Governor Newsom announces appointments 8.19.26
SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:
Ayushi Roy, of San Francisco, has been appointed State Chief Technology Officer at the California Department of Technology. Roy has been a Lecturer at Harvard Kennedy School since 2022. She was Chief Program Officer for the New Practice Lab at New America from 2022 to 2026. Roy was Senior Advisor for the United States Technology Modernization Fund at the United States General Services Administration and the White House Office of Management and Budget from 2021 to 2022. She was Director of State and Local Technology at 18F from 2019 to 2021. She earned a Master of Science degree in Urban Studies and Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Rights and Middle Eastern, South Asian and African Studies from Columbia University. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $214,692. Roy is registered without party preference.
Eric De La Cruz, of Sacramento, has been appointed Executive Director for the Racial Equity Commission. He has been Chief of the Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Toxic Substances Control since 2022. De La Cruz was the EEO Office Daily Operations Manager at the State Controller’s Office from 2019 to 2022. He was the Health and Safety Office at the Department of Housing and Community Development from 2017 to 2019. De La Cruz was the Health and Safety Officer at the Office of Statewide Planning and Development from 2014 to 2017. De La Cruz is a member of the Government Alliance on Racial Equity, CalEPA State of Equity Cohorts, and the State Advancing Racial Equity. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $146,220. De La Cruz is a Democrat.
Lisa Weiler, of Lakeport, has been appointed to the State Rehabilitation Council. Weiler has been Executive Director at Scotts Valley Treatment Center since 2022. She has been Program Director at the Pinoleville Pomo Nation Vocational Rehabilitation Program since 2018. Weiler was Executive Director at the Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program from 2008 to 2011. She was Senior Loan Officer at Priority Lending Mortgage Corporation from 2005 to 2007. Weiler was Senior Loan Officer at Benchmark Lending Mortgage Corporation from 2003 to 2005. She was Regional Manager at Primerica Financial Services from 1995 to 2002. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Weiler is a Democrat.
Christine Aurigemma, of Carlsbad, has been appointed to the State Rehabilitation Council. Aurigemma has been an Independent Consultant at Strategic Business Alliance, LLC since 2026. She held multiple positions at Pfizer from 1997 to 2025, including Senior Manager of Diversity Sourcing and Senior Principal Scientist. Aurigemma is member of the International Association of Accessibility Professionals. She earned a Master of Science degree in Physiology and a Bachelor of Science degree in Science from The Pennsylvania State University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Aurigemma is a Republican.
Michael Love, of Sacramento, has been reappointed to the State Rehabilitation Council where he has served since 2025. Love has been an Outreach Coordinator at California State University, Sacramento since 2024, where he has held several roles since 2023, including Administrative Services Coordinator for Project Rebound and Teachers Associate. He is a member of Second Saturday. Love earned a Master of Arts degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies from California State University, Sacramento. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and there is no compensation. Love is a Democrat.
Michelle Bello, of Sacramento, has been reappointed to the State Rehabilitation Council where she has served since 2024. Bello has been an Education Programs Consultant at the California Department of Education since 2021. She was a Principal at Lodi Unified School District from 2018 to 2022. Bello was Vice Principal II at Stockton Unified School District from 2015 to 2018. She was a Teacher at Stockton Unified School District from 2004 to 2015. Bello is a member of the Association of Filipino Americans in Education and Phi Delta Kappa, University of the Pacific Chapter. She earned a Master of Education degree in Educational Inquiry from Teacher’s College of San Joaquin and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from California State University Stanislaus. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Bello is registered without party preference.
Matthew Asner, of Northridge, has been reappointed to the State Rehabilitation Council, where he has served since 2025. He has been President and Chief Executive Officer at The Ed Asner Family Center since 2018. He was Vice President of Development at Autism Society of America from 2016 to 2018. Asner held multiple positions at Autism Speaks from 2012 to 2016 including Director of Corporate Development and Executive Director. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and there is no compensation. Asner is a Democrat.