Governor Newsom appoints leaders to state boards including consumer affairs, dentistry, disability access

Governor Gavin Newsom has announced several new appointments to various boards and commissions across California.

Lucia Saldivar, based in Sacramento, will serve as Deputy Director of Board and Bureau Relations at the California Department of Consumer Affairs. Saldivar most recently served as Chief of Staff for Assemblymember Lisa Calderon and previously held legislative roles in the offices of Assemblymembers Jacqui Irwin and Lisa Calderon. She is active in organizations such as the HOPE Leadership Institute and the California Latino Capitol Association Foundation. Saldivar holds an MBA from the University of California, Davis, and a bachelor’s degree from Barnard College. The position does not require Senate confirmation, with compensation set at $156,504. Saldivar is a Democrat.

Shelly Jones of Rocklin has been appointed Assistant Deputy Director of Board and Bureau Relations at the same department. Jones brings experience from her current role as Division Chief within the Strategic Organizational Leadership and Individual Development Unit at the Department of Consumer Affairs. Her previous positions include management roles at both the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Division of Juvenile Justice and Juvenile Parole Board dating back to 1996. This appointment also does not require Senate confirmation; compensation is $125,004. Jones is registered without party preference.

Ram M. Vaderhobli, residing in Belmont, will join the Dental Board of California. Vaderhobli is a Clinical Professor at UCSF School of Dentistry and serves as Dental Director for its Advanced Education in General Dentistry program. He has held leadership roles with New York University Langone Health Dental Medicine’s regional program since 2015 and Lutheran Medical Center before that. His professional affiliations include fellowships with multiple dental organizations such as the American College of Dentists and memberships in research associations related to dentistry. Vaderhobli earned degrees from Alfred University (MS) and R.V. Dental College, Bangalore University (BDS). This board seat does not require Senate confirmation; compensation is $100 per diem.

Olivia Mae Asuncion from Oakland has been named to the California Commission on Disability Access pending Senate confirmation, with compensation set at $100 per diem. Asuncion works as a Project Architect for Quattrocchi Kwok Architects after holding design positions at Shah Kawasaki Architects between 2015-2021. She also serves as a public member on the United States Access Board.

Nancy Duong, based in San Gabriel, has been reappointed to continue serving on the California Board of Accountancy where she began her service last year. Duong co-founded Tocqueville Investment in 2019 while partnering with Santa Clarita In Home Tutoring since 2021; prior experience includes investment work for Prudential Private Capital and policy analysis for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. She holds graduate degrees from Princeton University (MPA) and undergraduate credentials from UC Berkeley.

Jeffery Molnar will serve on Del Norte Fair Board (41st District Agricultural Association). Molnar currently directs facilities at Sutter Coast Hospital following previous engineering roles at Providence Medford Medical Center over more than a decade.

Kevin G. Walthers joins Santa Maria Fair Board (35th District Agricultural Association). Walthers leads Allan Hancock College as president since 2013 after similar posts including Las Positas College presidency; he remains involved with local business groups such as chambers of commerce along with education-related boards.

All appointments reflect Governor Newsom's ongoing efforts to fill key state positions across sectors including consumer affairs oversight, health professions regulation, disability access advocacy, accountancy standards enforcement, community fair operations, higher education administration, and public facility management.