Andrew Strobel Joins TCC Board of Trustees

Tacoma Community College is proud to announce that Washington Governor Bob Ferguson has appointed Andrew Strobel to the TCC Board of Trustees. Strobel began his five-year term on January 28, 2026.

Strobel currently serves as Strategic Advisor of Tribal and Regional Affairs for the Office of Pierce County Executive Ryan Mello. In this capacity he advises Mello on regional policy matters and transit, and acts as the intergovernmental tribal liaison for the Pierce County external relations team. For the fifteen years before he began working with Mello’s office he worked in the Puyallup Tribe of Indians’ Planning and Land Use department, finishing his tenure in that office as Director.

Strobel earned B.A.s in Economics and International Political Economy from the University of Puget Sound, and an M.P.S. in Natural Resource Management from Syracuse University. He has been involved on many local boards and associations, focusing on growth management, planning, transportation, and tribal relationships.

“We value the long-term planning perspective Strobel brings to the Board, and we welcome his insights into how we can better serve and partner with the Puyallup Tribe and other tribal partners,” TCC President Ivan L. Harrell, II, Ph.D. said.

“On behalf of the TCC Board of Trustees I welcome our newest member and look forward to working with him to strengthen the college and its ties to the communities we serve,” TCC Board of Trustees Chair Dona Ponepinto said.

Strobel will replace outgoing Trustee Pat Shuman. On the Board he joins Chair Dona Ponepinto, Vice Chair LaTasha Wortham, Lois Bernstein, and Manny Santiago.