Authority Members
Fiona Ma, CPA
State Treasurer
Background: Ms. Fiona Ma was elected California State Treasurer in November 2018. She previously served as Chair and Vice Chair of the California State Board of Equalization from 2015 to 2019, representing more than nine million taxpayers. There, she led historic reforms to increase efficiency and transparency at the agency. As a state legislator, she was the first and only Asian-American woman ever elected California Assembly Speaker pro Tempore, the second-highest ranking office in the Assembly. During her time as a legislator, she passed landmark legislation to ban toxic chemicals in children’s toys, protect small business-owners and expand opportunities for homeowners. She previously served as a San Francisco Supervisor.
Malia M. Cohen
State Controller
State Controller Malia M. Cohen was elected in November 2022, following her service on the California State Board of Equalization (BOE), the nation’s only elected tax commission responsible for administering California’s $100 billion property tax system. She was elected to the BOE in November 2018 and was Chair in 2019 and 2022. As Controller, she continues to serve the Board as its fifth voting member.
As chief fiscal officer of the world’s fifth-largest economy, Controller Cohen’s primary responsibility is to account for and protect the state‘s financial resources. Controller Cohen also independently audits government agencies that spend state funds, safeguards many types of property until claimed by the rightful owners, and administers the payroll system for state government employees and California State University employees. She serves on 70 boards and commissions with authority ranging from affordable housing to crime victim compensation to land management.
Joe Stephenshaw
Director of Finance
Joe Stephenshaw was appointed as Director of the California Department of Finance by Governor Newsom in July of 2022. In this role, he serves as the Governor’s Chief Fiscal Policy Advisor. Prior to his appointment, Stephenshaw served in Governor Newsom’s Office as a Senior Counselor on Infrastructure and Fiscal Affairs.
Stephenshaw was Staff Director for the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee from 2017 to 2022. He held multiple positions in the California Legislature from 2008 to 2017, including serving as a Policy Consultant in the Office of the Senate President pro Tempore, a Special Advisor to the Speaker of the Assembly, and as a Budget Consultant for both the Assembly Budget Committee and the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee. Stephenshaw was a Budget Analyst for the California Department of Finance from 2005 to 2008.
Stephenshaw is a graduate of Menlo College with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He also earned a Master of Business Administration degree from California State University, Sacramento.
Harold Hewitt, Jr.
Governor Appointee
Term Expires: April 30, 2027
Residence: Villa Park, California
Harold Hewitt, Jr. joined Chapman University as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in 2007. Mr. Hewitt has served independent higher education as a financial administrator for over 30 years, including as the Assistant to the Treasurer of the Claremont University Center (1986-88), Vice President for Business and Finance at Whittier College (1989-96), Vice President for Business and Finance and CFO at Occidental College (1996-06). His past professional association service includes: WACUBO’s representative to the NACUBO Small Institutions Council, the NACUBO Tuition Discounting Survey Advisory Board, Program Chair for NACUBO’s program “The Business of Enrollment Management;” member, WACUBO’s Professional Development Committee, Chair, WACUBO Host and Program Committees, President, WACUBO, and member, NACUBO Board of Directors. He has made several presentations and participated on program panels for NACUBO, WACUBO, and TIAA-CREF’s Higher Education Institute. He has been active for years as a volunteer for the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WSCUC), serving as a site visit team member, special visit team Chair, panel member for WSCUC appeal and review committees, Co-Chair of WSCUC’s Substantive Change Committee, and Chair of the WSCUC Commission. He earned his MBA with a concentration in finance from the Drucker School of Management at The Claremont Graduate University, and was awarded an honorary doctorate from Chapman University in 2021.
Kelly Ratliff
Governor Appointee
Term Expires: April 30, 2024
Residence: Sacramento, California
Background: Ratliff has been Vice Chancellor of Finance, Operations and Administration at University of California, Davis, since 2018 and has worked at UC Davis since 1987 in various roles, including Interim Vice Chancellor of Finance from 2016 to 2018 and Senior Associate Vice Chancellor of Finance and Resource Management from 2014 to 2016. Ratliff is Member of the Western Association of College and University Business Officers. Ratliff has a Master’s in Business Administration from University of California, Davis.