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NEW APPOINTMENT - Former Los Angeles City Councilmember Mike Bonin has been appointed Executive Director of the Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs (PBI) at Cal State LA, the university announced this week. Bonin will step into the role on May 1, 2025, succeeding Sascha Brown Rice, granddaughter of former Governor Pat Brown, who served as interim executive director since 2024.
The appointment marks a new chapter for both Bonin and the institute, which is a nonpartisan, presidentially chartered center focused on advancing social justice, civic engagement, and equitable public policy across California.
“I am honored by the opportunity to lead the Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs,” said Bonin. “The institute focuses on the things I am passionate about: informing, educating, and engaging people in public affairs; researching and elevating smart public policy; and lifting up a new generation of leaders.”
Bonin represented Los Angeles' Westside on the City Council from 2013 to 2022, where he was known for his leadership on homelessness, renter protections, climate action, and transit access. He served on the Metro board, helped expand clean energy initiatives, and led efforts to provide free public transit for students.
After leaving office, Bonin remained a vocal civic voice, teaching public policy at Occidental College and Loyola Marymount University, and serving as a senior fellow with LA Forward Institute and a consultant to Local Progress, a network of progressive local officials nationwide.
Cal State LA President Berenecea Johnson Eanes called Bonin “an ideal leader to advance the Institute’s mission”, adding, “Mike will provide critical guidance in motivating young people to be engaged in their communities; raising awareness of timely policy issues; and bringing public officials closer to their constituents.”
Bonin has also stayed active in media, hosting the What’s Next Los Angeles podcast, co-hosting the LA Podcast, and frequently writing about racial and economic equity. His work has earned him numerous honors, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Stonewall Democrats and the Local Legislator Award from the National Homelessness Law Center.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in U.S. History from Harvard University and lives in Mar Vista.
The Pat Brown Institute, named for California’s 32nd governor, continues to serve as a hub for civic leadership, policy research, and inclusive public dialogue. With Bonin at the helm, the institute is expected to deepen its commitment to community engagement and the development of next-generation leaders.
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