Board of Trustees

Community Leadership

The Board of Trustees for Tacoma Community College is composed of influential community members who live within the College's service area. They are a crucial link between the needs of the Tacoma community and the services offered by TCC.

All trustees sit as members of the Trustees Association of Community and Technical College, which is comprised of trustees from the 34 community and technical colleges state-wide.

Lois Bernstein

Bernstein began her term in January 2017. Bernstein most recently served as Chief Community Executive, overseeing MultiCare’s community presence and partnerships with organizations in MultiCare’s service area. Bernstein joined MultiCare in 1998, and has overseen both support and clinical departments including Marketing and Communications, Philanthropy, Healthy Living, Adult Day Health, Home Health & Hospice and Government Affairs. Prior to her tenure at MultiCare, Bernstein served in leadership positions at Mercy Hospital and Scripps Health in San Diego. Bernstein earned her BA in communications from Michigan State University, her MS in Rehabilitation Counseling from San Diego State University, and her MBA from University of California, Irvine. She is a senior fellow of the American Leadership Forum.

Dona Ponepinto, Chair

Dona was appointed to the TCC Board of Trustees in December 2019. Dona is President and CEO of United Way of Pierce County (UWPC). Dona joined the UWPC in January of 2014, and has over 30 years of experience within the United Way network, as well as a long history of working to serve children and their families. She holds a BA in Psychology and an MS degree in Counseling, with emphasis in children and families from Creighton University. Since she joined UWPC, she has taken her passion and focused her work on building stability for families, including leading the Hunger-Free Pierce County collaborative, and has secured funding for Centers for Strong Families.

Dona shared these thoughts upon receiving the appointment from Gov. Jay Inslee:  “I am honored to serve as a Trustee. TCC’s values and commitment to students and being a strong community partner are values that align with my own values and commitment to ensure opportunities for all in our community.”

Manny Santiago

Manny Santiago was appointed to the Board of Trustees in October, 2022. Santiago currently serves as the inaugural Executive Director for the Washington State LGBTQ Commission. Prior to his appointment to this role, Santiago was Executive Director of Tacoma Pierce County’s Rainbow Center. Santiago earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Puerto Rico -- Mayagüez Campus, studied Public Administration at the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, and earned a Master of Divinity (Theology) degree from Andover Newton Theological School in Massachusetts.

Santiago has served on TCC’s Multicultural Advisory Committee and as a member of the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Tacoma Community House, on the Board of Trustees for the Tacoma Art Museum, and on the Board of Trustees for the Tacoma Public Library. He also volunteers as a mentor to local BIPOC and LGBTQ emerging leaders in Washington.

Pat Shuman

Pat was appointed to the TCC Board of Trustees in November 2018. Pat worked at TCC as an instructor and administrator in the 1970’s and went on to a career as a corporate organization and employee development professional with Weyerhaeuser Company, Puget Sound Bank and Puget Sound Power and Light. She co-chaired TCC’s major campaign in 2005 and served for nine years on the TCC Foundation Board, with three of those years as president. In October 2018 she was officially recognized by the TCC Board of Trustees for her years of service to the college. In the community, Pat has served on the University of Washington Advisory Committee and the boards of Tacoma Actors Guild, the Children’s Museum of Tacoma and the Tacoma Art Museum. She holds a B.A. in Social Services from the University of New Hampshire and an M.S. in Occupational Education from Central Washington University.

LaTasha Wortham, Vice Chair 

LaTasha was appointed to the TCC Board of Trustees in November 2020. For nearly 15 years Wortham worked with several lawmakers, including former Secretary of Washington State Ralph Munro, former Congressman Norm Dicks, former Congressman and current Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck, and former Lieutenant Governor Cyrus Habib. She now works for Tacoma Public Utilities as the Deputy Director for Customer Experience and External Affairs, leading the Customer Services, Communications, Community and Government Relations, and the Market Development teams. Early in her career, Wortham worked at United Way of Pierce County as a Senior Campaign Account Manager. An active voice in the community, Wortham currently serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for Tacoma Urban League, Vice Chair of the Board for Tacoma Community House, Member of the Washington State Leadership Board, and the Tacoma Pierce County Black Collective. She is a former Board Chair for Hilltop Artist, and a past member of Tacoma Rotary #8.