California Gov. Newsom names 3 Indian Americans to key positions
By Ryan General
February 22, 2024
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has nominated three Indian Americans to significant positions within the state administration.
Milestone in representation: On Feb. 20, Newsom’s office announced the appointment of Naginder Dhillon as deputy director of program support in the Division of Rehabilitative Programs at the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The news comes just days after the announcement of appointments of Hemant Dhingra and Nisha Devi Rodrigo in key governmental roles on Feb. 16. With backgrounds spanning healthcare, wellness, communications and public service, Democrats Dhillon, Dhingra and Rodrigo bring unique perspectives and expertise to their respective appointments.
Rehabilitative programs appointment: Dhillon, whose position does not require Senate confirmation, is based in Sacramento and has a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of California, Davis. She has served in various capacities within state departments, including the Corrections Department — as associate director of program support in the same division — the Department of Housing and Community Development and the Department of Public Health.
Key medical and wellness appointments: Dhingra, from Clovis, was appointed to the Medical Board of California, while Rodrigo, from San Francisco, was named to the Commission on the Status of Women and Girls. Both appointments require Senate confirmation.
Dhingra, who serves as Chief of Medical Staff at the Saint Agnes Medical Center of Fresno, served as the Founding Program director of Internal Medicine and president of the Nephrology Group. He has a Doctor of Medicine degree from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Rodrigo, founder of Kala Wellness and an Eastern Medicine practitioner with the United Nations, has previous experience in communications roles for MP Graham Allen in the UK Parliament and in the White House Counsel’s Office. She is a graduate of Loyola Marymount University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications.
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