Governor Newsom Announces New State Appointments

SACRAMENTO, September 18, 2025 (CALIFORNIA NEWS TODAY) — California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced several appointments to state boards and departments.

Lucia Saldivar of Sacramento has been appointed Deputy Director of Board and Bureau Relations at the California Department of Consumer Affairs. Saldivar has served as Chief of Staff for Assemblymember Lisa Calderon since 2022 and previously worked in the office of Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin from 2017 to 2021. She is a member of the HOPE Leadership Institute and the California Latino Capitol Association Foundation. This position does not require Senate confirmation, with compensation set at $156,504.

Shelly Jones of Rocklin has been appointed Assistant Deputy Director of Board and Bureau Relations at the California Department of Consumer Affairs. Jones has worked in leadership roles at the Department of Consumer Affairs since 2015 and previously served in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. This position does not require Senate confirmation, with compensation set at $125,004.

Ram M. Vaderhobli of Belmont has been appointed to the Dental Board of California. Vaderhobli is a Clinical Professor at the University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry and serves as Dental Director for its Advanced Education in General Dentistry program. He has held positions in dental education and research since 2003. This position does not require Senate confirmation, with compensation of $100 per diem.

Olivia Mae Asuncion of Oakland has been appointed to the California Commission on Disability Access. Asuncion is a Project Architect at Quattrocchi Kwok Architects and previously worked at Shah Kawasaki Architects. She is also a public member of the U.S. Access Board. This appointment requires Senate confirmation, with compensation of $100 per diem.

Nancy Duong of San Gabriel has been reappointed to the California Board of Accountancy, where she has served since 2024. Duong is Co-Founder of Tocqueville Investment and Partner at Santa Clarita In Home Tutoring. She previously held positions at Prudential Private Capital and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. This position does not require Senate confirmation, with compensation of $100 per diem.

Jeffery Molnar of Crescent City has been appointed to the 41st District Agricultural Association – Del Norte Fair Board. Molnar is Director of Facilities at Sutter Coast Hospital and previously worked at Providence Medford Medical Center. This appointment does not require Senate confirmation and carries no compensation.

Kevin G. Walthers of Santa Maria has been appointed to the 35th District Agricultural Association – Santa Maria Fair Board. Walthers has been President of Allan Hancock College since 2013 and has held administrative roles in higher education in California, Utah, and West Virginia. This appointment does not require Senate confirmation and carries no compensation.

For more information, visit www.gov.ca.gov.

Source: Office of Governor Gavin Newsom