Biography

EDUCATION:
Master of Arts, Northeastern University (1988)
Bachelor of Arts, The Evergreen State College (1985)

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
Retail banking
Nonprofit management and fundraising

PUBLIC SERVICE:
Executive Policy Staff, King County

CURRENT HOUSE COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS:
Education (Chair)
Community Development & Housing
Education Appropriations & Oversight

COMMUNITY SERVICE:
Washington State Investment Board (appointed 1/’12/2009)
United Way of King County, Seattle Community Council
YMCA Youth and Government Advisory Board
Japanese American National Museum Advisory Board
Japanese American Citizens League, Seattle Chapter Board
Council for Pacific Asian Theology

HONORS:

2006 Recipient, Hate Free Zone Leadership in Justice and Government award
2005 Recipient, TABOR 100 Crystal Eagle Leadership Award for Legislative Action
2000 Recipient, Bernie Whitebear Award, United Indians of All Tribes Foundation
1996, Honoree, Celebrating Women’s Leadership, Washington State Women’s Political Caucus
1996, Honoree, Top 10 Contributors to the Asian American Community, Northwest Asian Weekly, Seattle WA
1995, NGO Delegate, United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, China
1993, Recipient, Martin Luther King, Jr. “Keeping the Dream Alive” Award, Seattle, WA

YEARS IN HOUSE:
Elected to the House of Representatives in 1998.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES:
Education
Community Economic Development
Health Care
Affordable Housing