Tram Nguyen
Tram Nguyen | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 18th Essex district | |
| Assumed office January 2, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Jim Lyons |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Tram Thi Ngoc Nguyen June 22, 1986 |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | |
Tram Thi Ngoc Nguyen[a][1] (Vietnamese: Nguyễn Thị Ngọc Trâm; born June 22, 1986) is an American politician serving as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 18th Essex District. She represents the towns of Andover, Boxford, North Andover, and Tewksbury. She currently resides in Andover with her husband Nathanael Powers and two dogs.[2][3]
Nguyen is currently serving as the Chair of the House Committee on Climate Action and Sustainability (the first Asian American woman Chair in the MA House of Representatives) and member of the Joint Committee on Financial Services. She has previously served as Vice Chair of the House Committee on Steering, Policy, and Scheduling and the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development.[4]
Prior to being elected as the first Vietnamese American woman in the Massachusetts Legislature, Nguyen was an attorney at Greater Boston Legal Services providing support for survivors of domestic violence, immigrants, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, low-wage workers, and others from vulnerable communities. Nguyen is the highest ranking Asian American woman in the Massachusetts legislature.[2]
Early life and education
[edit]Nguyen was born in Vietnam and immigrated to the United States with her family as political refugees when she was 5 years old. She was raised in the Merrimack Valley — first living in public housing in Lawrence and then moving to Methuen. Nguyen graduated from Methuen High School and enrolled at Tufts University as a first-generation college student. She is the first person in her family to graduate from college and graduate school.[5]
Before deciding to study law, Nguyen believed she wanted to study medicine and become a pediatrician. Her love for children led her to become involved with the Jumpstart program providing education to help underprivileged children develop literacy skills at a young age. Through her involvement with Jumpstart, Nguyen realized she wanted to continue helping families like these — and that she could make a greater impact through policy rather than medicine. Nguyen received a degree in Sociology and American Studies from Tufts University and then her J.D. from Northeastern University.[5]
In 2022, Nguyen was named a Rappaport Urban Scholar. The Rappaport Urban Scholars Program provides full-tuition scholarships to elected and appointed officials to attend the Harvard Kennedy School’s Mid-Career Master in Public Administration (MC/MPA) program. Nguyen graduated from the Harvard Kennedy School MC/MPA program in 2024.[6]
Career
[edit]Legal career
[edit]Nguyen began her legal career as a fellow through Equal Justice Works, one of the most prestigious and competitive post-graduate legal fellowships in the country, and worked at Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS), where she focused on providing legal representation to survivors of domestic violence in family and immigration law. Nguyen later became a staff attorney at GBLS and then the coordinator for the Civil Legal Aid for Victims of Crime Project, where she represented and advocated for seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and others from vulnerable communities who were victims of crimes. She also led the Nail Salon Initiative to help low-wage workers fight wage theft.[7][8]
State representative
[edit]Tram Nguyen ran for State Representative of the 18th Essex District (parts of Andover, Boxford, North Andover, and Tewksbury) in Massachusetts. Nguyen ran against the incumbent Republican Rep. James J. Lyons Jr., who had been in office for 8 years prior to Nguyen's victory and was opposed to women's reproductive health and LGBTQ rights. Nguyen won with a 54% majority victory, a win that she credits to an "aggressive campaign focused on making constituents' voices heard". Her win gained back a historically Democratic seat that had been turned Republican when Lyons was elected to office. Additionally, Nguyen is the first Vietnamese American woman to be elected to office in Massachusetts.[2][9]
During her campaign, Nguyen ran on a number of substantive issues including better funding for public education, preserving the environment, prioritizing equality and inclusion, gun violence prevention, making health care more affordable and accessible, addressing the opioid epidemic as a public health crisis, supporting seniors and veterans, investing in transportation, fighting for women's health, and improving the lives of working families.[10]
Awards and distinctions
[edit]Throughout her legal career, Nguyen has been recognized for her leadership, vision, and commitment to justice. Her honors include the Lawrence Bar Association Merit Award, Vietnamese American Bar Association Public Service Award, Reginald Heber Smith Award for Legal Advocacy, and the UAW Social Justice Award.[2]
As a legislator, she has received numerous distinctions, including:
- Women’s Empowerment Award (2019)
- Asian American Women’s Political Initiative Legislator of the Year (2019)
- Young Democrats of Massachusetts Elected Official of the Year (2020)
- Council of State Governments “20 Under 40” Award (2020)
- NewDEAL Leader (2021)
- Gabby Giffords Rising Star Award Nominee (EMILY’s List, 2021)
- Caring Bear Award (The Caring Force of the Providers’ Council, 2021)
- Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance Legislator of the Year (2022)
- YWCA Tribute to Women Award (2022)
- Healing Abuse Working for Change (HAWC) Dale Orlando Award (2023)
- Women’s Bar Association Emerging Women Leaders in the Law Award (2023)
- The Holly Taylor Sargent Award for Women’s Advancement (2024)
- Emerge Massachusetts Woman of the Year (2024)
- Asian American Women’s Political Initiative Gamechanger Award (2024)
- Women’s Bar Association Public Official of the Year Award (2025)
- Green Mentors Global Green Leadership Award (2025)
Notes
[edit]- ^ Pronounced /trɑːm wɪn/ ⓘ
References
[edit]- ^ "AAPI Voices: My Name is Tram Nguyen" on YouTube. The Boston Globe. May 31, 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Tram T. Nguyen: Biography". The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 2019. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
- ^ "Tram T. Nguyen: District". The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 2019. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
- ^ "Tram T. Nguyen: Committees". The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 2025.
- ^ a b "Tram T. Nguyen: Tufts Profile". Tufts Now. 2023.
- ^ "Meet Our Urban Scholars".
- ^ "Tram T. Nguyen: Equal Justice Works".
- ^ "From Our Own Voices Full Report" (PDF).
- ^ "'I knew that it was possible': Tram Nguyen ousts Republican state Rep. Jim Lyons in election upset". Boston.com. November 7, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
- ^ "Tram T. Nguyen: Policy". Tram Nguyen for State Representative. June 19, 2025.