I am delighted to announce that Ophelia Basgal, a leading expert in housing policy, is the new chair of the PPIC board of directors. Ophelia’s distinguished record of public service and deep knowledge of the forces shaping our state make her an ideal leader for PPIC at this critical time. She will take over from Chet Hewitt, an acclaimed authority on health and social services, who will remain on the board. On behalf of our board and staff, I want to thank Chet for his extraordinary contributions to PPIC.
I am greatly looking forward to working with Ophelia—who joined PPIC’s board of directors in 2022 after serving on the PPIC Statewide Leadership Council—especially as California confronts major changes in the months ahead.
I would also like to extend a warm welcome to our three newest board members. Each of these highly accomplished leaders has made unique contributions to public life in California and the nation. Together, they bring a wealth of leadership experience, a strong record of public service, and a rich understanding of our state’s most pressing policy concerns. They will be invaluable to PPIC as we work to shape a better future for our state.
Carolyn Coleman is executive director and CEO of the League of California Cities. To this role, she brings 25 years of experience as a leader and an advocate in the public and private sectors. Under her leadership, Cal Cities advances policies to expand and protect local control for cities through education and advocacy to enhance the quality of life for all Californians. She joined Cal Cities in December 2016 after a decade as senior executive and director of federal advocacy with the National League of Cities (NLC) in Washington, DC. During her tenure at NLC, she oversaw the organization’s advocacy efforts and worked closely with city leaders from across the country and the 49 state municipal leagues to protect and promote local interests in matters before Congress, within the White House, and the courts. Prior to working with NLC, she led the mayor’s initiatives involving public works, economic and community development, parks and recreation, and neighborhood services. She previously practiced law and held marketing leadership positions in the private sector. In addition to her professional endeavors, she serves on the board of trustees of the University of Indianapolis and on the dean’s cabinet at the McGeorge School of Law. She serves on the California Foundation on the Environment and the Economy board of directors as well as PPIC’s board of directors. She formerly served on PPIC’s Statewide Leadership Council. She holds a law degree from Indiana University and an undergraduate degree in business from the University of Kansas.
Jerrilyn Malana is chief deputy district attorney with the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, where she serves as chief of human resources and special counsel. Prior to joining the DA’s office, she was a shareholder at Littler Mendelson PC, a global labor and employment law firm. She is the president of the California Lawyers Foundation, the charitable arm of the California Lawyers Association, which is the largest voluntary bar association in the state. She also serves as a trustee on the University of California San Diego Foundation Board. She is a past president of the San Diego County Bar Association and was the first Asian Pacific American attorney to lead the bar. She is also a past president of the University of California San Diego Alumni Association. She was the inaugural chair of the Civic Engagement & Outreach Committee for the California Lawyers Association. She remains active in promoting the importance of civic education and civic engagement as essential to a healthy and vibrant democracy. Over the course of her career, she has served on a diverse array of nonprofit boards, including PPIC’s board of directors as well as those focused on the legal profession, educational access and advancement, health and human services, domestic violence prevention, and the creative arts.
Ann M. Veneman has a distinguished career in public service, serving as the executive director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) from 2005 to 2010 and as the United States Secretary of Agriculture from 2001 to 2005. As secretary of the USDA, she directed one of most diverse federal agencies, with a budget of $113 billion and 110,000 employees. She also served as secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture from 1995 to 1999, overseeing the state agency responsible for nation’s largest agricultural producing region. From 1986 to 1993, she served in various positions in the USDA, including deputy secretary, deputy undersecretary for international affairs, and associate administrator of the Foreign Agricultural Service. Her leadership and vision have been recognized both nationally and internationally. In 2009 she was named to the Forbes World’s 100 Most Powerful Women list, and in 2025 she was inducted into the Government Hall of Fame. She currently serves on the boards of directors for Sun World, the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), the Gallo Center for the Arts, and BEAM Circular, as well as PPIC’s board of directors. She also served on the board of Nestle from 2011 to 2022. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a former member of the Hilton Humanitarian Prize Jury. A lawyer by training, she has practiced law in both California and Washington, DC. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California, Davis; a master’s degree in public policy from the University of California, Berkeley; and a juris doctor degree from the University of California Law, San Francisco (formerly Hastings College of the Law). She has been awarded honorary doctorate degrees from several universities and colleges.
Heartfelt thanks to two members who are stepping down from the PPIC board. A. Marisa Chun has provided many years of outstanding service and will continue to contribute her valuable insights and experiences to PPIC as a member of our Statewide Leadership Council. Steven A. Merksamer has been an exemplary ambassador for and advisor to PPIC throughout his time on our board, and I’m deeply appreciative of his efforts.
I would also like to thank our current board members for their commitment to PPIC and to improving the well-being of our state’s people, communities, and environment. Board members are:
Ophelia Basgal, Chair of the PPIC Board of Directors, Affiliate with the Terner Center for Housing Innovation, University of California, Berkeley
Rusty Areias, Partner with California Strategies
Tani Cantil-Sakauye, President and CEO of the Public Policy Institute of California, (Chief Justice of California, retired)
John Chiang, Board Member with Apollo Medical Holdings, (Former California State Controller and Treasurer)
Caroline Choi, Senior Vice President and Corporate Affairs & Public Policy with Edison International and Southern California Edison
Carolyn Coleman, Executive Director and CEO of the California League of Cities
Chet Hewitt, President and CEO of Sierra Health Foundation
Jerrilyn Malana, Chief Deputy District Attorney with the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office
Ana J. Matosantos, Managing Director and Partner with Boston Consulting Group, (Former Cabinet Secretary, Office of Governor Gavin Newsom)
Michael Méndez, Associate Professor and Chancellor’s Fellow at the University of California, Irvine
Steven J. Olson, Partner with O’Melveny & Myers LLP
Leon E. Panetta, Chairman of The Panetta Institute for Public Policy
Dave Puglia, President and CEO of Western Growers
Cassandra Walker Pye, President of Lucas Public Affairs
Helen Iris Torres, CEO of Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE)
David Traversi, CEO of Traversi & Company, LLC
Gaddi H. Vasquez, Retired Senior Vice President of Government Affairs with Edison International and Southern California Edison
Ann M. Veneman, Former US Secretary of Agriculture and Former California Secretary of Agriculture