Newsom Announces Appointments to California Boards & Positions – July 2024
SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom announced a series of appointments to state boards and positions on Friday, including the appointment of Rhonalyn Cabello as Deputy Director, Office of Public Affairs at the California Department of Resources, Recycling, and Recovery. Cabello, who currently earns $135,000, previously served as Director of Communications for Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis since 2022.
Prior to her role with the Lieutenant Governor, Cabello was a Communications Specialist at California Volunteers from 2021 to 2022, and held a position as Communications Assistant in the Office of Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs from 2018 to 2020. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from California State University, Sacramento. The position does not require Senate confirmation, according to the Governor’s office.
Similarly appointed was Janeth Corona to the Salton Sea Conservancy Governing Board. Corona has been the Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement Program Director at Imperial Valley College since 2023, following a seven-year tenure at the same institution as Internship and Work Experience Coordinator. Her prior experience includes roles at the Imperial Valley Regional Occupational Program and the Universidad Del Sur. Corona holds a Master of Business Administration Degree from Universidad Del Sur and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Administration from San Diego State University. This position is unpaid and does not require Senate confirmation.
In the field of architecture, Irvine Carrillo was appointed to the California Architects Board. Carrillo is the Principal at Synthetic Mass Inc., a position he has held since 2020. He previously served as an Architect and Principal at Flewelling &. Moody Architects for seven years. Carrillo earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and will receive $100 per diem for his service. Ronald Jones was reappointed to the same board, continuing a role he’s held since 2020 as Principal at Hunt Hale Jones Architects of San Francisco. Jones, a Democrat, also receives $100 per diem and holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of California, Berkeley.
The Governor also announced reappointments to the Advisory Commission on Special Education. Heather Snipes, currently a Program Specialist for the Supporting Innovative Practices Project at the El Dorado Office of Education, will continue her service, having previously held multiple positions within the Eureka City School District, including Director of Early Childhood Development and Special Education. Victoria “Vicki” Graf, Professor Emerita at Loyola Marymount University, was also reappointed. Graf served as Professor and Director of the Special Education Program at the university from 1979 to 2022. Both Snipes and Graf’s positions are unpaid and do not require Senate confirmation.