As Co-Executive Director for Programs, Diana guides the vision for CEJA’s core programmatic functions: Energy Justice, Climate Justice, Land Use formerly known as Green Zones, Legislative, and Civic Engagement work, which includes overseeing CEJA Action and CEJA Action PAC. Diana, in partnership with Denise, brings community voices directly to those responsible for enacting meaningful and actionable environmental justice solutions.
A seasoned environmental justice advocate and policy maker, Diana will make sure that CEJA remains at the forefront of the fight for the health and safety of California’s most vulnerable communities. She comes to CEJA from her last role as Deputy Director for Legislation and Regulatory Review (appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom), at the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) – Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC).
Before joining DTSC, Diana worked as a Policy Manager at CEJA beginning in 2017, making this career change a homecoming. Diana is honored and humbled to return to such a warm welcome home to CEJA.
In previous roles, Diana has worked as a Policy Advocate at Sierra Club California from 2015 to 2016. Prior to that, Diana was a Legislative Assistant in the Office of State Assemblymember Ed Chau from 2012 to 2015. She was a Legislative Assistant and a Jesse M. Unruh Assembly Fellow in the Office of State Assemblymember Mike Eng from 2011 to 2012. Diana was also a proud Women’s Policy Institute (WPI) mentor/co-mentor for the environmental justice cohorts in 2017 and 2019.
Through her combination of cutting-edge EJ advocacy experience and years of legislative and regulatory work inside the state government, Diana will position CEJA as a uniquely qualified California EJ voice. Diana holds a Master of Public Policy from CSU, Monterey Bay and a BA in Political Science and Chican@ Studies from UC Davis. She resides in Sacramento, CA with her supportive partner and child.