Testimonials
Legislature
Kimberly Rodriguez
Former Education Advisor
California Legislature
Senate Pro Tempore’s Office
“Karen Zamarripa’s expertise in higher education policy and budget issues is unparalleled. As staff, the ability to work with an advocate with her policy and fiscal depth is paramount to developing policies that benefit California students and their families.”
Lynn Lorber
Chief Consultant & Staff Director -Retired (2025)
Senate Education Committee
“Karen is a well-known and highly-respected fixture in the education policy community. Her experience sets her apart from others; not only does Karen have a deep understanding of policy, politics, and the process, she also has intimate knowledge of “why,” which allows her to accurately manage situations and predict outcomes. Karen’s close relationships with a wide network of educational professionals and other stakeholders empowers her to offer a complete array of professional guidance and advocacy.”
Jeanice Warden
Chief Consultant | California State Assembly | Committee on Higher Education
“Karen holds several unique characteristics that continuously set her apart from others. Not only does Karen have her pulse on current policy trends, but she is able to project and forecast trends in unparalleled ways. She can connect trends and patterns in policy and budget making and negotiations to get tangible results because of her knowledge, insight and experience; assisting policy makers in the Legislature and beyond, as they seek to address and tackle the plethora of policy and budget challenges. Karen’s ability to successfully navigate and provide key guidance and recommendations on many different policy and budget issues simultaneously has proven time and time again to be extraordinary. Karen has a proven track record of working with both sides of the aisle in diplomatic and thoughtful ways. As staff, being able to work with, and glean from, Karen, is beyond invaluable.”
Higher Education
Daniel Hurley
CEO, Michigan Association of State Universities
Former Associate V.P. for State Relations and Policy, American Association of State Colleges and Universities
“Karen Zamarripa is one of the nation’s foremost voices on how institutions and systems can harness the full array of stakeholders and resources to marshal state support for public higher education. From the strategic to the tactical, her years of experience serving as the chief advocate for the nation’s largest public university system makes her a terrific consultative source for helping institutions design, implement and evaluate a dynamic higher education state relations program.”
Eloy Ortiz Oakley
President and CEO, College Futures Foundation
Former Chancellor, California Community Colleges
President Emeritus, Long Beach Community College District
“As a colleague, I have consistently turned to Karen for advice and wisdom regarding some of the most challenging higher education policy issues in California. Her knowledge of the legislative and policymaking infrastructure is unmatched and makes her an extraordinary asset. Her tenacity and drive also make her a worthy opponent anyone or organization threatening the ability of the university to serve students.”
F. Owen Holmes Jr. ‘93
Retired Associate Vice President
University Advancement, Government and Community Relations
“Karen Y. Zamarripa is an integrated advocacy professional. A signature quality of Karen’s is strategic engagement of all stakeholders. Her results? Millions of students, many from underserved communities, were able to realize their dreams, in part, because of her leadership and expertise in integrated advocacy.”
Lark Park
Former senior advisor to Gov. Jerry Brown and member of the UC Board of Regents (until March 2029)
“Karen is a thoughtful, hard-working, compassionate, and savvy advocate for students and our higher education systems. She has been a candid and helpful partner in understanding sensitive issues such as system budgets, executive compensation, and how to attract and retain diverse leaders (a project she and Elaine Peters undertook for the UC Board of Regents). Her historical knowledge and strong relationships in higher education will be assets to those who seek to understand and influence the trajectory of higher education in California.”
Amy Costa
President of Full Moon Strategies
Immediate Past President, Board of Governors, California Community Colleges
Former CAE at Alameda County
“Karen possesses a unique combination of strategic thinking and in-depth knowledge of the legislative process and education policy. She understands how to leverage the power of public education into compelling statewide advocacy.”
Jessie Ryan (she/her/hers)
President, Campaign for College Opportunity
“With more than three decades of higher education experience, Karen has established herself as an invaluable resource to policymakers and Capitol staff. Her knowledge of the landscape, deep content expertise, and track record of getting things done make her one of the most effective higher education strategists in California.”
Dr. Jose Gomez
Superintendent and President | Pasadena City College
“Working with Karen Zamarripa for over 30 years has given me a front-row seat to her remarkable expertise and leadership across all sectors of higher education in California and beyond. Karen’s ability to navigate and influence policy in both Sacramento and Washington, D.C., is a testament to her strategic insight and unwavering commitment to education. Her deep understanding of the intricacies of the educational landscape, especially the diverse and complex community college system in California, is truly exceptional. Karen’s skill and expertise is her effective shepherding of challenging legislation, programs, and initiatives. She has a unique ability to anticipate potential roadblocks and devise innovative strategies to overcome them, ensuring that she is successful for clients. I have also seen firsthand her ability to build and lead a coalition, resulting in significant funding increases and policy reforms for her partners even in the most trying times.”
Christopher J. Reese
Associate Vice President
University Relations / University Relations and Development
CSU Long Beach
“Karen Zamarripa Consulting provides your organization unparalleled expertise and service. As a Higher Education Administrator, I’ve witnessed firsthand Karen’s extensive experience and the high level of trust she has built within her professional network. Her deep connections within elected offices across California and her ability to navigate and streamline bureaucratic processes are invaluable. Karen’s strategic alliances across the state facilitate the development of long-term relationships and partnerships that drive success for your organization. She is an exceptional asset to any initiative requiring expert knowledge and a strong network.”
Frances Teves
Vice President for University Advancement
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
“I have had the privilege of working with Karen and can confidently say that she is one of the most strategic and dedicated professionals in the field of public policy and advocacy, particularly higher education. Her strategic thinking, mission-driven approach, and political acumen allows her to navigate complex issues with ease. Karen’s ability to build coalitions is unparalleled, and her persistence and creativity always lead to successful outcomes. Working with Karen is a genuine pleasure. Her ability to connect meaningfully with a diverse cross-section of stakeholders and dedication to serving students, their families, and communities is evident in everything she does. It has been an honor to know and learn from her.”
Monica Henestroza
Higher Education Advisory to the California
Assembly Speaker
“Karen possesses the drive, experience and creativity to achieve ambitious goals for the higher education institutions she represents.”
Influencers
Jeffrey L. Bleich
Former United States Ambassador to Australia
Former Chair, California State University Board of Trustees
“Karen is strategic, tireless, mission-driven, and relates to others at all levels. She is simply one of the most capable people with whom I’ve had the privilege to work with in State government. She has a sophisticated grasp of policy, a strong instinct for opportunity, and the skills and heart to get things done.”
Bobbie Metzger
Former Press Secretary, California Governor Jerry Brown and Assembly Speaker Willie Brown
“California has the most complex systems of higher education in the country. In addition, government in the Golden State is complicated and arduous. Karen negotiated these institutions better than anyone I know with tenacity, a complete grasp of the issues and incredible success for more than a quarter century. Her strategic abilities, willingness to work hard to achieve the stated goals and her complete understanding of politics and higher education policy set her apart from all others in the field.”
Azizza Davis Goines
President and CEO
Sacramento Black Chamber of Commerce
“I’d want no one other than Karen championing for our advocacy needs. She’s acutely aware of her client’s needs and has an incredibly high success in getting them what they ask for. Karen will always be our go to advocate! I have learned so much from her along the way.”
Patrick Blacklock
Executive Director
Representatives of California Rural Counties (RCRC)
“Karen’s experience, expertise, and professional network was instrumental in helping us gain momentum in strengthening higher education access in counties outside the community college network.”
Business
Bob Linscheid
Senior Advisor to President, Economic Development for Cal Poly SLO
President and CEO, Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce
Former CSU Board of Trustees Chair
“I have worked with Karen Zamarripa for well over a decade in my role a Trustee for the California State University system. During the time our system benefitted greatly from her strategic, knowledgeable and respected insight in state, federal and local politics.
She is a quick study, an effective communicator, and a strong leader who not only knows what needs to get done but how to do it. There is no one more qualified to help an organization to develop a strategy that leads to success. The award-winning #standwithcsu is just the most recent example of her skill and expertise in creating a campaign, or better yet a political movement, which resulted in increased funding for the California State University (CSU) when no one thought it was possible.”
Lou Monville
Trustee Emeritus, California State University Board of Trustees and Former Chair of the Board, 2014-2016
Senior Vice President, Raincross Corporate Group
“Advocacy is important but what makes for a successful campaign is the strategy designed to achieve your policy and political goals. Having worked with Karen Zamarripa there is no doubt that she has the skill, knowledge and better yet the instinct to craft a winning strategy to get the job done for any organization or cause.”
Adam Day
Chief Administrative Officer, Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation
CAO, Sycuan Indian Nation
“Ms. Zamarripa is one of the best advocates I have had the opportunity to work with, and watch as she influenced both the policy and political processes of our state. And as someone who has direct experience in local, state and federal politics, I admire the success she has had over the decades for the system and our students. She knows how to connect the dots, make the case, tell a story, bring people together, and get the job done.”
Partnerships built on trust and shared purpose lead to the strongest outcomes.
