Governor Newsom Announces Appointments 7.12.24

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:

Yuting “Yvonne” Chi of Oakland has been nominated to be the assistant secretary for environmental justice and equity at the California Environmental Protection Agency. Chi has served as an assistant attorney general in the California Department of Justice’s Office of Environmental Justice since 2019. She was an attorney at Earthjustice from 2016 to 2019. Chi served as a law clerk to Justice Daniel E. Winfree of the Alaska Supreme Court from 2015 to 2016. She received a bachelor’s degree in evolutionary biology and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a juris doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law. The position does not require Senate confirmation and the salary is $175,104. Chi is a Democrat.

Nicole “Sabine” Talaugon of Sacramento has been appointed assistant secretary for intergovernmental relations at the California Environmental Protection Agency. Talaugon has served as a senior program officer at the First Nations Development Institute since 2024 and as a program officer there from 2023 to 2024. Talaugon held several positions at California State Parks from 2020 to 2023, including tribal affairs program manager and tribal affairs program analyst. She was a nonprofit consultant at Iwex Consulting from 2016 to 2021. Talaugon was an analyst for Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies from 2019 to 2020. She was a graduate student researcher at the University of California, Davis from 2018 to 2019. Talaugon held several positions at the California Consortium for Urban Indian Health from 2013 to 2016, including director of programs and evaluation and community programs manager. She received a bachelor’s degree in public policy and a master’s degree in public policy from Mills College at Northeastern University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $175,104. Talaugon is a Democrat.

Robin Christensen of Sacramento has been appointed deputy director of the Safer Products and Workplaces Program at the California Department of Toxic Substance Control. Christensen has served as chief of the Substance Abuse and Addiction Prevention Branch at the California Department of Public Health since 2020. She served as chief of the Biosurveillance Investigation and Outreach Unit at the California Department of Public Health from 2017 to 2020. Christensen was a project coordinator at the Sequoia Foundation from 2009 to 2010. She was a project manager and project specialist at Transforming Communities: Technical Assistance, Training, and Resource Center from 2006 to 2009. Christensen received a bachelor’s degree in English from Michigan State University and a master’s degree in public health from Harvard University. The position does not require Senate confirmation and the salary is $180,004. Christensen is a Democrat.

Rajesh Veera, of Pleasanton, has been appointed principal analytics engineer in the Office of Data and Innovation. Veera has owned AnalyticsFactoryLLC since 2023. He was a senior data engineer at Nervo Corp from 2020 to 2024. Veera was a data engineer at Shutterfly from 2015 to 2019. He was a data analytics consultant at Wells Fargo from 2014 to 2015. He received a bachelor’s degree in computer science and information technology from DVR College of Engineering and Technology and a master’s degree in computer science from Northwestern Polytechnic University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $156,000. Veera is not registered to vote.

Jana Sanford-Miller of Elk Grove has been named director of communications and external affairs for the State and Community Corrections Board. Sanford-Miller has served as Acting Deputy Director of the Office of Research at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation since 2023, where she previously served as Chief Risk Officer from 2019 to 2023 and Deputy Chief of the Office of Training and Professional Development from 2014 to 2019. She served as Senior Communications Advisor in the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services from 2009 to 2014. Sanford-Miller was a Lecturer in the Department of Communication Studies at California State University, Stanislaus from 1998 to 2009. She served as a Field Representative and Legislative Assistant in the Office of Congressman Dennis Cardoza from 1996 to 2000. Sanford-Miller earned a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies: Communication Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Communication from California State University, Stanislaus. The position does not require Senate confirmation and the salary is $145,224. Sanford-Miller is a Democrat.

Christina Corpus of San Bruno has been appointed to the Board of State and Community Corrections. Corpus has served as sheriff of San Mateo County since 2023. She served as chief of police in Millbrae from 2022 to 2023. Corpus served as a patrol captain for the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office headquarters from 2018 to 2022, where she held several positions from 2002 to 2018, including corrections lieutenant, corrections sergeant, deputy sheriff and corrections officer. Corpus served as a child support officer II for the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office from 1995 to 2002. Corpus earned a master of science degree in law enforcement and public safety leadership from the University of San Diego and a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice and law enforcement administration from Union Institute and University. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Corpus is a Democrat.

David “Dave” Sorem of Rossmoor has been appointed to the Underground Facilities Safe Excavation Board. Sorem has been president of Mike Bubalo Construction since 2000. He was a project engineer and principal at Steve Bablo Construction from 1992 to 1999. Sorem was a section chief of the design division of the Los Angeles County Flood Control District from 1982 to 1992. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Sorem received a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from North Dakota State University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Sorem is a Republican.