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| Former High Level U.S. Department of Justice Los Angeles, CA -- California State University, Los Angeles announced the appointment of Rose M. Ochi, former Clinton Administration Presidential Appointee in the White House and U.S. Department of Justice, to executive director of the California Forensic Science Institute at Cal State L.A. Ochi is an alumna of Cal State L.A. Ochi served as director of the Community Relations Service of the Department of Justice (DOJ) from 1997-2001. Unanimously confirmed to the post by the U.S. Senate, she became the first Asian Pacific American woman to serve at the Assistant Attorney General level. At the helm of the federal governmentÂs race relationÂs arm, Ochi represented the Department in the PresidentÂs Initiative on Race White House Task Force where she emerged as a key figure in fostering national racial reconciliation. She was a major partner in the PresidentÂs Hate Crime, Race and Justice Initiatives and the Church Arson efforts. Previously, she served as the associate director of the White House Drug Policy Office overseeing the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program (HIDTA), developing innovative programs such as the ÂBreak the Cycle Drug Intervention Program, and handled intergovernmental affairs. Earlier in her career, Ochi was executive director of the City of Los Angeles Criminal Justice Planning Office. In this capacity, she advised the Mayor and City Council on administration of justice policy, and developed programs in a wide range of areas: community policing, gang violence reduction, domestic violence, and drug and crime prevention. Ochi played a leadership role on numerous criminal justice boards, including the GovernorÂs Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, the Los Angeles Regional Criminal Justice Planning Board, and the National Council on Crime and Delinquency. Ochi has received significant public recognition for her professional achievements and years of dedicated community service, most notably the U.S. DOJ Distinguished Service Award, the Attorney GeneralÂs Randolf Award, the National Asian Legal Consortium American Courage Award, and the Pat Brown Institute Public Service Achievement Award. On her return to Los Angeles, Mayor James K. Hahn appointed her to the L.A. Police Commission where she assumed an active leadership role in developing a new flexible deployment plan, revising the discipline system and advancing police reform measures. In her new capacity, she will advise the University in the establishment of the California Forensic Science Institute, which will serve as the academic, research and training arm of the Regional Crime LaboratoryÂa partnership among California State University, Los Angeles, the Los Angeles County SheriffÂs Department, the Los Angeles Police Department and the California Criminalistics Institute at the California Department of Justice. Her role will entail supporting the development of the Institute through advocacy of policies that impact the law enforcement forensic services, and resource development for new research projects and forensic career education and in-service training. Cal State L.A.Âs Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Herman D. Lujan stated, ÂWe are delighted to welcome Rose Ochi back to Cal State L.A. She brings a wealth of intergovernmental relations experiences both in the nationÂs capitol and at the state and local level. Mitchell Maki, acting dean of the UniversityÂs College of Health and Human Services, added, ÂI am glad that she is on our team. I look to her for advice in realizing our vision of creating the University as a center for forensic science research and technical support. Ochi said, ÂI am an L.A. stakeholder and it is great to be in a post that will allow me to bring my know-how and ties to benefit my alma mater and public safety. Ochi, who received her M.A. from Cal State L.A. in 1967, earned her Juris Doctor degree at Loyola Law School and her undergraduate degree from UCLA. She is married to architect Thomas Ochi. The California Forensic Science InstituteÂhoused in the Regional Crime Laboratory that is planned for construction on the Cal State L.A. campusÂwill facilitate student, faculty and criminalist interaction in joint research and will advance career education for criminal justice professionals. Its advisory board comprises prominent citizens and top academic administrators, criminalists and scientists. California State University, Los Angeles, is a comprehensive university at the heart of a major metropolitan city. The 175-acre hilltop campus is located five miles east of Los Angeles civic and cultural center. Since 1947, Cal State L.A. has been a leader in providing quality higher education. Today, the campus comprises a faculty of internationally-recognized scholars and artists, and more than 21,000 students with a wide variety of interests, ages and backgrounds that reflect the cityÂs dynamic mix of populations.
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