Washington State law directs that the Tacoma Housing Authority shall be governed by a five-person Board of Commissioners, whose members are appointed by the Mayor of Tacoma for a five-year term.
Since 1998, the law also directs that the Board shall include an individual who receives assistance from THA’s federal housing programs. THA has had such a person on its Board since 1990.
Commissioners are volunteers, and do not receive any financial compensation for their time or work. Their work on THA’s Board is a notable instance of community service.
Meet Our Commissioners
Stanley Rumbaugh
Chair
Mr. Rumbaugh was first appointed to the THA Board in 1998. He was the founding partner of the law firm of Rumbaugh, Rideout, Adkins and Wallace where he practiced until his election to the Pierce County Superior Court in 2012. Stan served 10 years as Trustee on the Bates Technical College Board of Trustees and has served as a director of the World Trade Council, member of the Washington State Association for Justice Board of Governors, and on the boards of many other public, private and professional organizations.
Dr. Minh-Anh Hodge
Vice Chair
Dr. Hodge is Director of the Second Language Acquisition, Elementary Education and Leadership for the Tacoma School District in Tacoma, Wash. In this role, she directs the development, implementation, coordination and review of programs for limited English speaking students, including the State Transitional Bilingual, Emergency Immigrant, Refugee Assistance, and Title III projects. In addition, she oversees the district’s International Education and Indian Education programs.
For over 25 years, Dr. Hodge has designed, directed and implemented programs serving language minority students and parents. Prior to her current post, she served as an Instructional Director to supervise the overall operations of 14 elementary schools and to conduct performance evaluations of these principals. Since this past school year, she has limited this scope to four schools in order to focus her assistance and support to the district’s Superintendent in matters relating leadership development and diplomatic relations with district administrators and community leaders.
Dr. Hodge is a native of South Vietnam, a past Title VII Bilingual Education Fellow, and a doctoral graduate of the University of Washington. She is extremely active in community activities and has served on numerous boards at the local, state and national levels. She is intensely passionate about serving the needs of immigrant students and families and has worked tirelessly to ensure equal access, equal opportunities, and equal voices in all arenas for these communities.
Athena Dunn
Commissioner
Ms. Athena Dunn was appointed to the Tacoma Housing Authority Board in 2025. A lifelong Tacoma resident and Tacoma School of the Arts alumni, Ms. Dunn brings firsthand experience and a strong professional background in public health, behavioral health, and community advocacy. She currently serves on the Working Families Tax Credit Committee, where she helps drive policy focused on equity and economic stability for low-income families.
Ms. Dunn played a key advisory role in the Economic Security for All initiative, contributing to the development of a $1.75 million workforce training grant serving East Tacoma residents. Her lived experience as a single mother, woman of color, and former SNAP recipient was central to shaping inclusive solutions that prioritize real community needs.
She earned her Human Services degree in 2020 and is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Community Health with a focus in Psychology.
Ms. Dunn is a bold advocate for housing access, equity in public systems, and policy change rooted in lived experience. She remains deeply committed to uplifting families and building stronger, more inclusive communities throughout Tacoma.
Derek Young
Commissioner
Mr. Young was appointed to the Board in 2015. He currently works for Amazon Web Services and is the co-founder of Tacoma Runners. Mr. Young is a proven leader, entrepreneur and manager with over 20 years of experience in process development, program management, risk management, and communications strategy across a variety of industries with clients around the world. He possesses a highly contagious entrepreneurial and community spirit.
Board Meetings
Unless otherwise announced, the Board of Commissioners meets in open public session the fourth Wednesday of each month at 4:45 PM. Most of the time, the Board meets in the 2nd Floor conference room at the Housing Authority’s administration offices located at 902 S. L Street, Tacoma. About half of the meetings each year, the board meets in the community room of the various THA properties around the city.
Most meeting agendas have time set aside for public comments. Click the button below to see a list of upcoming meeting dates and locations. For other questions regarding board meetings, please contact Sha Peterson at (253) 207-4450.