Yumi Sera

Executive Director of the State of California, Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications, Governor’s Office of Planning and Research

Yumi Sera is the inaugural Executive Director of the State of California, Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications, Governor’s Office of Planning and Research. With equity at its core, the office coordinates statewide outreach efforts with trusted community partners to directly engage Californians – particularly those experiencing the greatest health and social inequities — on the State’s priority issues.

Yumi brings over 30 years of experience with state government, philanthropic, and community organizations to develop innovative, inclusive, and results-oriented programs. Prior to this position, she was the Strategic Advisor to California’s Vaccinate ALL 58 Campaign and the Deputy Director of Statewide Initiatives for the California Complete Count – Census 2020 focusing on equity and language access. She has worked globally in philanthropy, focusing on human rights of Indigenous Peoples and people with disabilities. She was a team member of the World Bank Participation & Civic Engagement group working to promote civic engagement and sustainable development throughout the world. She got her start in the nonprofit sector working internationally with youth and environmental action and served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in rural Senegal. She has a Master’s from the Yale School of Management and a BA from Lewis & Clark College.In addition to serving as a board member and Sacramento Chair for World Affairs, Yumi volunteers in her local community with the APIs RISE Fund.