Karen Y. Zamarripa (’00, Public Policy and Administration), assistant vice chancellor for advocacy and institutional affairs for the California State University system

Karen Zamarripa leads the CSU system’s Sacramento team in advocating on budget and legislative issues in the State Capitol and California government. In addition, she oversees systemwide alumni and community relations. In 2004, she received the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education’s Marvin D. “Swede” Johnson award, given annually to the top university state relations professional in the country.

Previously Zamarripa represented K-12 schools for the California Boards Association and served as a staff member in the State Senate. She chairs the State Relations Task Force and has served on the board of directors of Leadership California for seven years including two terms as President. She was honored with the Leadership California Service Award in 2002. She has also served as president of Capitol Network.