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Staff

Kathleen Drew - Acting Director
Acting Director Kathleen Drew

Kathleen has over 30 years of experience working in state and local government. In 1992, Kathleen became the youngest woman elected to the State Senate in state history. During her four-year term she sponsored and passed landmark legislation on ethics, transportation, and salmon. Kathleen chaired the Natural Resources Committee and served on Higher Education, Government Operations, Transportation and Ways and Means Committees. For the past seven years, Kathleen chaired the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council which sites major energy projects in Washington. Prior to that, she led the Business and Professions Division at the Department of Licensing. As a policy advisory to Governor Gregoire, Kathleen worked on ocean policy, sustainability, and government reform. She has also worked for King County, the Port of Seattle, Sound Transit, and the University of Washington, Bothell. Currently, Kathleen is the Special Advisor for Government Reform at the Office of Financial Management.

Kathleen has a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Ohio University and a bachelor’s degree with a Communications concentration from The Evergreen State College. When she’s not working, she enjoys reading, traveling, boating, kayaking, and spending time with her husband Steven, their cat Ginger, their son Phil, and his family. Kathleen also enjoys family time with her mom and five sisters.

Tanzania Zenzali-Marshall - Program Manager - Interagency Coordination
Tanzania Zenzali-Marshall headshot

As a Master of Public Health (c) student and Program Manager specializing in Public Health Equity, Tanzania stands out as a rising force and innovator in providing health, safety, and economic growth resources for the women of Washington State! She is passionate about advocating for and providing public health services and wellness accessibility, especially for women and young girls. As a natural leader for women paired with a data-driven and policy-oriented mindset, she balances a compassionate, person-centered approach with analytical thinking. Tanzania aims to fuse creativity with efficiency, a talent evidently expressed in her professional work encompassing social science research, epidemiological data management, stakeholder support, and capacity building at the state level.

Samantha Grono - Economic Initiatives Manager

Samantha Grono Headshot

Samantha is a fierce advocate for advancing equity and breaking down barriers for historically marginalized communities. Her career has always been driven by people-centered work, through AmeriCorps service and in other sectors like early education and nonprofit policy. She deeply values community autonomy and believes in supporting the unique goals that local groups identify work best for them by leveraging the power government systems can offer.

Samantha comes to the Women’s Commission after participating in a 24-month early childhood policy fellowship with Pathwaves WA, where she worked and learned together with equally dedicated women of color across varying non-profit and public service organizations in Washington. At the Commission, she is excited to broaden her policy expertise in the plethora of categories that affect women and girls and expand our reach to better understand and support all 3.8 million women across Washington State.

Originally from Arizona, Samantha earned her Bachelor’s Degree at Northern Arizona University in Speech-Language Services with a minor in Disability Studies. After time working with elementary students in literacy acquisition in Austin, Texas, she obtained her master’s degree in education policy from the University of Washington.

Samantha currently lives in Renton with her partner, where they love to explore the beautiful nature of the state.

Eliza Craig - Communications & Outreach Coordinator

Eliza Craig joined the Washington State Women’s Commission in February of 2024. 

Committed to amplifying the voices of marginalized communities, Eliza uses the power of storytelling to uplift their narratives. She has several years of experience working with different forms of media to highlight the resilience of Black activists fighting for justice and safety.

After working on a podcast about the repression of activists in Ferguson, Missouri, Eliza moved across the country to join Utah’s local news arena. She started as a digital reporter before transitioning to the world of TV news production. In this role, Eliza studied the processes of the Legislative Session and gained a new appreciation for the efforts of elected officials and their constituents in enacting change. 

Eliza is beyond grateful for the opportunity to serve the women and girls of Washington. She is eager to connect with communities from all corners of the Evergreen State and learn about the issues that matter most to them. 

Originally from Indianapolis, Indiana, Eliza earned her Bachelor's Degree close to home at Indiana University. She holds a B.A. in African American African Diaspora Studies and Spanish, along with a certificate in Political and Civic Engagement.