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New trustee comes with White House, science communications background

By Laura Ernde
Staff Writer

A San Diego communications professional is the newest non-lawyer to join the Board of Trustees.

Statcie Spector
Spector

Gov. Jerry Brown appointed Stacie Spector, 52, to serve the remainder of a three-year term that began in October 2015. Spector has served as principal of Spector Strategies since 2000, and her extensive communications background included a stint in the White House under President Bill Clinton.

State Bar President David Pasternak thanked the governor for his appointment and said Spector’s skills, “will be particularly helpful as we seek to educate and engage our stakeholders across the state.”

Spector said she feels honored and privileged to serve on the board and help ensure the public trust. She hopes that her public member perspective will be of value.

“I have spent a good portion of my career talking to people all over this country about what they think about issues, people, change, fears, hopes, dreams, elections, trust, leadership, to name a few – and what I know is that sometimes one of the most effective opinions in the room can be the one with the least ‘specific’ expertise on that specific issue,” she said. “Also, the nature and very core of my work is based on bringing differing opinions and constituencies together for the greater good and to develop the strongest policies – my gut tells me that may be helpful in this arena.”

Spector was vice president of strategy and external relations at the Nutrition Science Initiative from 2013 to 2015, chief communications officer at The Salk Institute from 2011 to 2013 and associate vice chancellor of communications and public affairs at the University of California San Diego from 2004 to 2009. Spector served as deputy campaign manager and director of strategic operations at Al Gore for President in 1999 and deputy assistant to the president and deputy director of communications at the White House from 1997 to 1999. She has been a member of the San Diego Theatres Board of Trustees since 2013 and the Humane Society United States Communications Council since 2010.

Although she said she is not joining the board to manage communications for the bar, Spector said she is happy to share her experience with staff. “Sharing information and encouraging transparency of process is my nature,” she said.

The position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $50 per diem. The Board of Trustees is the governing and policymaking body of the 257,000-member organization.