Ambassador Eleni Kounalakis was sworn in as the 50th Lieutenant Governor of California by Governor Gavin Newsom on January 7th, 2019. She is the first woman elected Lt. Governor of California. A native Californian, she visited each of the state’s 58 counties during her historic campaign. In addition to her duties as Lt. Governor, Kounalakis is California’s Representative for International Affairs and Trade, appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom by executive order.
The Lt. Governor plays an important role in California higher education as a member of the UC Board of Regents and the CSU Board of Trustees. I am committed to fighting to bring down the cost of higher education for California students. Here in California, we have one of the best systems of higher education in the world – but with costs soaring, college is out of reach for too many of our kids. It is time to change this.
Student Housing: As I traveled across California, I heard countless stories of students struggling to find places to live while going to school. As a housing expert, I realized that the soaring costs of higher education are not tuition alone - it’s housing too. Some students are forced to choose between a bed or books - and some even sleep in their cars because they have no other options. We can reduce the cost of higher education by making student housing more affordable, and as Lt. Governor, I will work tirelessly to make that a reality.
Student Debt: Many students and their families who don’t qualify for grants, and who can’t afford to pay out of pocket, turn to student loans to help pay their way through school. This means that students graduate with a pile of debt, making it much harder to buy a home, or make ends meet. Saddling our young people with debt so early in their lives and careers pushes them back beyond the starting line. California can to do better.
Free Community College: San Francisco became the first city in the nation to make community college free. Community colleges not only serve as an affordable means to higher education for students after high school, but they also serve as community hubs and adult education centers.
Value Career & Technical Education: I believe that California needs to create and support multiple pathways for people to succeed in higher learning. Allowing for more California high school kids to take Career and Technical Education (CTE) classes helps prepare students for in-demand careers, and builds a better-trained workforce to fuel our economy.