SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. on Tuesday announced the following appointments. First, Manuel Baca, 63, of Diamond Bar, has been appointed to the California Community College Board of Governors, where he has served since 2009. He has been a professor at Rio Hondo College since 1997.
Baca served as vice president of student services for Rio Hondo College from 1991 to 1997 and director of the extended opportunity program and services, financial aid and veteran’s services from 1982 to 1991. He received his doctorate in education from the University of Southern California. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Baca is a Democrat.
Joseph Bielanski, 61, of San Francisco, has been appointed to the California Community College Board of Governors. Bielanski has been an institutional effectiveness coordinator for the Peralta Community College District and articulation officer at Berkeley City College since 2009. He was president of the district academic senate at Peralta Community College District from 2004 to 2009 and president of the academic senate for Berkeley City College from 2005 to 2009, after serving as co-president from 2003 to 2005. He was an articulation officer at Vista Community College from 2000 to 2004. Bielanski received his doctorate of education from St. Mary’s College. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Bielanski is a Democrat.
Jeffrey Callison, 50, of Placer, has been appointed press secretary of media relations at the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Callison has been a radio host of a daily public affairs program at Capital Public Radio since 2004. He was a news director for Capital Public Radio from 2000 to 2004 after working as a radio host and reporter there from 1996 to 2000. He was communications director for the California Wild Heritage Campaign in 2000. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $102,015. Callison is not registered to vote.
Kathleen Dickinson, 52, of Vacaville, has been appointed associate director of the division of adult institutions at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Dickinson has worked for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation since 1964, serving most recently as warden at the California Medical Facility. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $134,964. Dickinson is a Republican.
Brigid Hanson, 56, of Cameron Park, has been appointed assistant secretary of labor relations at the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Hanson has been the associate director of human resources at the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation since 2010. She has served in multiple positions at the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation since 1997, including the director of administration at the Division of Juvenile Justice. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $119,232. Hanson is a Democrat.
Michael Kirst, 72, of Stanford, has been reappointed to the Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education, where he has served since May 2011. He is a professor emeritus at Stanford University, where he has taught since 1969. He currently serves as president of the State Board of Education. He received his doctorate in political economy from Harvard University. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Kirst is a Democrat.
Jason Lopez, 40, of Sacramento, has been appointed associate director of the budget management branch at the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Currently, Lopez is the deputy director of fiscal and operations in the Department of Health at Yolo County. He worked at the California Rural Indian Health Board from 2001 to 2011, serving most recently as chief financial officer. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $107,297. Lopez is a Democrat.
Tim Rainey, 42, of Elk Grove, has been appointed executive director at the California Workforce Investment Board. Rainey has been the executive director at the Workforce and Economic Development Program at the California Labor Federation since 2005. He was policy director at the California Workforce Association from 1998 to 2005 and a consultant at the California State Senate Majority Caucus from 1998 to 1999. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $128,196. Rainey is a Democrat.
Jurena Storm, 37, of Oakland, has been appointed as a student representative to the California Community College Board of Governors. Storm is dual enrolled at the College of Alameda and the University of California, Berkeley. She has served as the communications officer for the California Community College Association of Student Trustees and a member on the board of trustees for the Peralta Community Colleges District from 2010 to 2011. She has also worked with the College of Alameda Associated Students serving as secretary from 2008 to 2009 and vice president of administration from 2009 to 2010. Storm also served as chair elect, secretary and interim senator for the Student Senate for California Community Colleges, Region III in 2010. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Storm is a Democrat.
Lindsey Wathen, 32, of West Sacramento, has been appointed deputy secretary for women veterans to the California Department of Veterans Affairs. Wathen has served as the veterans benefit advisor for California State University, Sacramento since 2010. She was the lead certifying official and admissions clerk for American River College from 2008 to 2010. Wathen was a petty officer, first class serving as a cryptologic technician interpretive for the United States Navy from 1997 to 2005. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $73,860. Wathen is a Democrat.
John Wordlaw, 43, of Sacramento, has been appointed deputy director of fiscal services for the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Wordlaw has been deputy director for the California Office of Systems Integration since 2010. He was a principal program budget analyst at the California Department of Finance from 2007 to 2010, after serving as a data processing manager from 2001 to 2007. Wordlaw was a legislative analyst for the California State Employment Development Department from 1991 to 2001. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $125,564. Wordlaw is a Democrat.
Rosalind Wyman, 81, of Los Angeles, has been appointed to the California Arts Council. Wyman is currently the president of the James A. Doolittle Foundation. She serves on the board of the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, the Music Center of Los Angeles, and the Thelma Pearl Howard Foundation. Wyman was the youngest person ever elected to the Los Angeles City Council and served from 1953 to 1965. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Wyman is a Democrat.
Ning Yang, 24, of Sacramento, has been appointed as a student representative to the California Community College Board of Governors. Yang is currently pursuing a degree in psychology at Mendocino College. Yang has served as general assembly planning committee chair and a senator for the Student Senate for California Community Colleges, Region II since 2010. She also served as a housing programs representative for the Community Development Commission of Mendocino County in 2010 and student president for Mendocino College form 2008 to 2009. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Yang is a Democrat.
