Governor Newsom appoints four California State University Trustees
August 20, 2021
On August 20, 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom appointed four California State University Trustees.
According to the announcement release from the governor’s office, “Maria G. Linares, 36, of Tustin, has been appointed to the California State University Board of Trustees. Linares was a Member of the California State University, Fullerton Associated Students Inc. Board of Directors from 2018 to 2021 and served as Chair there from 2020 to 2021. Linares is a Member of Psi Beta Honor Society in Psychology.”
Maria Linares is a first-generation Latina, raised in an immigrant household in a working-class neighborhood in Orange County CA. She is a wife, a mother, a Girl Scout volunteer, an experienced and passionate student advocate and formerly served as the Associated Students, Inc (ASI) Board of Directors, Chair at California State University, Fullerton. In 2019, she received her Bachelors in Sociology with a minor in Political Science and is currently a graduate student in the MPA program at CSU Fullerton. Her professional accomplishments include advocacy for an on-campus food pantry, credit/no credit during the pandemic, sponsoring several resolutions, increasing scholarships for undocumented students, support for formerly incarcerated and international students, expansion of mental health resources, incorporating a Social Justice & Equity commission, and advocacy for graduate students. In 2019, she was recognized as the ASI Student Advocate of the Year for her extraordinary commitment to students.
She hopes to work in higher education advocating for students through legislation. In five years, she sees herself applying for a Ph.D in public policy or working in legislative affairs.
Cal State Student Association (CSSA) leadership looks forward to working with Student Trustee Linares as a partner in advocating for the nearly half a million students of the CSU system.
The Governor’s announcement release also stated the appointment of two new Trustees and reappointed Faculty Trustee Romey Sabalius.
“Julia I. Lopez, 73, of San Francisco, has been appointed to the California State University Board of Trustees. Lopez was President and CEO at the College Futures Foundation from 2008 to 2017. She held multiple positions at The Rockefeller Foundation from 1992 to 2005, including Senior Vice President, Vice President and Director of Working Communities. Lopez was General Manager at the San Francisco Department of Social Services from 1988 to 1992. She held multiple positions in the California State Legislature from 1980 to 1988, including Chief Consultant, Principal Consultant for the Assembly Ways and Means Committee and Program Analyst for the Legislative Analyst’s Office. Lopez was Deputy Director for Legislation at the Employment Development Department in 1982. She held multiple positions working for the State of New Mexico from 1970 to 1978, including Director of Administrative Services at the Department of Criminal Justice, Deputy Director at the Criminal Justice Council, Grants Manager at the Criminal Justice Council and Analyst at the State Personnel Board. Lopez is a Board Member of The Bridgespan Group, One Future Coachella Valley and KQED; Council Member of California Competes; and Chair of The Christensen Fund, San Francisco. She earned a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Public Policy.
Yammilette Rodriguez, 45, of Fresno, has been appointed to the California State University Board of Trustees. Rodriguez has been National Trainer and Consultant for the Youth Leadership Institute since 2020. She was Central Valley Senior Director at the Youth Leadership Institute from 2009 to 2020 and Central Valley Regional Director at Latino Issues Forum from 2008 to 2009. Rodriguez was a Governmental Relations Consultant at PG&E from 2007 to 2008. She was Director of Admissions at Fresno Pacific University from 2001 to 2007. Rodriguez was a District Representative in the Office of California State Assemblymember Sarah Reyes from 1999 to 2001. She is a Member of the Board of Directors at the Vesper Society, Hispanas Organized for Political Equality Advisory Board and the Central Valley Latino Leaders Academy Founding Board. Rodriguez earned a Master of Arts degree in Leadership and Organizational Studies from Fresno Pacific University.
Romey Sabalius, 58, of San Jose, has been reappointed to the California State University Board of Trustees. Sabalius has been Faculty Trustee for the California State University Board of Trustees since 2017. He has been a Professor at San Jose State University since 1995. Sabalius was an Assistant Professor at Utah State University from 1992 to 1995 and a Visiting Assistant Professor at Vassar College in 1992. He was a Guest Professor at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia in 1999 and 2000. Sabalius earned a Master of Arts degree in German from the University of Southern California, a Master of Arts degree in German from Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in German from the University of Southern California.”
We are excited to continue our partnership and conversations with Faculty Trustee Sabalius. CSSA also looks forward to meeting and working with Trustees Lopez and Rodriguez in finding ways to support the institution and the students it serves.
