Elisabeth Kersten

Elisabeth Kersten is the former director of the California Senate Office of Research, a position she held for 20 years. The Senate Office of Research is a bipartisan think tank developing policy and preparing studies for the 40 members of the California State Senate. In addition, the office assists the Senate Rules committee in background investigations into gubernatorial appointees subject to Senate confirmation. She served under three Pro Tems and supervised a staff of up to 35 professionals. Prior to joining the Senate Office of Research she served as Deputy Chief of Staff to California State Assembly Speaker Willie L. Brown, Jr., consultant to the fiscal committees in the Senate and Assembly and deputy director in two executive agencies, the Department of Consumer Affairs and the Department of Employment Development.

Since retiring, she volunteers on a number of nonprofit boards in the areas of civic education, youth development and international environmental policy.