Program Director, Policy & Outreach
California AfterSchool Network

U.S.: California Hub | NORTH AMERICA

Heather Williams currently serves as the Program Director for Policy and Outreach for the California AfterSchool Network (CAN). In this role Heather leads all aspects of CAN’s policy/advocacy activities and outreach/communication activities, working with local, statewide, and national stakeholders to increase the quality and quantity of Out-of-School Time opportunities for youth in California.

Prior to joining CAN she served as the Strategic Initiatives & Partnerships Lead for the Expanded Learning Division at the California Department of Education, overseeing the development and implementation of strategic plan efforts that reshaped the Division to focus on providing high quality expanded learning opportunities for California’s youth. As a key component of this work, she helped ensure strong, ongoing engagement of external stakeholders and advisers throughout this process. Heather collaborated with the team to raise and manage nearly $2 million in grant funds to this work. She also has served – and continues to serve – on the BOOST Leadership Team since 2014.

Before her work in Expanded Learning Heather worked at the California State Treasurer’s Office (STO) in several capacities. She served as a Treasury Analyst focusing on Environmental Finance at CAEATFA, working on program development and implementation for new green financial incentives within California. Before that, Heather was an analyst in the Public Finance Division developing a solid foundation in the area of public bond financing. Prior to that work, Heather began her public service through her selection for the Executive Fellowship Program where she was subsequently placed in the STO Executive Office.

Heather is a former White-Riley-Person Fellow as well as a CA Executive Fellow. She received her BA in Political Science from CSU Fullerton. During that time she became heavily involved with student advocacy work, serving as President of the Associated Students and as a member of the California State Student Association’s Executive Committee and Board of Directors.

Heather is happy to call the Sacramento region her home, living in the area for thirteen years. Outside of work activities Heather enjoys volunteering her time to fundraise for breast cancer causes and supporting the local community, currently serving as the chair of Inspire Giving, the Sacramento Chamber Foundation Giving Fund. Today Heather lives with her husband in West Sacramento and they enjoy spending their free time hanging out with family (including their cat Pizza) and friends, taking care of the neighborhood’s feral cats, and exploring the newest restaurants, wineries, and breweries in the region!