public Policy degree from the Harvard Kennedy School. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Escobar Carrillo is a Democrat.
Colm Fitzgerald, 19, of Stockton, has been appointed to the California Community Colleges Board of Governors. Fitzgerald has been a student at San Joaquin Delta College since 2018 and vice chair of communications for the Student Senate for California Community Colleges since 2019. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Fitzgerald is a Democrat.
Alma Salazar, 45, of Long Beach, has been appointed to the California Community Colleges Board of Governors. Salazar has been senior vice president of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce since 2014. She held multiple positions at the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, including vice president from 2008 to 2014 and director from 2000 to 2008. She earned a Doctor of Education degree in educational leadership and a Master of Public Policy degree from California State University, Long Beach. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Salazar is a Democrat.
