SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments.
Arnoldo Avalos, 43, of Pleasanton, has been appointed to the California Community Colleges Board of Governors. Avalos has been the founder and chief executive officer of the Avalos Foundation since 2013. He was head of compensation and global compensation manager at Facebook from 2008 to 2013 and senior global compensation manager for Google from 2006 to 2008. Avalos held multiple positions at Cisco Systems from 1999 to 2006, including compensation manager, corporate recruiter and manager of business operations. He was a system consultant at Andersen Consulting from 1996 to 1999 and farm manager for Avalos Farms from 1989 to 1996. Avalos is a member of the Latino Community Foundation Board of Trustees and a founding member of Hermanos Unidos. He earned a Master of Public Policy degree from the Harvard Kennedy School. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Avalos is a Democrat.
Manuel Baca, 65, of Diamond Bar, has been reappointed to the California Community Colleges Board of Governors, where he has served since 2009. Baca has been a professor of political science at Rio Hondo College since 1997, where he has held multiple positions since 1982, including vice president of student services and director of the extended opportunity program and services, financial aid and veterans services. Baca was director of the Orange Friendly Center from 1980 to 1982 and administrative assistant to the dean of the Educational Opportunity Program at the California State University Fullerton Foundation from 1972 to 1980. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree 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, 63, of San Francisco, has been reappointed to the California Community Colleges Board of Governors, where he has served since 2011. Bielanski has been an articulation officer at Berkeley City College since 2009. Bielanski was president of the Peralta Community College District’s District Academic Senate from 2004 to 2009, president of the Berkeley City College Academic Senate from 2003 to 2009 and a disabled students programs and services counselor at Berkeley City College from 1991 to 2003. He has been a faculty commissioner at the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges since 2010. Bielanski earned a Doctor of Education degree from Saint Mary’s College of California and a Master of Science degree in rehabilitation counseling from San Francisco State University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Bielanski is a Democrat.
Tom Epstein, 62, of Orinda, has been appointed to the California Community Colleges Board of Governors. Epstein has been vice president of public affairs at Blue Shield of California since 2001. He was vice president of communications for the Public Broadcasting Service from 1995 to 2001, special assistant for political affairs in the Office of President William J. Clinton from 1993 to 1995 and deputy commissioner for consumer protection and communications at the California Department of Insurance from 1991 to 1993. Epstein earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Epstein is a Democrat.
Nancy Sumner, 55, of Glendale, has been appointed to the California Community Colleges Board of Governors. Sumner has been critical care transport coordinator and registered nurse for the Schaefer Ambulance Service since 1987 and disaster coordinator and registered nurse at the Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center since 1979. She served in multiple positions in the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard from 1981 to 2012, including colonel and staff sergeant. Sumner is a committee member of the Glendale Veterans Coalition, serving veterans and military families by advocating for the veteran population, assisting with resume writing and resolving gaps in service such as access to education. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Sumner is a Republican.
Colin van Loon, 19, of Fresno, has been appointed to the California Community Colleges Board of Governors. Van Loon has been a student marketing assistant at the Fresno Center for International Trade Development since 2014 and a student pursuing a degree in philosophy at Willow International Community College Center of the State Center Community College District since 2013. He is vice president of finance for the Willow International Community College Center Associated Student Government and a member of the State Center Community College District Budget and Resource Allocation Advisory Committee. He was a member of the hiring committee to select the Vice President of Administrative Services of Willow International Community College Center and was a volleyball coach for the Clovis Unified School District in 2013. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Van Loon is a Democrat.