Sen. Dodd: Mona Pasquil Rogers is Sacramento County Woman of the Year

WALNUT GROVE – Mona Pasquil Rogers, a State Personnel Board member and onetime acting lieutenant governor who became the first woman and Asian person ever to serve in that role, has been named Woman of the Year for Sacramento County by Sen. Bill Dodd.

“Mona has led an exemplary career in which she served not only her community but the people of California,” Sen. Dodd said. “Her dedication and hard work are an inspiration for all of us. I’m incredibly proud to recognize her for her achievements.”

“Like Sen. Dodd, public service has been a passion for me, whether it is getting involved in my local community or working at the state and national levels,” Pasquil-Rogers said. “I believe I made a difference and helped break barriers for women along the way. At the same time, I’m grateful to have worked with so many dedicated people. It is an honor to receive this recognition from someone I so greatly respect.”

Pasquil Rogers, who lives in Walnut Grove, was appointed to the State Personnel Board in 2019, and was elected to serve as the board’s vice president for 2021. She previously served as senior advisor in the California Office of Emergency Services and was as appointments secretary in the office of Gov. Jerry Brown. The Sacramento County native is the first Filipino-American in California history to serve as appointments secretary. Before that, she was chief of staff to California Lt. Gov. John Garamendi. When Garamendi was elected to Congress, Pasquil Rogers was appointed acting lieutenant governor from 2009 to 2010. This marked the first time a woman, Asian Pacific Islander or Filipino-American, had served as lieutenant governor of California.

She filled a number of roles in California politics before then, including serving as political director for Gov. Gray Davis. Pasquil Rogers founded the Asian Pacific Youth Leadership Project of California, an organization dedicated to boosting Asian and Pacific Islander youth involvement in California policy. Currently, she is director of California public policy at Facebook.

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Senator Bill Dodd represents the 3rd Senate District, which includes all or portions of Napa, Solano, Yolo, Sonoma, Contra Costa, and Sacramento counties. You can learn more about the district and Senator Dodd at www.sen.ca.gov/dodd.