Women of Power Awards
T'wina Nobles
Senator T’wina Nobles
Sen. T’wina Nobles represents the 28th Legislative District, which includes the cities of Fircrest, Lakewood, Steilacoom, Dupont, University Place, Tacoma, Anderson Island, Ketron Island, McNiel Island, as well as Joint Base Lewis McChord. Sworn into office in 2021, she is the first Black state senator to serve in a decade.
Sen. Nobles brings two decades of experience in education and community leadership to her role as vice chair of the Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee as well as vice chair of the Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee. She also sits on the Transportation Committee and the Behavioral Health Subcommittee.
Education has been central to Sen. Nobles’s life. She attended Tacoma Community College before transferring to the University of Puget Sound, where she earned her undergraduate degree as well as a Master of Arts in Teaching. She then taught at Stadium High School and Lincoln High School. Since 2016, Sen. Nobles has served on the University Place School Board, where she has worked to make sure every voice is heard and every child succeeds, by focusing on equity, inclusion, and transparency.
As a state senator, Sen. Nobles remains committed to creating and supporting legislation that emulates the shared values of the 28th Legislative District. She has used her experience to address the pressing issue of broadband access to ensure all students can have access; she is also passionate about creating opportunities for community to access continued learning. Sen. Nobles plans to focus this session on the issues that concern her constituents, such as housing stabilization, environmental justice, and accessible transportation.
Sen. Nobles originally moved to the 28th Legislative District when her family was stationed at Joint Base Lewis McChord (formerly Fort Lewis). She now resides in Fircrest with her family and has lived in the district for nearly two decades.