Tana is the Secretary of the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). She served for more than 10 years in the Washington state Legislature and is now focused on helping children and families in a more direct way.

As a State Representative, she led the Human Services, Youth, and Early Learning Committee for six years. She helped pass laws like the Fair Start for Kids Act and Equal Pay Opportunity Act. She also worked on issues such as gun safety, youth homelessness, developmental disabilities, foster care, and electric school buses.

Before serving in the Legislature, Tana worked in government relations and communications and served on the Mercer Island City Council.

Tana earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Washington University in St. Louis. She then earned a master’s degree in public policy and administration from Columbia University. 

Tana has served on several nonprofit boards, including the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bellevue, Hopelink, the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, and Mercer Island Youth and Family Services.

Tana has two adult children. One is an officer in the U.S. Army and the other is in college.