The University of California Regents today (Mar. 15) appointed Diane M. Griffiths, chief counsel of the California State Assembly Rules Committee, as the new secretary and chief of staff for the board. With Griffiths’ appointment, the position’s title and role have been expanded to include additional duties and responsibilities, reflecting the changing role of governing boards in today’s university setting.

“Diane Griffiths is a great addition to the University of California – she is an accomplished policymaker in a wide range of critical issues facing California, and her extensive experience working with large, complex, public organizations like UC will serve the regents and the University community well in the coming years,” said regents chairman Richard Blum. “As we enter a new era of management, long-range planning and public transparency, Diane’s expertise in helping the regents to guide policies, manage challenges and move forward crucial goals and programs will enhance the University’s ability to fulfill its mission to serve the people of California.”

Griffiths has worked for the California State Assembly for the past 18 years. As chief counsel to the Assembly Rules Committee, she currently provides legal advice on a broad range of legislative, administrative, judicial and personnel matters. Previously, she was chief counsel and policy director for Speaker Cruz Bustamante from 1996-98, and chief of staff and chief counsel to Speaker Robert Hertzberg from 2000-02.

Since 2002, Griffiths has also held an appointment as a commissioner of the California Medical Assistance Commission, which administers the state’s selective provider contracting program for hospitals serving Medi-Cal patients. Beginning last year, she has also been a member of UC’s Breast Cancer Research Council.

“I am grateful and humbled by this opportunity. UC has an enormous impact on the quality of life of every Californian,” Griffiths said. “As a UC graduate, I have personally benefited greatly from my experience with the University, and I look forward to contributing my energy and experience to help the regents fulfill that same promise of opportunity for other Californians.”

A two-time UC alumna, Griffiths received her B.A. in politics from UC Santa Cruz and her law degree from UC Berkeley’s Boalt Hall.

The secretary and chief of staff, together with the general counsel and the treasurer, is one of three principal officers of the UC Board of Regents.

Under the new structure adopted by the regents, the secretary and chief of staff will now oversee two management areas, covering the traditional duties of planning and coordinating regents’ meetings, fulfilling UC’s public transparency requirements, and handling board correspondence, as well as expanded responsibilities in the areas of independent policy research and analysis in support of the regents' decision-making, long-range planning and problem-solving related to significant challenges facing the 10-campus system.

Because of the expanded duties that the regents are now requiring of the role, Griffiths will receive an annual salary of $225,000, which represents an increase over the previous secretary’s $ 145,345 salary, along with the following additional items per University policy:

Standard health, pension and senior management benefits, including senior manager life insurance, executive business travel insurance, executive salary continuation for disability, and standard sick leave and vacation accrual; A 5% monthly contribution to the Senior Management Supplemental Benefit Program ($11,250); An automobile allowance of $8,916 per year; Use of administrative fund for official entertainment and other purposes permitted by University policy; Reimbursement of moving expenses and movement of household goods; Participation in the Mortgage Origination Loan Program, available to be exercised within 24 months from date of employment.

Griffiths will also receive as exceptions to policy:

Reimbursement of reasonable costs associated with temporary accommodations not to exceed $25,000 for a period of six months from date of employment; Reimbursement of up to $10,000 of reasonable costs associated with storage of household belongings during transition; In recognition of her 24 years of qualified state service, eligibility for the full University contribution for annuitant health benefits upon retirement. Griffiths is currently eligible for the full state contribution for annuitant health benefits if she were to retire from the Assembly rather than UC; UC will be providing a comparable benefit based on her prior state service. Similarly, providing credit for years of service with the state allows immediate eligibility for the senior management disability benefit to produce a replacement level of benefit comparable to the employer-provided disability benefits that Griffiths currently has with the state.

Griffiths follows Leigh Trivette, who served as secretary from 1993 until her retirement in July 2006. Associate secretary Anne Shaw has served as acting secretary for the past eight months.

The University received 28 applications for the position during the search process. The search committee included regents Richard Blum, Judith Hopkinson, Joanne Kozberg, Gerald Parsky and Norman Pattiz, who received advice from the general counsel and the chief of the UC Office of the President human resources department.

A copy of Griffiths’ resume is available at:
www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/2007/griffiths_resume.pdf

For more information about the responsibilities of the secretary and chief of staff:
www.universityofcalifornia.edu/regents/bylaws/bl21.html [Bylaw 21.3]

For more information about the UC Regents:
www.universityofcalifornia.edu/regents

About the University of California: The UC system includes 10 campuses, five medical centers and programs across the state. It is also involved in managing three national laboratories for the U.S. Department of Energy. The UC community encompasses 209,000 students, 170,000 employees, 45,000 retirees, and 1.4 million alumni living and working around the world.

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