Newsom Appoints Cal’s Clothilde Hewlett Commissioner of Department of Financial Protection and Innovation
The Cal Alumni Association (CAA) proudly congratulates Governor Gavin Newsom on his appointment of CAA Executive Director Clothilde Hewlett as Commissioner of the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation for the State of California.
On September 29, 2021, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that Cal Alumni Association (CAA) Executive Director Clothilde “Cloey” Hewlett was appointed to serve as Commissioner of the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation for the State of California. Hewlett, who received her bachelor’s degree in 1976 and Juris Doctor degree in 1979 from the University of California, Berkeley, has served as executive director and chief legal officer for CAA since 2016. Her State appointment will begin in December of this year.
“On behalf of the board of directors and Cal alumni, I celebrate Cloey’s appointment to serve the State of California. This is another example of Cal alumni providing leadership for our great State,” remarked CAA President Alfonso Salazar. “As a proud Golden Bear and dynamic woman of color, she has demonstrated a tireless and boundless commitment to addressing the needs of our alumni community. Moreover, Cloey has galvanized efforts in support of access, equity, and inclusivity, paving the way for our next generation of leaders. I believe she is poised for excellence in her role as Commissioner.”
Six years ago, Hewlett brought a new vision to CAA, one that boldly sought to build a lifelong relationship with more than half a million living UC Berkeley graduates. She launched the Alumni Engagement Expansion Initiative to grow the number of alumni engaged with CAA and UC Berkeley, leading to broad support and spirit for Cal and a strong, connected alumni community worldwide.
Hewlett is dedicated to raising the next generation of UC Berkeley student leaders. She invested her energy in growing CAA’s scholarship and student-support programs, including The Achievement Award Program, providing financial assistance to low-income and first-generation students who may not otherwise be able to attend UC Berkeley. CAA now awards 900 scholarships per year, many to students from under-resourced and underrepresented communities who have a commitment to inspire and transform the world around them.
As the world tackled the COVID-19 pandemic and racial-justice issues, Hewlett led CAA’s accelerated pivot to provide virtual engagement and resources for students and alumni. She provided a platform for students from diverse backgrounds to share their own experiences with systemic racism.
Hewlett responded to the changing needs and makeup of the Cal alumni community. Under her leadership, the Association grew its career networking program and launched new initiatives to facilitate connections between Cal alumni and students. Furthermore, Hewlett invested in building the network of more than 90 alumni chapters across the United States, promoting diverse leadership and mobilizing the alumni-led groups to grow programming, advocacy efforts, and support for the university.
Under Hewlett’s tenure at CAA, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) honored the Association’s California magazine with its 2020 Grand Gold Award. CASE judges described the publication as “…a national-caliber magazine that would appeal even to readers who’ve never been west of the Rockies.”
The CAA Board of Directors will begin its search for a new executive director of the Association.
Founded in 1872, the Cal Alumni Association represents the entire UC Berkeley alumni community. CAA is a self-funded, nonprofit organization which exists to serve and support the University of California, Berkeley through an array of programs and services, including scholarships, legislative advocacy, student–alumni engagement, career development, innovative programming, travel, family camp, and the award-winning California magazine.
Office of Governor Gavin Newsom: Governor Newsom Announces Appointments 9.29.21