The panel serves as an advisory board to the California Earthquake Authority. The authority is authorized to transact insurance in the state as necessary to sell policies of basic residential earthquake insurance.

"This appointment gives me an opportunity to represent the university at a state level and, more importantly, put into practice what we teach in the classroom and bring to a governmental body a true consumer perspective," said Martin, who heads CSUN's Consumer Resource Center and teaches in the Department of Family Environmental Sciences.

The authority is governed by a board consisting of California's governor, the state treasurer, the state insurance commissioner, the speaker of the state Assembly and the chairperson of the state Senate Rules Committee.

Advising them is the panel, which includes four members representing insurance companies, two members who are licensed insurance agents and three members of the public who have no ties to the insurance industry. At least one of the public members of the panel must have a demonstrated commitment to consumer protection in California and be appointed by the governor.

Martin's commitment to consumer literacy, particularly among Latino immigrants, and his work on financial and consumer literacy issues was cited by the Governor's Office as one of the reasons he were appointed to the panel.

"I am honored to be selected by the governor as someone associated with consumer rights and consumer protection," Martin said.