Cal State Fullerton public health researcher Joshua Yang has been appointed to California’s Tobacco Education and Research Oversight Committee to help oversee state tobacco control and prevention efforts.
Gov. Gavin Newsom recently announced Yang’s appointment to the legislatively mandated advisory committee.
Yang has worked in tobacco control research for more than 15 years, including examining industry tactics and policy relating to tobacco control and alternative products.
“Serving on the committee will allow me to support efforts at eliminating the burden of commercial tobacco use in California, which is a leader in tobacco control,” said Yang, professor of public health.
“I am hoping that my appointment will allow me to contribute to a tobacco- and nicotine-free California.”
The Tobacco Education and Research Oversight Committee oversees the use of Proposition 99 and Proposition 56 tobacco tax revenues for tobacco control and prevention education and research.
Yang’s appointment to the committee does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. His first regular meeting is scheduled for July 11.
“The committee’s work is vital because it is one way to ensure that the tax revenue collected on tobacco sales as a result of the propositions is spent wisely and cost-effectively,” he said.
“In addition, it is important to have a tobacco control master plan that is regularly reviewed and updated to account for new and emerging trends in tobacco and nicotine manufacturing, sale and use.”
Yang said the California Department of Public Health, the University of California and the State Department of Education all engage in important tobacco control programming.
“As a committee member, it will be an honor to provide any advice or support needed to these agencies and other organizations in their work,” he said.
Yang has worked on a wide array of research topics, including young adult tobacco and nicotine use, the adverse impacts of electronic cigarette use, the marketing of emerging tobacco and nicotine products, policy implementation and interventions for youth. He has authored over 20 publications, including some with his public health students.
“I’m hoping that what I’ve learned from the research side of my career will translate into the policy work of this appointment,” he said.
In 2009, Yang joined Cal State Fullerton after completing a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at UC San Francisco’s Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education.
Yang earned his doctorate in public health from UCLA in 2005 and then worked as a senior researcher at UCLA’s Center for Health Policy Research until 2007. He also holds a master’s degree in public health, focusing on community health sciences, and a bachelor’s degree in physiological sciences, both from UCLA.