The Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies is excited to welcome Trinh Nguyen, the Center’s new Student Assistant, to our community! Trinh Nguyen is a Junior at the University of Washington and an aspiring Human Centered Design and Engineering major and current double major in Comparative History of Ideas and Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies. As a new member to our office, Trinh will aid the Center in our daily operations, with a particular focus on data processing, outreach and communication. Trinh’s diverse academic background will offer a unique perspective on the intersections of labor with STEM at the UW, and open up new pathways to connecting with students in those fields. 

During Trinh’s time at the UW, she has been heavily involved with the UW Society of Women Engineers (UW SWE), a non-profit educational service organization comprised of both professional engineers and engineering students. Their mission is “to motivate women and men to achieve their full potential in careers as engineers and leaders, expand the image of the engineering profession as a positive force in improving quality of life, and demonstrate the value of diversity.” As a woman and a minority in the STEM field, Trinh has found support, community and drive through being involved in UW SWE and being surrounded by like-minded and motivated peers. 

In addition to her involvement with UW SWE, Trinh’s family has had a longstanding union background. Her stepfather, as an employee of Kaiser Aluminum, has been a part of United Steel Workers (USW) Local #338 for five years, and her mother has worked under Servatron Inc. and Ecolite LLC. for over 18 years, making labor a long time presence and staple in Trinh’s life. 

Trinh’s commitment to community and labor is part of why she is committed to working at the Bridges Center. “I want to be more involved with the Center and get to know more about what the Center does,” she said. “The labor movement is the backbone of America; it gives people agency.” With Trinh’s increasing involvement in the Center, she hopes to continue to learn more and expand her advocacy at the University of Washington to students interested in the labor movement.