Hi! I’m Heather and I currently serve as the Strategic Initiatives & Partnerships Lead for the Expanded Learning Division at the California Department of Education. Since August 2012, I have overseen the development and implementation of a strategic plan that will reshape the Division to focus on providing high quality expanded learning opportunities for California’s youth.  As a key component of this work, I help ensure strong, ongoing engagement of external stakeholders and advisers throughout this process. I’ve also collaborated with our team to raise and manage over $1,000,000 in grant funds to support strategic planning.

Prior to this role I worked at the State Treasurer's Office (STO) in several capacities. I served as a Treasury Analyst focusing on Environmental Finance at the California Alternative Energy & Advanced Transportation Financing Authority. In that role, I worked on program development and implementation for new green financial incentives within California. Before that, I was as an analyst in the Public Finance Division where I developed a solid foundation in the area of public bond financing. Prior to that work, I was fortunate to be selected for the Executive Fellowship Program where I was subsequently placed in the STO Executive Office (www.csus.edu/calst/executive_fellowship_program.html).

I received my BA in Political Science from CSU Fullerton. During that time, I was heavily involved with student advocacy work primarily with the Associated Students, Inc. including serving as President and CEO between 2006 and 2008 and as a member of the California State Student Association's Executive Committee and Board of Directors from 2006 to 2008.

While I grew up and went to college in Southern California, I’ve lived in Sacramento for over eight years and am happy to call this city my home. I enjoy spending my time following all the exciting and positive growth of our city. Since 2014 I have served on the Regional Action Committee (now the Community Engagement Comittee) of the Sacramento MetroEDGE and currently serve as the Committee Chair. This involvement has allowed me to become more engaged with and positively contribute to my community.