Appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom in March 2021, Deborah Cochrane is the Bureau Chief of California's Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education, which protects students and consumers through the oversight of California's private postsecondary educational institutions. Prior to her appointment, Cochrane was the executive vice president of The Institute for College Access & Success, focused on pursuing student-centered public policies that promote affordability, accountability, and equity in higher education, where she led the organization's policy, research, and advocacy work on California and national issues.
Cochrane has served in research, direct service, and management roles within a variety of other nonprofit settings. She holds an MSW with a focus on social policy from San Francisco State University and a BA from the University of Michigan.