Tico Zendejas Hired as Transforming CalWORKs Director at UC Davis Human Services
UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education – Human Services is pleased to announce that Tico Zendejas, Ed.D., has been hired as the inaugural director of the new Transforming CalWORKs program.
As director, Zendejas will provide strategic, operational and programmatic leadership for UC Davis’ statewide CalWORKs training, technical assistance and coaching partnership with the California Department of Social Services.
His oversight of the Transforming CalWORKs program will also ensure alignment with CDSS priorities, implementation science and the statewide shift toward family-centered, strengths-based practice.
“I am delighted to welcome Tico Zendejas to the UC Davis Human Services leadership team,” said Alison Book, M.S. W., LCSW, associate dean of Human Services at UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education. “His extensive leadership experience and commitment to strengthening California's human services workforce make him an outstanding fit to lead the Transforming CalWORKs initiative. I look forward to the impact he will have as he works with our staff, counties and statewide partners to advance this important work.”
Zendejas brings more than two decades of leadership experience in public service, human services, workforce development, education and organizational development. Most recently, he served as Branch Director for Eligibility and Employment Services with the Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency, where he led a broad portfolio of public assistance and workforce programs, including CalWORKs, CalFresh Employment and Training, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) services, Housing Support Programs and community partnerships supporting children and families. Throughout his career, he has led cross-agency initiatives, guided organizational change and built collaborative partnerships that strengthen services and expand opportunities for California families. In addition to his professional leadership experience, Zendejas has served in elected leadership roles on both a local school district governing board and the Yolo County Board of Education, reflecting his longstanding commitment to public education and community service.
"I'm honored to join UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education and contribute to the Transforming CalWORKs initiative,” Zendejas said. “What excites me most is the opportunity to invest in the county professionals who serve California's families every day. By helping people recognize their strengths, grow as leaders, and strengthen their practice, we have an incredible opportunity to transform the lives of CalWORKs participants and create brighter futures for their children and communities."
The Transforming CalWORKs program officially began on July 1, 2026, and will provide training, coaching and technical assistance to county human services agencies in all 58 California counties to advance family-centered, strengths-based service delivery. The contract, which runs through June 30, 2030, supports implementation of Senate Bill 119 and the state’s broader effort to modernize CalWORKs.
For 45 years, UC Davis CPE’s Human Services division has advanced the university’s outreach mission by equipping human services professionals and organizations with training, consultation and research. Through workforce development, it strengthens agencies’ ability to support vulnerable communities, improving outcomes for children, adults and families in California and across the U.S.
For more than 65 years, UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education has blended the distinctive academic expertise of UC Davis with practical training designed to improve capability and job performance. With nearly 60,000 annual enrollments, UC Davis CPE serves lifelong learners in the growing Sacramento region, all 50 states, and more than 100 countries.