On December 29, 2014, Governor Edmond G. Brown announced the appointments of Kevin Kish as the new Director and Joan Keegan as the new Chief Deputy Director for the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH).  To view the original press release, click here.

Kish, 38, a Yale Law School grad and adjunct professor of law at Loyola Law School, has an active background in advocating for workers’ rights.  Kish has been the director of the Employment Rights Project at Bet Tzedek Legal Services since 2008.  Kish has taken a special interest in attempting to limit retaliation experienced by low-wage workers who file claims against their employers.

Keegan, 53, has been working with various state agencies and departments since 1982.  Keagan’s past employment includes positions with the California Department of Technology Services and the California Franchise Tax Board, among others.  Most recently, Keegan served as assistant executive officer at the Sierra Nevada Conservancy.

Both appointees are Democrats.

For more information about the DFEH or its Executive staff, please click here.