In 2011, the University of California Center Sacramento established the Governance Fellow Program to help inspire students to a career in public service. Fellows are former elected officials who have dedicated a large part of their careers to serving their communities and the state of California. Appointed to one-year terms, Fellows advise and mentor students enrolled in the UC Center Sacramento program.

 2024

Tani Cantil-Sakauye

Tani Cantil-Sakauye served as the 28th Chief Justice of the State of California from 2010 to 2023. She was the first Asian-Filipina American and second woman to serve as the state’s chief justice. Prior to her service as chief justice, Cantil-Sakauye served more than 20 years on California trial and appellate courts. She has played an active role in numerous nonprofits, community and professional organizations, including the California Judges Association, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, and the Sacramento Asian Bar Association. Cantil-Sakauye attended Sacramento City College before graduating with honors from UC Davis. She later received her law degree from the School of Law at UC Davis. She currently serves as the President and CEO of the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC).     

 2023

Catharine Baker

Catharine Baker served in the California State Assembly representing the 16th Assembly District from 2014 to 2018. She serves as a commissioner with the California Fair Political Practices Commission, which administers and enforces California’s government ethics laws. She currently practices law at Hoge Fenton, where she advises businesses and non-profits and practices election law, and serves on the boards of numerous non-profit organizations. Baker received her law degree from Berkeley School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago.  

2022

Diana Dooley

Diana Dooley served as secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency and then chief of staff to Governor Jerry Brown before retiring in 2019. Previously, she was CEO of the California Children’s Hospital Association in Sacramento. She also founded a public relations and advertising agency in Visalia, worked in private law practice, and served as general counsel and vice president of Valley Children’s Hospital. She began her professional career as an analyst at the State Personnel Board, before serving as deputy legislative secretary and then legislative secretary in Governor Brown’s first administration. She received her bachelor’s degree in social science from California State University, Fresno, and her law degree from the San Joaquin College of Law.

2021

E. Dotson Wilson

Mr. Wilson began his career as an Assembly Fellow in 1979, and then served on the staff of Speaker Willie L. Brown, Jr., eventually rising to the position of Deputy Chief of Staff.  He was elected Chief Clerk and Parliamentarian on January 6, 1992, and with his 27-year tenure is the longest continually serving Assembly Chief Clerk in California history. We invite you to join us as we honor Mr. Wilson and his incredible career in public service.

 2020

Fran Pavley

Fran Pavley served 29 years in elected office. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Pavley was elected the first mayor of Agoura Hills in 1982, and served 14 years in the California Assembly and the State Senate. She is working as the Environmental Policy Director for the USC Schwarzenegger Institute, and serves on several state and local advisory boards and committees.

2019

2018

Lois Wolk

Lois Wolk was elected as a member of Davis City Council in 1990 and served until 1998. In 1998, Wolk was elected to the Yolo County Board of Supervisors. She was elected to the California State Assembly in 2002, where she represented the 8th District until 2008, when she was elected to the California State Senate. She represented Districts 5 and 3 until 2016. She currently serves as the 2018 UCCS Governance Fellow.

 

 

 2017

Kristin Olsen

Kristin Olsen sat on the Modesto City Council from 2005 to 2010. She served the 12th district in the State Assembly from 2010 to 2016. While in office, she was the Assembly Republican leader from 2014 to 2016. Olsen is the UCCS Governance Fellow for 2017.

 

 2016

Cruz Reynoso

UCCS notes with sadness the passing of Cruz Reynoso on May 7, 2021.  Mr. Reynoso was Professor of Law Emeritus at the UC Davis School of Law and a former Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court. Reynoso received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2000 for his devotion to public service. He served as the UCCS Governance Fellow in 2016. More information on his distinguished life and career can be found here.

 

 2015

Bev Hansen

Bev Hansen served in the California Assembly representing District 8 from 1986 to 1992. She and Assemblywoman Sally Tanner created the Woman of the Year award that honors the accomplishments of one woman from each Senate and Assembly district. She was the UCCS Governance Fellow in 2015.

 

2014

Delaine Eastin

Delaine Eastin was in the California State Assembly from 1986 to 1994 representing the 18th and 20th district. Eastin served as the 25th Superintendent of Public Instruction of California from 1995 to 2003.  She served as the UCCS Governance Fellow in 2014.

2013

Mike Villines

Mike Villines served the 29th District in the California State Assembly from 2004 to 2010 and as the Republican leader from 2006 to 2009. He was the UCCS Governance Fellow for 2013.

 2012

Jack Scott

Jack Scott was the 9th President of Pasadena City College from 1987 to 1995. He served the 21st District in the California State Assembly from 2000 to 2008. Scott served as the UCCS Governance Fellow in 2012.

2011

Roger Niello

Roger Niello served as a member of the California State Assembly from the 5th district from 2004 to 2010. He served as the UCCS Governance Fellow in 2011.