ABOUT
Californians for Public Higher Education is a non-profit 501.c.3 corporation conducting educational and informational programs to increase public awareness and support for the critical role played by the University of California, California State University System and our community colleges as predominant drivers of the state’s economy and quality of life.
The Board of Californians for Public Higher Education
Dan Chernow
Dan Chernow has been a member of the California State Board of Education, the Curriculum Development and Supplemental Materials Commission, and the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. He has taught K-12 as well at California State University, Northridge and the University of California, Los Angeles. He also directed an education initiative at UCLA for 15 years. Dan also served as a vice-president of Pacific Theatres Corporation. Dan attended Santa Monica Community College, CSUN (BA, MA, MA), and UCLA (Ed.D). He is the Immediate Past President of the CSUN Alumni Association and currently serves as President of the Education Alumni Chapter. Dan is also member of the Dean’s Advisory Circle, Eisner College of Education and California State University, Northridge.
Jeff Seymour
Jeffrey A. Seymour heads the Seymour Consulting Group, providing consulting services in governmental, land use planning, public policy analysis and ordinance studies. Prior to establishing his business, he served as senior deputy to Los Angeles County Supervisor Edmund D. Edelman and was vice president of Bank of Los Angeles. Jeff serves on the board of directors of the UCLA Foundation and the West Hollywood Library Foundation, where he serves as chair. In the past he served as a regent of the University of California, president of the U.C. Alumni Association, the UCLA Alumni Association and a member of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy.
Joanne Kozberg
Joanne Kozberg has been a Principal with California Strategies since 2003 in Los Angeles, working with the public and private sectors, including non-profit organizations on organizational transformation, competitiveness, resource development, regulatory reform and governance. She served Governor Pete Wilson as Secretary of State and Consumer Services; and during his term as U.S. Senator, as Senior Policy Consultant for entertainment and film, transportation, land-use and arts. Kozberg is Regent Emeritus of the University of California and is a Trustee of the UC Berkeley Foundation. She is Trustee Emeritus of the J. Paul Getty Trust and past director of the California Community Foundation. Kozberg earned a B.A. from UC Berkeley, an M.A. in public policy from Occidental College and is a graduate of the Coro Fellowship.
Garrett P. Ashley
Garrett P. Ashley is a senior fellow at the Intentional Endowments Network (IEN), a nonprofit, peer network focused on helping endowments learn about and implement ESG and mission aligned investing strategies. He is also vice chancellor emeritus for the California State University (CSU) system, where for 12 years he oversaw systemwide advancement, governmental affairs, alumni relations, communications, and public affairs, and served as president of the CSU Foundation. Ashley is a member of the Public Policy Institute of California’s (PPIC) Statewide Leadership Council. Additionally, he is a member and former chair of the St. Mary Medical Center Board of Ambassadors in Long Beach and co-chair of IEN’s Executive Steering Committee. Previously, he was undersecretary for international trade in the California Business, Transportation, and Housing Agency. He chaired the statewide California Trade Partnership, was a member of the Office of the United States Trade Representative’s Intergovernmental Policy Advisory Committee and served on the advisory board of the Center for International Business Education and Research at the University of Southern California. He also served as Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s deputy chief of staff for operations and as chief deputy director for Governor Pete Wilson’s Office of Emergency Services. He received a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of New Mexico.
Steve Juarez
Steve Juarez retired from the California State Treasurer’s Office as Deputy State Treasurer in December 2018, where he managed Economic Development, Higher Education, and
State Retirement Programs. This followed his service as Associate Vice President of State Government Relations for the University of California. Over the course of his 38-year career, Steve also occupied a variety of executive and management positions with J.P. Morgan, the J. Paul Getty Trust, UCLA, the California State Legislature, and the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission. During this time, Steve has served on a number of public and nonprofit boards, including the Neighborhood Youth Association, the California Historical Society, and the Los Angeles Fire & Police Pension Board. He currently serves as Board Chair for the National Assn. of Counties Financial Services Corporation, as well as a Board member of the California State Museum.
Nancy Greenstein
Nancy Greenstein is a member of the Santa Monica College Board of Trustees She served as vice chair/chair in 2005, 2006 and 2011- 2013. Nancy is retired from UCLA where she was the Director of Police Community Services at the UCLA Police Department working on safety related issues with the campus community, crime prevention, media relations, public education and managing student-run programs, such as Community Service Officers and EMTs staffing the campus ambulance and emergency response. She also worked as the Public Safety Administrator in the City of West Hollywood responsible for disaster preparedness, liaison with county fire including building a new station, Sheriff’s contract and neighborhood watch. Nancy is the City of Santa Monica representative and a past Chair of the Los Angeles County West Vector District Board. She is a current board member and past president of the Southern California ACLU. She also serves on the Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center Board of Advisors, Inglewood-based Social Justice Learning Institute Board. Nancy received her bachelor’s degree in education from Boston University, Master of Social Work with a community organizing specialty from UCLA and a doctorate in education from UCLA.
Gene Tackett
Gene Tackett is the principal consultant and owner of Gene Tackett Consulting Services specializing in government and media relations in the Southern San Joaquin Valley. Tackett served as a member of the Kern County Board of Supervisors and assists clients to maneuver through the local government regulatory process. He has been a campaign advisor for many local elected officials and assists with the “Community Politics” course at Cal State University, Bakersfield. He has been a political analyst for the local Bakersfield NBC television affiliate, KGET Channel 17. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in South Asian Studies from UCSB and a Master’s Degree in Cultural Anthropology from CSUB.