A grid of four photos of people.
Story Board of Trustees

Governor Newsom Appoints 4 New Members to the CSU Board of Trustees

 

 

A grid of four photos of people.

​Pictured from left to right: Student Trustee Maria G. Linares, Trustee Julia I. Lopez, Trustee Yammilette Rodriguez and Faculty Trustee Romey Sabalius.

 

​Governor Gavin Newsom announced the following appointments to the California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees on August 20, 2021. The CSU Board of Trustees is the 25-member board that adopts regulations and policies governing the university.

Maria G. Linares

Linares, 36, of Tustin, has been appointed as a student trustee. Currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration degree at California State University, Fullerton, Linares was a member of the board of directors for the CSUF Associated Students Inc. from 2018 to 2021, serving as chair from 2020 to 2021. Linares is a m​ember of Psi Beta Honor Society in Psychology.

She joins current student trustee Krystal Raynes and will serve a two-year term. Learn more about Trustee Linares.​

Julia I. Lopez

Lopez, 73, of San Francisco, was president and CEO at the College Futures Foundation from 2008 to 2017. She held multiple positions at The Rockefeller Foundation from 1992 to 2005, including senior vice president of Working Communities. From 1988 to 1992, Lopez worked at the San Francisco Department of Social Services. She served as a consultant for the California State Legislature from 1980 to 1988 and was deputy director for legislation at the Employment Development Department in 1982. Lopez held multiple positions working for the State of New Mexico from 1970 to 1978, including director of administrative services at the Department of Criminal Justice, deputy director at the Criminal Justice Council, grants manager at the Criminal Justice Council and analyst at the State Personnel Board. 

Lopez is a member of several boards: The Bridgespan Group, One Future Coachella Valley and KQED. She is a council member of California Competes and serves as chair of The Christensen Fund, San Francisco.  She earned a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Public Policy. Learn more about Trustee Lopez.

Yammilette Rodriguez

Rodriguez, 45, of Fresno, has been a national trainer and consultant for the Youth Leadership Institute since 2020. She was Central Valley senior director at the Youth Leadership Institute from 2009 to 2020 and Central Valley regional director at the Latino Issues Forum from 2008 to 2009. Rodriguez was a governmental relations consultant at PG&E from 2007 to 2008. She was director of admissions at Fresno Pacific University from 2001 to 2007. Rodriguez was a district representative in the office of California State Assemblymember Sarah Reyes from 1999 to 2001. 

Rodriguez is a member of several boards: The Vesper Society, the Hispanas Organized for Political Equality and the Central Valley Latino Leaders Academy. Rodriguez earned a Master of Arts degree in leadership and organizational studies from Fresno Pacific University. Learn more about Trustee Rodriguez.

Romey Sabalius

Sabalius, 58, of San Jose, has been reappointed as faculty trustee, a role he has served since 2017. He has been a professor at San José State University since 1995. Prior to SJSU, Sabalius was an assistant professor at Utah State University from 1992 to 1995 and at Vassar College in 1992. He was a guest professor at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia in 1999 and 2000.

Sabalius earned a Master of Arts degree in German from the University of Southern California, a Master of Arts degree in German from Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in German from the University of Southern California. Learn more about Trustee Sabalius.​