The University of California announced today the recent appointment of Regent Cecilia V. Estolano to chair of the UC Board of Regents for 2021-22, effective July 1. Chair Estolano was elected by her colleagues and will oversee her first board meeting in July.
Estolano, previously the Board’s vice chair, is the CEO and founder of Estolano Advisors, an urban planning and public policy firm, and the CEO of Better World Group, an environmental policy and advocacy group. Estolano was the deputy chair of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Review Team, Energy and Environment Group for the Obama presidential transition team. She has also served as CEO of the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles, of counsel at the law firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, senior policy advisor with the EPA, and environmental policy advisor to former Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley.
“It is a profound honor to help steer UC during this moment of unparalleled opportunity. I look forward to addressing how more Californians from every corner of the state can earn degrees from UC and elevating UC’s leadership in climate research,” said Estolano.
Estolano, who earned an A.B. from Harvard-Radcliffe Colleges, a master’s degree in Urban Planning from UCLA and a law degree from UC Berkeley School of Law, was appointed to the Board of Regents in 2018. She has taught courses on equitable urban development and law and the quality of urban life at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs and the UC Berkeley College of Environmental Design.
“The depth and breadth of Chair Estolano’s experience in the private and public sectors have been invaluable to UC and the Board of Regents,” said UC President Michael V. Drake, M.D. “I look forward to our continued collaboration in the year ahead.”
Regent Richard Leib was named vice chair of the Board of Regents.
Continuing and newly appointed chairs for the board’s committees include:
- Regent Michael Cohen, chair of the Finance and Capital Strategies Committee
- Regent Gareth Elliott, chair of the Compliance and Audit Committee
- Regent Lark Park, chair of the Academic and Student Affairs Committee
- Regent John A. Pérez, chair of the Health Services Committee
- Regent Janet Reilly, chair of the Public Engagement and Development Committee
- Regent Richard Sherman, chair of the Investments Committee
- Regent Jonathan Sures, chair of the National Laboratories Committee
Members of the Board of Regents are volunteers and serve without compensation. You can find additional information about the Board here.