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Staff & Leadership

The leadership and staff of the External Relations and Communications division bring years of experience and expertise to the CSU. Get to know them and the areas they represent.

Greg Saks

Greg Saks
Vice Chancellor
External Relations and Communications
P: (562) 951-4625
Biography

Pati Navalta

Pati Navalta
Associate Vice Chancellor
Strategic Communications
and Brand Marketing
P: (562) 951-4680
Biograph​y

Melissa Watkins

Melissa Watkins
Assistant Vice Chancellor
Systemwide Advancement
P: (562) 951-4402
Biography

Nathan Dietrich

Nathan Dietrich
Assistant Vice Chancellor
Advocacy & State Relations
P: (916) 320-4875
Biography

Jeff Cullen Jeff Cullen
Assistant Vice Chancellor
Federal Relations
P: (771) 241-1469

Jeff Cullen Samantha Cypret
Executive Director
Tribal Relations
P: (916) 449-3543​
Biography


Organizational Chart


Staff Directory

External Relations and Communications

(562) 951-4625

Greg Saks
Vice Chancellor
External Relations and Communications

Carrie Stewart
Senior Advisor, Campus Advancement
(310) 955-7139

Shannon Matthews
Director of Operations

Kathleen David
Executive Assistant

Lisa Hull
Budget and Office Support Analyst


Advocacy and State Relations

CSU Advocacy and State Relations
915 L Street, Suite #1160
Sacramento, California 95814
Phone: (916) 445-5983

Nathan Die​​​trich
Assistant Vice Chancellor
Advocacy and State Relations

Eric Bakke
Director, State Relations

Yarikza Comparan
Manager, Operations and Administration

Adriana Gomez
Legislative Advocate

Maryann Reyes

Director of External and Tribal Relations

VACANT
Associate Legislative Advocate

Mary Meuel
Assistant Director

VACANT
Manager, University Relations & Advocacy​

Anabel Urbina
Associate Legislative Advocate​​​​

Maggie White
Senior Legislative Advocate

VACANT
​Legislative Administrative Assistant


Tribal Relations

915 L Street, Suite #1160
Sacramento, California 9581​​4

Samantha Cypret
Executive Director

Adriane Tafoya
CSU CalNAGPRA Project Manager


Michelle Hansen
Administrative Support Coordinator


Federal Relations

CSU Office of Federal Relations
444 N. Capitol St. NW, Suite 207
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: (202) 921-4874

Jeff Cullen
Assistant Vice Chancellor, Federal Relations

Greg Schuckman
Senior Manager, Agency Relations

VACANT
Legislative Director

Trevor Guthrie
Federal Relations Manager

VACANT
Policy Specialist


Strategic Communications and Brand Marketing

Pati Navalta
Associate Vice Chancellor
Strategic Communications and Brand Marketing

Integrated Internal Communications

Jeanne Fratello
Interim Senior Director, Integrated Internal Communications

Alex Beall
Writer and Editor

Alisia Ruble
Strategic Communications Writer

Brenda Wong
Editorial Content Manager

Marketing Communications

(562) 951-4670

Caron Laird
Interim Senior Director, Marketing Communications

VACANT
Photographer/Videographer

Matthew Barrie
Web Developer

Jen Cook
Senior Project Manager, Marketing

Victor Garcia
Graphic Designer

Raquel Griffiths
Director of Production

Liz Hurtado
Marketing Communications Coordinator

Jina Kim
Art Director

Roger Morrow
Print Services Manager

Susie Nakao
Graphic Designer

Jae Paik
Manager, Web Development

Jay Pearson
Marketing Manager

Aaron Rawls
Web Developer

Salvador Rodriguez
Marketing Communications Manager

Joseph Soltis
Project Manager

Greg Steiner
Print Services Lead

Ricky Sua
SharePoint Developer

Apryll White
Administrative Assistant

Media Relations and Public Affairs​

(562) 951-4800

Jason Maymon
Senior Director
Media Relations and Public Affairs

Amy Bentley-Smith
Director, Strategic Communications and Public Affairs

Hazel Kelly
Strategic Communications and Public Affairs Manager

Shaidy Ruiz
Social Media Specialist

Janessa Thropay
Strategic Communications and Public Affairs Coordinator


Systemwide Advancement & CSU Foundation

(562) 951-4810

Melissa Watkins
Assistant Vice Chancellor
Systemwide Advancement

Jodi Braverman
Manager, Constituent Engagement

Sam Camarena
Manager, Advancement Academy

Wendy Chavira Garcia
Senior Manager, Development & Donor Relations

Aaron Moore
Executive Director, Advancement

Kim Shibata
Administrative Coordinator, Advancement

Donnie Tippie
Administrative Coordinator, Advancement Services


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