ARCHES Board
Dr. Theresa A. Maldonado, Board Chair & Founding Member Representative
Theresa A. Maldonado is the systemwide Vice President for Research & Innovation (R&I) at the University of California Office of the President (UCOP). In this role she leads large-scale efforts that utilize the expertise and assets of the UC system’s 10 campuses, three UC-managed DOE national labs, UC Agriculture & Natural Resources (ANR), and UC Health. Recent achievements include leading the $100M California Climate Action Initiative, steering California’s $1.2B DOE Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES), and facilitating the UC and statewide response to the CHIPS Act opportunities. In addition, she is working to revitalize UC’s innovation transfer ecosystem. R&I also provides oversight of multi-campus research centers and institutes. As the UC system’s chief research officer, VP Maldonado has championed team science; engaged key stakeholders; welcomed collaborators historically excluded from participation; and harnessed the power of UC to produce transformative solutions via research, research translation, innovation, and policy.
In addition to her 33-year academic experience, Dr. Maldonado has extensive experience at the federal level, having served two terms at the National Science Foundation for a total of six years, including four years as Division Director in the Engineering Directorate. At NSF she was engaged in advancing engineering research centers, education, and commercialization initiatives. She co-chaired the NSF-wide CAREER Coordinating Committee. She also served on the committee that established the ADVANCE program and on the NSF-wide National Nanotechnology Initiative committee. When at Texas A&M, Maldonado served on the NSF Math and Physical Sciences Advisory Committee as well as chaired the Committee on Equal Opportunities in Science and Engineering (CEOSE), a congressionally mandated advisory committee to NSF. As a junior faculty, she was recognized with a NSF Presidential Young Investigator award.
Before entering academia, Dr. Maldonado was a member of technical staff at AT&T Bell Laboratories. She earned the BEE with Highest Honors, MSEE, and PhD degrees in Electrical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Her research background is in nonlinear optical devices and materials, electromagnetics, and optical fiber technologies. Dr. Maldonado is a registered Professional Engineer in Texas.
DeeDee Myers, Founding Member Representative
Dee Dee Myers is Senior Advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom and Director of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development. She brings more than three decades of experience in strategic communications, public affairs, corporate governance and social responsibility in both the public and private sectors. Most recently, she served as Executive Vice President, Worldwide Corporate Communications and Public Affairs for Warner Bros. She was a member of the company’s executive committee and advised the CEO on a wide range of issues. Prior to joining Warner Bros., Ms. Myers served as Managing Director of the Glover Park Group. Ms. Myers served as White House Press Secretary during President Bill Clinton’s first term and was the first woman to hold the position. After leaving the White House, she worked as a political analyst, commentator and writer as well as a contributing editor to Vanity Fair. She is the author of The New York Times best-selling book “Why Women Should Rule the World” and served as a consultant on the Emmy Award-winning drama series “The West Wing.” Before joining the Clinton presidential campaign in 1991, Ms. Myers worked on a number of local, state and national campaigns. She served as press secretary for Dianne Feinstein in her 1990 bid for governor of California and worked on the presidential campaigns of Governor Michael S. Dukakis and Vice President Walter F. Mondale. She also worked on the staffs of Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley and California State Senator Art Torres. Myers also serves on Board of Directors of Wynn Resorts International, a publicly- traded Fortune 500 Company that develops and operates 5 Star integrated resorts in the United States and Macau. She also serves on the boards of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History and the Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles. A graduate of Santa Clara University, she lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Todd S. Purdum and their children.
Chris Hannan, Founding Member Representative
Chris Hannan was sworn in as President of the State Building and Construction Trades Council in July 2023 after being unanimously elected by the SBCTC Executive Board. Previously, Hannan served as Executive Secretary of the LA/OC Building Trades. Hannan, a 27-year union member, began his career as an apprentice at Sprinkler Fitters UA Local 709 and became a journeyman, apprenticeship instructor, and then President of the local. Hannan resides in Orange County with his wife and two children.
Dr. Bill Burke, Founding Member Representative
William Arthur 'Bill' Burke is a prominent business and political figure in Southern California, best known for founding the City of Los Angeles Marathon and his extensive service on the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) Board.
As the AQMD Board representative for the Speaker of the Assembly for 27 years, including an unprecedented 23 years as Chairman, Burke initiated several groundbreaking policies. These include the Environmental Justice program, Asthma and Outdoor Air Quality Consortium, Health Effects of Air Pollution Foundation, and the 'Helping Hand Initiative' to protect health and jobs during economic downturns.
Burke's diverse career spans healthcare, mining, and sports event organization. He organized the 1984 Olympic tennis events, founded the L.A. Marathon, and created the Los Angeles Vintage Grand Prix. In politics, he served as Consul General to Mali and on various state and city boards.
Dr. Burke holds multiple degrees and has received numerous awards, including the EPA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023. He is married to retired Los Angeles County Supervisor and former Congresswoman Yvonne Brathwaite Burke.
Bo Mazzetti, Voting Representative
Rincon Chairman Bo Mazzetti grew up and lives on the Rincon Reservation. Following his father's example, Mazzetti was elected Tribal Chairman of the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians in 2007. He previously served terms as Vice Chairman and Council Member. Mr. Mazzetti, with chairpersons in Northern and Central California, established the California Tribal Chairpersons' Association (CTCA), which was recognized by the State Assembly and Senate in 2019. Mr. Mazzetti also serves as President of the San Luis Rey Indian Water Authority, a consortium of five tribes that have been engaged in political and legal activities for 40 plus years to secure water resources lost through federal granting of tribal water rights to local cities. Formerly employed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Mr. Mazzetti served as the first Indian Community Affairs and Citizen Assistance Officer for San Diego County. He has also owned and operated Mazzetti and Company, a reservation based general building, engineering and well drilling company since 1979. Mr. Mazzetti attended Laverne College on a football scholarship and graduated from California Polytechnic University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Behavioral Science. Mr. Mazzetti also served in the United States Navy and is a Vietnam Veteran.
*Additional Board members to be announced in the near future.