Spring 2025 Fellow
Anthony Rendon was California’s second-longest serving Assembly Speaker from 2016 to 2023. During Rendon’s term, California’s Assembly adopted a number of landmark progressive policies including a $15 minimum wage, universal preschool, and more restrictions on guns and tobacco.
Rendon represents the 62nd District, which includes eight cities – Lakewood, Huntington Park, Maywood, Paramount, Lynwood, South Gate, Walnut Park, and Bellflower. He is the Chair of the Select Committee on Happiness and Public Policy Outcomes. He is also the Chair of the Joint Committee on the Arts. One of the main issues he is known for addressing is revitalizing the Los Angeles River.
Prior to joining Assembly, he was executive director for Plaza de la Raza Child Development Services, Inc. in Los Angeles County. Plaza provides comprehensive child development and social and medical services to over 2,300 children and families offered through Plaza’s 35 child development centers located throughout Los Angeles County. Before working at Plaza, Rendon served as the interim executive director of the California League of Conservation Voters from 2008 to 2009.
Rendon earned his Bachelors and Masters of Arts degrees from California State University, Fullerton. Rendon graduated from University of California, Riverside with a PhD and lives in Lakewood, California with his wife and daughter.
Study Group: Happiness and Public Policy
In the 25 years between 1998 and 2023, the percentage of Californians who say they are “very happy” decreased from 28% to 16% while the percentage who say they are “not too happy” doubled from 13% to 26%. Why? And what can the California Senate and Assembly do about it? Dr. Anthony Rendon, the Chair of the California State Legislature’s Select Committee on Happiness and Public Policy, leads a weekly study group on the role of policy making in advancing happiness in the Golden State.
Wednesdays, 12-2 p.m. PT
January 22
February 5
February 19
February 26
March 5
April 2
April 9
April 16
April 23
April 30