Virginia Jameson

Virginia Jameson was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom as Deputy Secretary for Climate and Working Lands at the California Department of Food and Agriculture in 2021. Under the direction of the Secretary, she is responsible for developing, managing, and implementing CDFA's contribution to California's strategy to address climate change. Virginia led the department's public outreach for the "regenerative agriculture" definition process, which assisted the State Board of Food and Agriculture in defining the term for state policies and programs. She is currently leading the development of a climate resilience strategy for California agriculture and guiding the implementation of Proposition 4. Virginia serves as the Secretary's key staff representative to the California Strategic Growth Council, is a member of the Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resilience Program Technical Advisory Committee, and represents CDFA on the Drought Resilience Interagency and Partners Collaborative, and helped stand up the California Conservation Planning Partnership, a climate smart agriculture technical assistance initiative. Prior to her appointment, Virginia served as the Climate and Conservation Program Manager at the California Department of Conservation. She was Deputy State Director for the American Farmland Trust California office from 2015 to 2018, and served as a Management Specialist for the Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner's Office in 2012, as well as Board Aide for Monterey County Office of District 4 Supervisor Jane Parker. Virginia also served as Associate Director of the Ag Land Trust in Monterey County from 2009 to 2011. Virginia earned a Master of Arts degree in International Affairs and Natural Resources and Sustainable Development from American University and a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz.