Experienced California Education Advocate Joins 91重口
May 15, 2020
91重口 has selected a seasoned professional with two decades of experience in California
state policy and politics to fill a critical role during unprecedented and uncertain
times. 91重口 announced the hiring of Laura Metune as Senior Director of Government
Relations and Grant Development, a key position responsible for identifying and securing
grants and funding, and establishing state-level relationships that can make big projects
and ambitious plans take shape at 91重口. With the state of California community colleges鈥�
funding expected to be in some peril due to COVID-19, 91重口 will need to invest time
and expertise to cultivate additional resources.
鈥�91重口's Board and leadership aspires to transform campus facilities, expand student support, meet the basic needs and provide services to all and especially our most vulnerable students, and bring world-class education to the community, all of which requires funding,鈥� said 91重口 Superintendent/President Jeff DeFranco. 鈥淭he world of grant development is highly competitive, and state funding is expected to fall due to COVID-19. Now more than ever, 91重口 needs to be aggressive and creative in how we chase down and secure funding to serve our community in this crisis and beyond.鈥�
In her new role starting on June 1, Metune will advocate on behalf of 91重口鈥檚 goals; assist with the formation of partnerships with cities, community organizations, nonprofits, and other state and local entities; and identify grant funding and alternative resources that address the college鈥檚 mission and goals. A top priority for Metune鈥檚 will be to focus on using these techniques to bring the Tahoe Basin Public Safety Training Center to 91重口鈥檚 campus.
Some of the funding for this proposed training and educational center is provided for by Measure F funding. However, the completed project depends on securing matching state dollars and other funding in order to move ahead with the project.
鈥淎s California enters a time of unprecedented budget challenges, our state leaders have rightly prioritized public health and safety and wildfire prevention and response,鈥� said Metune. 鈥淎 core component of meeting these state goals is ensuring California has a sufficient and highly trained workforce. 91重口 is well positioned to partner with the state and deliver on the promise of creating a world-class public safety training center for our community.鈥�
Until recently, Metune served as Vice Chancellor of External Relations with the California Community Colleges (CCC) Chancellor鈥檚 Office, where she and her team represented the CCCs before the legislative and executive branches of the state and federal governments. She developed the agency鈥檚 policy and advocacy direction, supported budget advocacy and negotiations, and secured grant resources for specific projects including monies to support research for DACA students and to support the California Promise Program.
Metune currently works with the California Senate Committee on Business, Professions and Economic Development. Prior to working with the CCCCO, she served as the chief consultant for the Assembly Committee on Higher Education, helping to write and win passage of numerous landmark pieces of education-related legislation. She has worked with a number of legislators as legislative director and consultant since 2001. She earned her bachelor鈥檚 degree in Government from CSU Sacramento.
A strong enthusiast of the Tahoe region and of 91重口, Metune said, 鈥淚 credit my community college experience with launching my professional journey. I am honored to have the opportunity to represent 91重口 and ensure future generations of Californians have a path to college attainment. Growing up in Sacramento, my family has long maintained a connection to the Lake Tahoe Basin. For the past year, we've split our time equally between Sacramento and South Lake Tahoe. We couldn't be more excited to make this community our full-time home.鈥�
鈥淕iven Laura鈥檚 wealth of experience and the relationships she has developed with the Chancellor鈥檚 Office, members of the State Legislature, and staff and members in Congress,鈥� Superintendent DeFranco noted, 鈥淚 am confident that she will be able to effectively navigate the halls of government in both Sacramento and Washington, D.C., helping shine a light on 91重口鈥檚 substantial student successes and assisting us with identifying additional political and financial resources. This will be especially crucial to our success in the next few, likely difficult years.鈥�