David O'Brien
Vice Chancellor for Government Relations
As Vice Chancellor of Government Relations, David O’Brien oversees a division responsible for formulating and advancing the legislative agenda of the California Community Colleges and represents the Chancellor's Office before the Legislature and executive branch of the state and federal governments.
Prior to joining the Chancellor's Office in April 2020, O’Brien was the director of government affairs for the California Student Aid Commission since October 2016, a role that placed him as the commission’s primary liaison to the state Legislature, the Governor’s Office, the California Department of Finance and other agencies on matters related to financial aid and college affordability. That made him a critical figure in the commission’s efforts to reform and expand California’s financial aid programs. Prior to joining the Student Aid Commission, O’Brien worked for nearly five years as a legislative manager for the California Department of State Hospitals, a legislative analyst for the state Department of Mental Health and as a legislative assistant for the California Environmental Protection Agency. He has a bachelor’s degree in political science and government from California State University, Sacramento.
Dr. Linda Vazquez
Assistant Vice Chancellor for State and Federal Relations
Dr. Linda Vazquez is a first-generation college student, one of six children, and a former undocumented immigrant. She currently serves as the Assistant Vice Chancellor of State and Federal Relations for the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. Dr. Vazquez has 20 years of experience working in higher education and advocacy. In her roles at Cal State Fullerton and Rio Hondo College, she worked as community ambassador, student advisor and scholarship coordinator. She facilitated financial aid and college application workshops for students, and organized parent engagement workshops on the road to college. She has helped hundreds of students navigate the assessment, financial aid, enrollment and matriculation process. Through these roles, she learned how complex the college-going process can be for first-generation college students, which inspired her to pursue a degree and career in education policy. Dr. Vazquez also served as Senior Public Affairs Director for the Campaign for College Opportunity, where she led cross-sector coalitions and efforts for the successful passage of several historic community college student success policies, including the Student-Centered Funding Formula, equitable placement, and funding for Dream Resource Liaisons. Now in her role as Assistant Vice Chancellor, she helps lead the state and federal legislative portfolio for the largest system of higher education in the nation.
Dr. Vazquez holds a Political Science B.A. from California State University, Fullerton, with minors in Spanish & Chicano/a Studies and an M.A. in Leadership, Policy, and Politics from Teachers College, Columbia University. She earned her doctorate in Organizational Change & Leadership at the University of Southern California.
