SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments.
Candace Murch, 49, of Elk Grove, has been appointed principal labor relations officer at the California Department of Human Resources. Murch has served as chief at the California Department of State Hospitals Labor Relations Branch since 2008. She held several positions at the California Department of Mental Health from 2001 to 2008, including manager of the Labor Relations Branch from 2006 to 2008 and labor relations specialist from 2001 to 2006. She served as a labor relations analyst at the California Department of Parks and Recreation in 2000 and was office manager and support staff at the California Association of Psychiatric Technicians from 1988 to 2000. Murch is vice president of the California Department of Human Relations Labor Relations Forum. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $101,004. Murch is a Democrat.
Dianne Harrison, 63, of Los Angeles, has been reappointed to the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, where she has served since 2011. Harrison has been president of California State University (CSU) Northridge since 2012. She was president of CSU Monterey Bay from 2006 to 2012 and vice president for academic quality and external programs at Florida State University from 2005 to 2006, where she served in several positions from 1976 to 2004, including associate vice president for academic affairs, dean of the graduate studies, dean of the School of Social Work and professor at the School of Social Work. Harrison is a member of the CSU Extended Education Task Force, CSU Commission on Online Education, CSU Program for Education and Research in Biotechnology Presidents’ Commission, CSU Council on Ocean Affairs, Science and Technology, CSU Systemwide Budget Advisory Board, CSU Technology Steering Committee and the CSU Presidents’ Council on Underserved Communities. Harrison is a member of the Association of American Colleges and Universities board, the California Campus Compact Executive Board, the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment Steering Committee and the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Committee on Institutional Performance, Division I Board of Directors and Division I Presidential Advisory Group. She is chair of the Big West Conference for 2014-15 and a member of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Commission on Accreditation, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Valley Industry and Commerce Association Board of Directors, Valley Presbyterian Hospital Board of Directors, Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator Leadership Council, Los Angeles Coalition for the Economy and Jobs, Valley Economic Alliance Board of Governors, Los Angeles Economic Development Council Executive Committee and the BizFed Advisory Council. Harrison earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in social work from Washington University in St. Louis and a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Alabama. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation covers necessary expenses. Harrison is a Democrat.