Angelov Farooq, founding director of the UC Riverside Center for Economic Development & Innovation, has been appointed as the chairman of the California Workforce Development Board, or CWDB, under Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration. As chairman, Farooq will be leading the largest state workforce development system in the country under the vision of the Governor and Secretary of Labor.

As an active member of the Riverside County Workforce Development Board for the past 12years, Farooq has been a leader in advocating for quality jobs in the region. As the President of the Riverside Unified School District Board of Trustees, he remains very active and engaged in local, state and national education policy and administration.

“It is essential for workforce development to be cultivated from cradle to career,” Farooq said. “A more integrated system between K-12, higher education and industry is the key to unlocking the potential of our students to have meaningful careers based on livable wages.”

The California Workforce Development Board collaborates with relevant state agencies to develop a common policy framework for the more than $6 billion investment of public workforce and career education that serves over 1.5 million people annually. CWDB also works closely with Governor's Office of Business & Economic Development, or GO-Biz, to identify specific needs when it comes to creating career pathways that provide businesses the skilled workforce they need in order to put unemployed and underemployed Californians back to work.

About the California Workforce Development Board:

The CWDB is responsible for assisting the Governor in performing the duties and responsibilities required by the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998. All members of the Board are appointed by the Governor and represent the many facets of workforce development – business, labor, public education, higher education, economic development, youth activities, employment and training, as well as the Legislature.