The California State University is pleased to announce the appointment of Kathleen Chavira as assistant vice chancellor for Advocacy and State Relations effective August 1. Chavira is currently the staff director to the Senate Education Committee in Sacramento, advising the Senate on policy and budgetary issues with a particular focus on higher education.
She will report to Garrett P. Ashley, vice chancellor of University Relations and Advancement, and will lead the system's Advocacy and State Relations office in Sacramento, managing a staff of eight which includes legislative advocates and policy analysts.
A Sacramento education policy veteran, Chavira has a strong presence in the Capitol with established relationships with the Senate policy and fiscal committees, higher education community statewide, the California Department of Finance, the Governor's Policy Unit, Assembly committees and legislative staff.
Before serving in this capacity, she spent 12 years as the principal consultant to the Senate Education Committee. Prior leadership roles also include: senior associate for Governmental Relations and External Affairs for the California Postsecondary Education Commission, consultant to the Senate Appropriations Committee and district representative and casework supervisor for California State Senator Patrick Johnston.
Chavira earned a Bachelor's degree in human biology from Stanford University and an MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles.