Main Content
Rosa Franklin is a local icon. She was the first black woman elected to the Washington State Senate, serving the 29th Legislative District in the Tacoma area. Born in the Jim Crow era South, Franklin moved to Tacoma in the 1950s. Franklin holds bachelor's degrees in biology and English and a master's in social science and human relations. She worked as a nurse for 40 years before joining the Washington State Legislature in 1990.
She was instrumental in helping to launch the nursing program at UW Tacoma. Dr. Franklin’s policy priorities focused on issues relevant today: fair distribution of resources; equitable access to health care, housing, and education; civil rights including marriage equality and women's rights; and environmental justice.
An endowed fund to honor Senator and Registered Nurse Rosa Franklin (retired) is being built to support nursing students at University of Washington Tacoma. Our efforts are underway toward achieving a base goal of $25,000 with aspirations to significantly grow the fund over time.
Please consider making a thoughtful and generous gift to the Rosa Franklin Endowed Student Support Fund to support UW Tacoma nursing students for generations to come. The Rosa Franklin Endowed Student Support Fund supports UW Tacoma Nursing students with a preference for these considerations: first-generation to attend college, socio-economic status, or experience with educational disadvantage. Gifts to this fund can support all associated costs of education for nursing students focused on health equity, public health, public policy, or social justice issues. This includes expenses related to tuition, student fees, conferences, technology, emergency aid, research and more.
A Tribute to Rosa Franklin
Celebrate Senator and nurse Rosa Franklin (retired) at this much anticipated tribute event. She is an icon in the community due to her extraordinary work as a community activist, nursing advocate, professional nurse, and 2002 inductee in the Washington State Nurses Association Hall of Fame.
This joyous event includes recorded tributes from elected officials and community members. There will be a short, live Q & A with Rosa at the end of the event.
Monday, June 14, 2021
4 – 5 p.m.
Thank you to all who attended to celebrate and pay tribute to Senator Rosa Franklin. If you missed making a tribute during the event, you can pay tribute adding a picture, GIF, or congratulatory message to the Kudoboard for Rosa Franklin.
Learn more about Rosa Franklin
Franklin recently teamed up with local historian Tamiko Nimura on an oral history called: Rosa Franklin — A Life in Health Care, Public Service, and Social Justice.
She and Nimura also recorded an episode of the UW Tacoma podcast last year discussing her life. You can listen to that here.
Or you can also send a check (made out to the UW Foundation) with a note on it for the Rosa Franklin Endowed Fund directed to:
UW Tacoma Advancement
ATTN: Diana Lopez
Campus Box 358432
1900 Commerce Street
Tacoma, WA 98402
Please also note you can support a fund with a gift from your IRA if you are age 70½ or older. Check with your financial advisor to learn more or reach out to the UW Office for Planned Giving at giftinfo@uw.edu or 206-685-1001.
