Alums in Politics
Rusty Areias (B.S., Agriculture, ’74) has
been the director of the California Department of Parks and Recreation
since 1999. Areias also served as a California assembly member from
1983 to 1994.
James Branham (B.A., Political Science, ’77)
is undersecretary for the Environmental Protection Agency. Branham
has also been undersecretary for the California Resources Agency
as well as a state senate staff member.
A former assistant to the president of the United States and director
of the advance team for First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton,
Kelly Craighead-Mullen (B.A., Recreation Administration,
’89) is currently the fundraising director for Senator Clinton’s
political action committee.
Rebecca Hanks (B.A., Journalism and B.A., Political
Science, ’99) worked on Senator John McCain’s presidential
campaign, became his deputy press secretary, and then press secretary
in January 2002. Most recently she is press secretary for the U.S.
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee,
chaired by McCain.
William Lyons (B.S., History, ’73; Secondary
Teaching Credential, ’74) was secretary for the California
Department of Food and Agriculture from 1999 to 2003.
Serving as public adviser for the California Energy Commission from
1997 to 2003, Roberta E. Mendonca (B.A., Social
Sciences, ’63) ensured that opportunities were available for
the public to participate in the commission’s proceedings.
Jason Peltier (B.S., Agriculture, ’79) was
appointed as deputy assistant secretary for Water and Science, where
he assists others at the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Geological
Survey in management oversight and policy.
A 30-year career as a political strategist has given Edward
J. Rollins (B.A., Political Science, ’68) the opportunity
to work for Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Ronald Reagan. He is
also a CBS News political commentator.
Mike Thompson (B.A., Public Administration and
Economics, ’82; M.A., Public Administration, ’86) served
as a California senator for eight years. He has been a congress
member for California’s First District since his election
in 1998.
In 1998, Donald W. Upson (B.A., International Relations,
’77) was named as the first secretary of technology for the
state of Virginia and served until 2002.
Don Young (B.A., Social Sciences and Credential,
’59) is serving his 16th term as the only member in the U.S.
House of Representatives from Alaska. From 1970 to 1973, he was
an Alaska state senator.
Elizabeth Downs, Public Affairs and Publications
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