SACRAMENTO — Gov. Jerry Brown on Jan. 27 announced the appointment of Joy Higa, 46, of Manhattan Beach to the California State Teachers’ Retirement Board.
The 12-member board administers CalSTRS (California State Teachers’ Retirement System). The board sets the policies and makes rules for the system and is responsible for ensuring benefits are paid by the system in accordance with law.
Higa has held multiple positions at the UnitedHealth Group since 2006, including vice president of regulatory affairs and health care reform, vice president of government affairs and vice president of regulatory and external affairs. She served in multiple positions at the California State Controller’s Office from 2004 to 2006, including deputy chief of staff for policy and policy director.
Higa was chief deputy secretary for cabinet affairs at the Office of Gov. Gray Davis in 2003 and was deputy director for plan and provider relations at the California Department of Managed Health Care from 2000 to 2003. She was director of health sciences governmental relations at UCLA from 1998 to 2000 and manager of government relations at PacifiCare Health Systems from 1996 to 1998.
This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Higa is a Democrat.