Government Relations

About Government Relations

The Government Relations Division represents the Chancellor's Office before the Legislature and executive branch of the state and federal government. In addition, it is responsible for formulating and advancing the legislative agenda of the system.

Questions about legislation that affect the community colleges may be directed to the division’s key contacts:

Marlene L. Garcia, vice chancellor
mgarcia@cccco.edu

Mike Magee, administrator/director, state government relations
mmagee@cccco.edu

Valerie Purnell, assistant vice chancellor for federal relations
vpurnell@cccco.edu

Rosa De Anda, policy specialist
rdeanda@cccco.edu

Justin C. Salenik, legislative analyst
jsalenik@cccco.edu 

Mary Meuel, legislative analyst
mmeuel@cccco.edu

Sandy Jacobson, staff services analyst
sjacobson@cccco.edu 

Stephanie Puentes, executive fellow
spuentes@cccco.edu

 

Vice Chancellor of Government Relations

Marlene L. Garcia

Vice Chancellor for Government Relations Marlene L. Garcia has close to 20 years experience working in the legislative arena. Currently, she is a gubernatorial appointee serving in the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. In this capacity she is responsible for overseeing implementation of the board of governor’s legislative advocacy program for both the state and federal levels, and represents the community colleges before the state Legislature and the administration. Marlene also works with community college statewide constituencies in addressing key issues of importance to the system. In 2011, she was instrumental in helping gain legislative passage of the landmark transfer guarantee degree bill, SB 1440 (Padilla).

Read More