Kydeeja Alam, Executive Director
In December 2023, Khydeeja Alam was appointed Executive Director of the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs (CAPIAA). Khydeeja was sworn in by the Speaker of the California State Assembly, Robert Rivas.
Khydeeja has over fifteen years of experience in California politics, government and external relations, budget, policy development, and coalition building. Khydeeja worked on advancing impactful legislation and budget investments in California, including the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), the Transitional Kindergarten, the California Dream Act, the College Readiness Block Grant, Safe Schools for Immigrant Students, Early Education, State Census funding, and many others.
She is currently the board President of CAIR Sacramento Valley/Central California, a nonprofit, grassroots civil rights and advocacy group. Khydeeja serves on the University of California Center Sacramento (UCCS) Advisory Board as an appointee of the President of the UC, a program that gave Khydeeja her start in California policy and built her career. Khydeeja also serves on the Advisory Council for Muslimahs in Policy (MIPS), a small nonprofit that aims to amplify the collective power and voices of women working at the forefront of policy, civic engagement, and advocacy. Previously, Khydeeja served on California’s statewide Early Childhood Policy Council and Educare California at Silicon Valley.
Before joining the Commission, Khydeeja was Governor Gavin Newsom’s appointee and served as the Director of External and Legislative Affairs at California Volunteers, Office of the Governor. In her capacity, she led statewide initiatives, oversaw state grants, and worked with Mayors across the state, statewide elected officials, higher education institution leaders, and community partners. Khydeeja successfully led the expansion of two major programs at California Volunteers and built a strong relationship with the legislature, for which California was awarded the Innovation in Policy Making Award by the America’s Service Commission.
Prior to her public service, Khydeeja served as the Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy for Catalyst California. In 2023, Khydeeja was recognized by the National Association of Asian Pacifics in Politics and Public Affairs (NAAPPPA) list of the top 40 Under 40 AAPI political operatives and public affairs professionals in the country. Khydeeja graduated from the University of California, Berkeley. She is a proud mother of three children, who inspire her purpose in life and strengthen her resolve to contribute more to the community.