The University of California announced today the appointment of Regent Maria Anguiano as chair of the Board of Regents, and the appointment of Regent Mark Robinson as vice chair of the Board. Regents Anguiano and Robinson were appointed to their new roles by their fellow Regents and will serve one-year terms beginning tomorrow, July 1, 2026.
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A first-generation college student and longtime advocate for educational opportunity, Chair Anguiano most recently served as entrepreneur-in-residence at College Futures Foundation, where she focused on innovation and the future of higher education. Previously, she served as executive vice president at Arizona State University, where she built ASU’s Learning Enterprise into a global lifelong learning enterprise serving more than one million learners. She also served as vice chancellor of Planning and Budget at UC Riverside and held senior leadership roles at the University of California Office of the President. She began her career in finance at Barclays Capital and Deloitte, experience that has informed her approach to institutional strategy, financial stewardship, and governance. She currently serves as Chair of the James Irvine Foundation Board of Directors and is a member of the KIPP Foundation Board.
“As someone whose own life was transformed by higher education, it is an immense honor to serve as Chair of the UC Board of Regents,” said Chair Anguiano. “To me, stewardship is about more than preserving a great institution. It’s about building on the University’s extraordinary strengths so it continues to grow, adapt, and serve Californians for generations to come.”
Chair Anguiano grew up in National City, Calif. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics-Accounting from Claremont McKenna College and an MBA from Stanford University. She was appointed to the UC Board of Regents in 2017 by then-Gov. Jerry Brown.
“Regent Anguiano brings invaluable experiences and perspectives to this new role. Her own story, paired with her life’s work across the University and public higher education, have prepared her to lead the Board through the most consequential moment for higher education in our lifetimes,” said UC President James B. Milliken. “I look forward to our continued collaboration on expanding opportunity for hundreds of thousands of students, protecting research and patient care, and driving innovation and economic growth across the state.”
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Regent Mark Robinson, who was named vice chair of the Board of Regents, is the co-president of Centerview Partners Holdings LLC, an independent investment banking advisory firm. A past Chairman of the Board of the College of Letters and Sciences at UC Berkeley, Vice Chair Robinson and his wife, Stephanie, established the Robinson Life Science, Business, and Entrepreneurship (LSBE) Program, a dual-degree undergraduate program between UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business and the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology. Vice Chair Robinson earned his bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley, in addition to an MBA from Harvard University.
“My time on the Board of Regents has given me an even greater appreciation for the scale, complexity, and impact of the University of California,” said Vice Chair Robinson. “UC is not only educating future leaders and innovators — it is driving life-changing discoveries and breakthroughs that will shape California and the world for generations to come. I look forward to working with my fellow Regents to position the University for continued growth and success.”
“I am proud to congratulate Regent Anguiano as Chair and Regent Robinson as Vice Chair,” said outgoing Board Chair Janet Reilly. “Serving with Maria has been a true partnership, and I have seen firsthand her integrity, sound judgment, and unwavering dedication to the University of California and higher education. Mark has been an extraordinary advocate for UC throughout his career and brings a deep commitment to the University’s mission and future. Together, they will provide thoughtful, principled leadership, and I have every confidence they will continue to advance UC’s tradition of excellence.”
Appointed chairs for the Board’s standing committees in 2026–27 include:
Regent Gregory Sarris, chair of the Academic and Student Affairs Committee
Regent Michael Cohen, chair of the Finance and Capital Strategies Committee
Regent Carmen Chu, chair of the Public Engagement and Development Committee
Regent Ana Matosantos, chair of the Compliance and Audit Committee
Regent Jay Sures, chair of the Health Services Committee
Regent Hadi Makarechian, chair of the Investments Committee
Regent Jose M. Hernandez, chair of the National Laboratories Committee
Members of the Board of Regents are volunteers and serve without compensation. Find additional information about the Board here.