Executive Staff

Erika Li was appointed as the Acting Director of Finance in November 2026 by Governor Gavin Newsom, following six years of service as the Chief Deputy Director, Budgets from 2020-2026. She was previously Program Budget Manager at the California Department of Finance from 2017 to 2020, where she also held the position of Assistant Program Budget Manager from 2012 to 2017. Erika was a Senior Policy and Fiscal Analyst at the California Legislative Analyst’s Office from 2008 to 2012 and a researcher for the California Institute of Technology from 2004 to 2008. Prior to joining the state of California, Erika held multiple roles in education and education policy across various school districts in New Orleans, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Erika Li earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Northwestern University and a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of Michigan.