Commission Senior Management Staff
Marlene L. Garcia
Executive Director
”As a low-income, first-generation college student who received a Cal Grant to pay for college, I consider it a true honor to lead the CA Student Aid Commission in serving the many students like me who would not succeed in college with out financial aid.”
Marlene Garcia is the Executive Director of the California Student Aid Commission where she oversees a budget of close to $5 billion and a team of 125. She is passionate about expanding educational opportunity by removing financial barriers to college success.
Julia Blair
General Counsel
Prior to joining the Commission, Ms. Blair and spent thirteen years in the private and public sector, where she practiced state mandates, education, and natural resource law. Prior to that, she was a judicial extern for the Honorable Judge Garland E. Burrell, Jr. of the United State District Court Eastern District of California.
Catalina Mistler
Chief Deputy Executive Director
As Chief Deputy Executive Director, Catalina Mistler is responsible for the oversight of the administration and delivery components of the California Student Aid Commission’s numerous grant, loan assumption and scholarship programs, including the $1 billion annual Cal Grant program that provides low income California students financial assistance at colleges and career technical schools.
Jessica Moldoff
Division Chief of Policy, Research & Data
As Divison Chief of Data, Analysis and Research, Jessica Moldoff oversees and directs the research and data governance functions of CSAC and manages the Data, Analysis and Research Team. She is responsible for facilitating research on program effectiveness and financial aid administration, as well as overseeing CSAC’s reports, program projections, and ad hoc data requests.
Tae Kang
Division Chief of Program Administration & Services
As the Division Chief of Program Administration and Services, Tae Kang oversees the administration of the California Student Aid Commission’s financial aid programs including the Cal Grant, Middle Class and Chafee grant. Additionally, his division provides service and training to students, parents, high schools and universities throughout California.
Lilly Myers
Deputy Director, Fiscal and Administrative Services Division
As the Deputy Director of the Fiscal and Administrative Services Division, Lilly Myers oversees the administrative functions for the Commission including the Budget Office, Accounting, Human Resources, and Business Services.
Jake Brymner
Deputy Director for Policy & Public Affairs
Jake Brymner serves as the Deputy Director for Policy & Public Affairs for the California Student Aid Commission, the nation’s largest state financial aid agency. Prior to joining the Commission in June 2020, Jake was the State & Federal Policy Director for the Campaign for College Opportunity, a non-profit policy research and advocacy organization that promotes college access and student success. Jake has also previously held roles in the office of Congressman Eric Swalwell, the Goldman School of Public Policy, and several political campaigns.