SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — On Wednesday, Calif. Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced the following appointments: First, Alisha Griffin, 65, of Yardley, Pennsylvania, has been appointed director of the California Department of Child Support Services. Griffin has been director of the Office of Child Support Services at the New Jersey Department of Human Services since 1998, where she has served in multiple positions since 1987, including administrator at the Office of Case Practice and Emergency Services and regional administrator for the Division of Youth and Family Central Region.
She is a member of the National Council of Child Support Directors, the National Child Support Enforcement Association and the American Public Human Services Association. Griffin earned a Master of Science degree in clinical psychology and a Master of Arts degree in community psychology from the University of Bridgeport. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $154,615. Griffin is a Democrat.
Dan Burch, 47, of Turlock, has been reappointed to the California Commission on Emergency Medical Services, where he has served since 2013. Burch has been administrator at the San Joaquin County Emergency Medical Services Agency since 2005. He was a coordinator at the Tuolumne County Emergency Medical Services Agency from 1997 to 2005 and a quality improvement coordinator at the Alpine, Mother Lode, San Joaquin Emergency Medical Services Agency from 1991 to 1997. Burch served in the U.S. Navy as a hospital corpsman 3rd class from 1984 to 1986. He is president of the Emergency Medical Services Administrators’ Association of California. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Burch is a Republican.
John Buck, 62, of Folsom, has been reappointed to the California Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, where he has served since 2013. Buck has been CEO at Turning Point Community Programs since 1985, where he has held multiple positions since 1977, including rehabilitation director and counselor. He is a member of the Rotary Club of Sacramento and treasurer on the Proxy Parent Foundation Board of Directors. Buck earned a Master of Business Administration degree from National University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Buck is a Democrat.
David Gordon, 67, of Sacramento, has been appointed to the California Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, where he has served since 2013. Gordon has been superintendent at the Sacramento County Office of Education since 2004. He served at the Elk Grove Unified School District as superintendent from 1995 to 2004 and assistant superintendent for elementary education from 1991 to 1995. Gordon served at the California Department of Education as deputy superintendent from 1985 to 1991 and associate superintendent from 1983 to 1985. He earned a Master of Education degree from Harvard University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Gordon is a Democrat.
Susan Husari, 60, of San Rafael, has been appointed to the California State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection. Husari served as a pacific west regional fire management officer for the U.S. National Park Service from 2002 to 2012 and held multiple positions at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service from 1991 to 2002, including deputy director of fire and aviation management and assistant director of fire and aviation management. Husari served in multiple positions at Everglades National Park from 1987 to 1991, including fire management officer and assistant fire management officer and was a forestry technician at Pinnacles National Park from 1981 to 1983. She was a firefighter and engine operator at Lassen National Forest from 1976 to 1981 and a seasonal firefighter at Klamath National Forest in 1975. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Husari is a Democrat.
Jacqueline Jackson, 58, of San Diego, has been appointed to the California State Rehabilitation Council. Jackson has been an independent nonprofit management consultant since 1994. She was development director and consultant at the San Diego Center for the Blind from 2002 to 2004, director for charter school development at Norman and Norman Inc. from 1996 to 2005 and an education consultant for the Schools Future Research Foundation from 1994 to 1996. Jackson was director of education, health and family support services for the Urban League San Diego from 1988 to 1994. She is an appointed member of the California State Independent Living Council and a member of the San Diego Braille Club and the California Council of the Blind. Jackson earned a Master of Nonprofit Leadership and Management degree from the University of San Diego. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Jackson is a Democrat.
Rosanna Johansen, 62, of Redding, has been reappointed to Area Board II of the California State Council on Developmental Disabilities, where she has served since 2010. Johansen has been a peer instructor at the We Care A Lot Foundation since 2010, where she has been a self-advocate for the Abuse Prevention Team since 2001 and was a self-advocate for the Consumer Abuse Awareness Team from 2001 to 2014 and for Feeling Safe, Being Safe from 2008 to 2010. She was president of People First of California in 1994 and is sergeant-at- arms of the Shasta County chapter. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Johansen is a Democrat.
