The Opportunity Institute’s vision is set and supported by leaders in multiple sectors, including academia, health, policy, politics, and philanthropy.

Our board members have served in the White House and governor’s offices; founded, run, and staffed nonprofit organizations; authored scientific and academic research and books; and more.

Board of Directors

Laura D’Andrea Tyson Chair Member, Executive and Compensation committeesProfessor and former dean, UC Berkeley Haas School of Business; former Director, National Economic Council, White House — Laura D’Andrea Tyson
Chair
Member, Executive and Compensation committees
Professor and former dean, UC Berkeley Haas School of Business; former Director, National Economic Council, White House

Christopher Edley, Jr. MemberThe Opportunity Institute, Co-Founder; Professor and former dean, UC Berkeley School of Law — Christopher Edley, Jr.
Member
The Opportunity Institute, Co-Founder; Professor and former dean, UC Berkeley School of Law

Robert Reich MemberChancellor’s Professor of Public Policy; former U.S. Secretary of Labor — Robert Reich
Member
Chancellor’s Professor of Public Policy; former U.S. Secretary of Labor

Thomas Saenz Secretary Member, Executive and Compensation committeesPresident and General Counsel of MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) — Thomas Saenz
Secretary
Member, Executive and Compensation committees
President and General Counsel of MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund)

Robert Shireman Member, Executive, Audit, and Compensation committeesSenior Fellow, The Century Foundation; founder, California Competes — Robert Shireman
Member, Executive, Audit, and Compensation committees
Senior Fellow, The Century Foundation; founder, California Competes

Arnie Sowell MemberVice President of California Policy, NextGen America — Arnie Sowell
Member
Vice President of California Policy, NextGen America

Mark G. Yudof MemberUniversity of California President Emeritus; Professor of Law, Berkeley Law — Mark G. Yudof
Member
University of California President Emeritus; Professor of Law, Berkeley Law

Former Board Members

Ann O’Leary Co-Founder, Former Board MemberChief of Staff, California Gov. Gavin Newsom — Ann O’Leary
Co-Founder, Former Board Member
Chief of Staff, California Gov. Gavin Newsom

Kim Belshé Former Board MemberExecutive Director, First 5 LA — Kim Belshé
Former Board Member
Executive Director, First 5 LA

Heather Boushey Former Board MemberChief Economist, Washington Center for Equitable Growth; Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress — Heather Boushey
Former Board Member
Chief Economist, Washington Center for Equitable Growth; Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress

Alida Garcia Member, Audit committeeDirector of Coalitions & Policy, FWD.us — Alida Garcia
Member, Audit committee
Director of Coalitions & Policy, FWD.us

Nadine Burke Harris Former Board MemberSurgeon General of California — Nadine Burke Harris
Former Board Member
Surgeon General of California

Lenny Mendonca Former Board MemberChief Economic and Business Advisor at State of California — Lenny Mendonca
Former Board Member
Chief Economic and Business Advisor at State of California

Tom Steyer Former Board MemberFounder, NextGen America — Tom Steyer
Former Board Member
Founder, NextGen America

Bertram Lubin, M.D. Former Board Member, Associate Dean of Children’s Health, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals — Bertram Lubin, M.D.
Former Board Member,
Associate Dean of Children’s Health, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals

Bill Richardson MemberFormer Governor of New Mexico, Member of Congress, Secretary of Energy, and Ambassador to the United Nations — Bill Richardson
Former Board Member
Former Governor of New Mexico, Member of Congress, Secretary of Energy, and Ambassador to the United Nations