Sertan Usanmaz with folded arms in front of California State Capitol

Position Title
Member, Government and Public Policy Alumni Group

Bio

Sertan Usanmaz brings a fresh perspective as a first-generation college graduate to the UC Davis Government and Public Policy Alumni Group. Currently, Mr. Usanmaz works for the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), helping lead the agency’s statewide communication, policy, training and outreach programs in the Office of Employee Health and Safety. Caltrans manages more than 50,000 miles of California's highway and freeway lanes, provides inter-city rail services, permits more than 400 public-use airports and special-use hospital heliports, and works with local, state and federal agencies/partners.

In his previous assignment during 2022, Mr. Usanmaz served the California State Treasurer’s Office (STO) as a delegate/designee on the Boards of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS). CalPERS and CalSTRS are among the largest pension funds in the world and play significant roles as investors and stockholders in the American and global economies. 

From 2017 to 2021, Mr. Usanmaz was an analyst at the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee (CTCAC) where he helped administer the federal and state Low Income Housing Tax Credit programs, aimed at encouraging private equity into affordable rental projects throughout the state. 

As a UC Davis student, Mr. Usanmaz completed two internships — one at the California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce while he was enrolled in the UC Center Sacramento program in Fall 2016, and the second in the Davis office of U.S. Rep. John Garamendi during Spring 2017. In addition to his double major in political science and international relations, Mr. Usanmaz earned a minor in managerial economics.