CLA Distinguished Alumni 2008

The Honorable Deborah Sanchez

The Honorable Deborah L. Sanchez (Sociology ’82), a member of the Chumash tribe, spent nearly two decades fighting criminals in the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office.  She was the first Indian woman to serve on the Superior Court for the city of Los Angeles. 

Judge Sanchez joined the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office nearly right away, where she spent 16 years as a prosecutor.  While there, she was responsible for prosecuting child pornography and exploitation cases, hate crimes, and enforcing worker-protection laws.  In addition to serving as the supervising attorney of the Special Enforcement Unit, Sanchez was recognized by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, members of the City Council, and others for her service on the Network Against Hate Crimes and the Criminal Justice Committee of the California State Bar. 

Robert Gore

 

Mr. Robert Gore (Journalism ’72, Speech Communication ’75) was appointed deputy cabinet secretary in the Office of the Governor by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.  In this role, he is responsible for policy development and implementation for all state agencies, annual state development and serves as the crises response manager for the Governor in events such as the Southern California firestorm in October 2007 and the San Francisco Bay oil spill.

 Gore also served as the public affairs director for Californians for Patient Care.  From 2001 to 2004, Gore served as vice president of governmental affairs for CH2M Hill. He previously served as vice president for the Association of California Insurance Companies and press secretary for the Office of former Governor George Deukmejian.