Jorge Lopez has been named tribal administrator of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, according to Chairman Waldo W. Walker.
Lopez was previously executive director of the tribe's Native Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program since January 2005, where he was based in Sacramento, California. He was a resident of St. Helena. Before joining the tribe in April 2004, Lopez was associate consultant for Children and Family Futures where he was responsible for strategic planning and evaluation from 1996 to 2003. He was a grant reviewer for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from 2000 to 2002.
Lopez earned a bachelor of arts degree in political economy from the University of California at Berkeley in 1989 and a master's degree in public affairs from Princeton University in 1996.
In his tribal role he will direct the organization and operation of all tribal activities on a daily basis and assist program directors in all areas of management of programs approved by the tribal council.
"Jorge will be developing working relationships with all of our partners in support of the tribal council," Walker said. "He will also be responsible for compliance with laws, rules, regulations and policies. We look forward to his assistance."