Former state Assemblywoman and former Chula Vista Mayor Mary Casillas Salas was appointed to the 17-member California Community Colleges Board of Governors last month by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Newsom also appointed Adrienne Brown and Harry Le Grande. Hildegarde Aguinaldo was reappointed to the board. Each member of the California Community Colleges Board of Governors will be compensated $100 per month.
“We are pleased that Vice President Aguinaldo has been reappointed to our board, and we are excited to welcome members Adrienne Brown, Harry Le Grande, and Mary Salas to our system as we work toward the transformative goals of the Vision for Success,” California Community Colleges Board of Governors President Amy M. Costa said in a statement. “We look forward to working together to continue to center our work on our students and their needs.”
The Board of Governors provides policy decisions for the 116-California Community College system. With more than 1.8 million students enrolled, the California Community Colleges system is the largest system of higher education in the nation.
Salas served as the Mayor of Chula Vista from 2014 to 2022; served on the City Council from 2012 to 2014; served as a California State Assemblymember from 2006 to 2010; was a corporate communications coordinator for Community Health Group from 2001 to 2004; and an economic development specialist at the California Trade and Commerce Agency from 1994 to 2001.
“The leadership, experience, perspectives, and insights of this group will be of great value to our system and the lives of our students, their families, and communities,” Gonzales said. “We will work closely to continue to build on the work we’re doing to advance equity and student success across our system and build a culture of unconditional belonging for every student.”
