Tom Epstein is a veteran government and public affairs executive who is the longest-tenured member and past president of the California Community Colleges Board of Governors. Previously, he was head of public affairs for Blue Shield of California and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). Prior to that, he served as special assistant to the president for political affairs in the Clinton White House and deputy commissioner of the California Department of Insurance.

Epstein earned a J.D. from UCLA School of Law and a B.S. in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He is chair of the board of the Coalition for Clean Air and a Senior Fellow at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs.