The UC Institute of Transportation Studies is excited to announce the addition of three new members to its Board of Advisors: Senator Dave Cortese, Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee; Commissioner Nancy Skinner, California Energy Commission; and John Boesel, President & CEO of CALSTART. Their appointments bring valuable experience and fresh perspective to the Institute’s mission of advancing leading-edge research to advance California’s transportation policy agenda.
Established in 1947 by the California State Legislature, UC ITS is a multi-campus research organization spanning four campus–UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Irvine, and UCLA. We work closely with policymakers, practitioners, and communities to support evidence-based decision-making and innovation in transportation planning, policy, and technology.
The Board of Advisors plays a critical role in guiding the Institute’s strategic direction, helping ensure its work remains aligned with the state’s transportation priorities and responsive to emerging challenges and opportunities. Members of the board bring a wide range of expertise from public agencies, academia, industry, and the nonprofit sector.
We are thrilled to welcome Senator Dave Cortese, Commissioner Nancy Skinner, and John Boesel to the Board and look forward to the leadership, insight, and collaboration they will bring to UC ITS.
About Senator Dave Cortese
Elected in 2020, Senator Dave Cortese represents California’s 15th Senate District, covering much of Santa Clara County and the Silicon Valley. He currently serves as Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, where he is advancing forward-looking policies that promote sustainability, economic development, and government accountability.
This year, Senator Cortese introduced Senate Bill 545, which would commission a study on the extraordinary commercial and residential economic development opportunities along the California High Speed Rail corridor focusing on increased land value development incentives and public-private partnerships from Los Angeles to San Francisco. He also called for a state audit of both the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the Bay Area Toll Authority to ensure greater transparency and responsible use of taxpayer funds.
With more than 30 years of public service—including leadership roles on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors and San Jose City Council—Senator Cortese has championed transformative efforts in housing, climate action, public transit, and criminal justice reform. As Chair of the MTC, he helped secure federal stimulus funding to rehabilitate aging roads and alleviate congestion. During his tenure on the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority board, he played a key role in securing funding for the BART extension to San Jose and the expansion of light rail service to Eastridge.
A graduate of UC Davis and Lincoln Law School, Senator Cortese brings decades of public service experience and a strong commitment to building a more sustainable and accessible transportation future for California.
About Commissioner Nancy Skinner
Appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2025, Commissioner Nancy Skinner serves on the California Energy Commission, where she holds the engineer/scientist seat. She leads the Commission’s work on clean transportation, port decarbonization, and industrial emissions reduction—advancing policies that promote sustainability, innovation, and environmental justice.
Commissioner Skinner brings decades of experience in climate and energy policy, including 14 years representing the East Bay in the California Legislature, both as a state senator and assemblymember. During her tenure, she was a driving force behind California’s efforts to expand clean energy, electrify buildings, accelerate zero-emission vehicle adoption, and ensure that environmental benefits reach underserved communities. Her legislative leadership helped cement California’s role as a national leader in climate action and clean transportation.
Before her time in the Legislature, Skinner served on the Berkeley City Council and held senior positions with organizations including The Climate Group and ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, where she worked to advance local and international climate initiatives.
A lifelong advocate for environmental progress and equity, Commissioner Skinner holds a B.S. in Conservation and Resource Studies and an M.A. in Education from the University of California, Berkeley.
About John Boesel
John Boesel is President and CEO of CALSTART, Inc., a national nonprofit working to accelerate the transition to clean and efficient transportation solutions. With over 29 years of experience in the clean transportation sector, John is a leading expert in the field. Under his leadership since 2001, CALSTART has grown from a California nonprofit into an international organization with over 250 member companies and counting, from startups to Fortune 100 firms. In the past three years, the organization has doubled in size to more than 200 full-time employees with offices across the United States and The Netherlands.
CALSTART plays a key role in shaping clean transportation policy, advocating for strong vehicle efficiency and emission standards in California and nationwide. In 2022, CALSTART managed incentive programs for the State of California, distributing approximately $750 million in funds. In 2021, CALSTART helped facilitate a global agreement where 15 nations committed to strong zero-emission commercial vehicle targets.
John also leads the CALSTART Investor Council, which connects venture capitalists, pension funds, and corporate investors to accelerate funding for clean transportation innovation. Previously, John worked in commercial banking, and as a legislative aide for former California Assemblyman Sam Farr. John holds a B.A. from UC Davis and an MBA from UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business.
