Trish Millines Dziko
Founder/CEO
Trish Millines Dziko founded TAF in 1996 after spending 15 years as a developer, designer and manager in the high tech industry. A native of New Jersey who attended Monmouth College (now Monmouth University) on a basketball scholarship, she graduated with a B.S. in computer science in 1979, a time when few people of color and few women were entering the field. Her successful career brought her to Microsoft in the mid-1980s, just as the pioneering software company was set to become a worldwide brand.
Over the next decade of tremendous growth, she saw very little change in the high tech industry: women and people of color remained grossly underrepresented. After looking closely at the problem as Microsoft’s first Sr. Diversity Administrator, she determined the only solution was to increase the number of qualified people graduating from college. She traced the root of the problem to the lack of access to rigorous, relevant technology training in our public schools, particularly those in traditionally underserved communities of color. Trish left Microsoft in 1996, the same year she founded TAF.
In addition to her work at TAF, Trish remains a committed, proactive leader and serves on the boards of several organizations that focus on children and education. Trish has received dozens of local and national awards for her work improving the educational opportunities for children of color.
Trish and her partner live on Vashon Island and are the proud parents of 4 children.
Awards
Arthur Ashe Award for community service, 1998
Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Seattle University, 2001
NCAA Silver Anniversary Award recipient, 2004
Essence Magazine’s 25 Most Beautiful Women, 2006
Microsoft Alumni Foundation Integral Fellowship, 2009
Jefferson Award, nominee, 2010
Greater Seattle Business Association Community – Service & Leadership Award
Seattle Storm Woman of Inspiration
Founding member of Blacks at Microsoft (BAM)
Seattle Public Schools, Committee for Excellence Co-Chair
100 Women Leaders in STEM, 2012
Board Affiliations
Seattle YWCA
Washington Digital Learning Commons
The Links, Inc. – Greater Seattle Chapter
