Santa Barbara Zoo CEO Appointed to California State Parks Commission
Santa Barbara Zoo President and CEO Charles Hopper has been appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to the California State Park and Recreation Commission, which oversees the state's park system.
Santa Barbara Santa Maria San Luis Obispo, CA, October 25, 2026 —
Santa Barbara Zoo President and CEO Charles Hopper has been appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom to the California State Park and Recreation Commission, a body that oversees California’s state park system.
The appointment places Hopper on a state commission with oversight of the park system. The information provided does not specify when the appointment was made, how long Hopper’s term will last, or what particular responsibilities he will take on as a commissioner.
It also does not say whether Hopper will continue serving as the zoo’s president and CEO, or provide details about his experience beyond his current title. No statement from Hopper or Newsom was included in the announcement summary.
The commission’s work is identified in the available information only in broad terms: it oversees the state park system. Further details about its membership, current priorities, meeting schedule or the scope of individual commissioners’ duties were not provided.
Hopper’s appointment connects the leader of a Santa Barbara institution with a statewide public body. The announcement summary, however, does not describe the reasons for the selection or indicate whether the appointment will affect the zoo’s operations. Those details remain unspecified.
Story summarized from the original created by Andrea Gruber for Santa Barbara Zoo on www.noozhawk.com, see more information here.
