Staff & Leadership

The leadership and staff of the External Relations and Communications division bring years of experience and expertise to the CSU. Get to know them and the areas they represent.

Greg Saks
Vice Chancellor
External Relations and Communications
P: (562) 951-4625
Biography

Pati Navalta
Associate Vice Chancellor
Strategic Communications
and Brand Marketing
P: (562) 951-4680
Biography

Jeff Cullen
Assistant Vice Chancellor
Federal Relations
P: (771) 241-1469
Biography

Samantha Cypret
Executive Director
Tribal Relations
P: (916) 449-3543
Biography

Nathan Dietrich
Assistant Vice Chancellor
Advocacy & State Relations
P: (916) 449-3544
Biography

David Gamboa
Assistant Vice Chancellor
Strategic Engagement
P: (562) 951-8112
Biography

Melissa Watkins
Assistant Vice Chancellor
Systemwide Philanthropy
P: (562) 951-4402
Biography

Leadership Organizational Chart

External Relations and Communications
Staff Directory

Phone: (562) 951-4625

Greg Saks
Vice Chancellor
External Relations and Communications

Carrie Stewart
Senior Advisor, Campus Advancement
(310) 955-7139

Shannon Matthews
Chief of Staff

Aida Rodriguez
Executive Assistant

Lisa Hull
Budget and Office Support Analyst

Staff Organizational Chart

Advocacy and State Relations

CSU Advocacy and State Relations
621 Capitol Mall, Suite 1650
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 445-5983

Nathan Dietrich
Assistant Vice Chancellor
Advocacy and State Relations

Eric Bakke
Director, State Relations

Yarikza Comparan
Manager, Operations and Administration

Brittney Desselle
Manager, University Relations & Advocacy

VACANT
Associate Legislative Advocate

Christopher Morales
Senior Legislative Advocate

Christian Schellhase
Legislative Administrative Assistant

Anabel Urbina
Associate Legislative Advocate

Maggie White
Senior Legislative Advocate

Federal Relations

CSU Office of Federal Relations
444 N. Capitol St. NW, Suite 846
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 921-4874

Jeff Cullen
Assistant Vice Chancellor, Federal Relations

Trevor Guthrie
Federal Relations Manager

Bethany Johns
Director, Federal Relations — Agency Engagement

VACANT
Policy Specialist

Lauren Schwensen
Director, Federal Relations — Education

Strategic Engagement

David Gamboa
Assistant Vice Chancellor
Strategic Engagement
(562) 951-8152

VACANT
Strategic Engagement Support Coordinator

Maryann Reyes
Director, Strategic Engagement

Systemwide Philanthropy & CSU Foundation

(562) 951-4810

Melissa Watkins
Assistant Vice Chancellor
Systemwide Philanthropy

Jodi Braverman
Senior Manager, Alumni Engagement

Sam Camarena
Manager, Advancement Academy

Wendy Chavira Garcia
Senior Manager, Development & Donor Relations

Aaron Moore
Executive Director, Advancement

Kim Shibata
Administrative Coordinator, Advancement

Donnie Tippie
Administrative Coordinator, Advancement Services

Tribal Relations

621 Capitol Mall, Suite 1650
Sacramento, California 95814
(916) 449-3456

Samantha Cypret
Executive Director

Eric Green
Administrative Support Coordinator

Adriane Tafoya
Senior Manager, Tribal Relations & Systemwide NAGPRA Coordinator

Strategic Communications and Brand Marketing

(562) 951-4091

Pati Navalta
Associate Vice Chancellor
Strategic Communications and Brand Marketing

Jason Maymon
Executive Director, Strategic Communications

Kathleen David
Manager of Operations

Apryll White
Administrative Assistant/General Operations Coordinator

Executive Writing

(562) 951-4038

Tom Dellner
Senior Director, Executive Writing

Hazel Kelly
Executive Writing Manager

Becca MacLaren
Executive Writing Manager

Michelle McCarthy
Assistant Director, Executive Writing

Integrated Internal Communications

(562) 951-4891

Jeanne Fratello
Senior Director, Integrated Internal Communications

Alex Beall
Writer and Editor

Alisia Ruble
Strategic Communications Writer

Brenda Wong
Editorial Content Manager

Janice Yun
Assistant Editor/Web Writer

VACANT
Assistant Director HR Communications

Marketing Communications

(562) 951-4670

Lauren Mendoza
Interim Senior Director, Marketing Communications

Matthew Barrie
Web Developer

Jen Cook
Senior Project Manager, Marketing

Victor Garcia
Graphic Designer

Raquel Griffiths
Director of Creative Operations

Liz Hurtado
Marketing Communications Coordinator

Jina Kim
Art Director

Roger Morrow
Print Services Manager

Susie Nakao
Graphic Designer

Jae Paik
Senior Manager, Web Development

Jay Pearson
Marketing Manager

Aaron Rawls
Web Developer

Shaidy Ruiz
Social Media Specialist

Anthony Soler
Videographer

Joseph Soltis
Project Manager

Greg Steiner
Print Services Lead

Ricky Sua
SharePoint Developer

Media Relations and Public Affairs

(562) 951-4800

Amy Bentley-Smith
Director, Media Relations and Public Affairs

VACANT
Senior Manager, Public Affairs

Gabriel Krongold
Public Affairs Coordinator

Warren Robak
Manager, Media Relations and Public Affairs