About Thuan Nguyen

As a 4-year-old, my mom and I escaped the Communist horrors of Vietnam on a boat to an unknown destination. With the help of my mom’s cousin, a Colonel in the South Vietnamese Air Force, we were sponsored by the Meadowood Baptist Church.

In December 1980, my mom and I arrived at Will Rogers World Airport with nothing but the clothes we were wearing and a small suitcase with two pairs of clothing each. We settled into Midwest City, OK, while my mom worked three jobs to support us and 12-years later reconnect the rest of my family left in Vietnam. She taught me the meaning of hard work and grit, to achieve what I want in life and never give up; but, at the same time, never stop giving to others.

My mom worked long and hard hours for me to achieve an education that is incomparable to the Communist education in Vietnam. I studied profusely to make my family proud. In 1999, I graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry. In 2008, I pursued a Masters in Biostatistics and Epidemiology from OU Health Sciences Center.

My passion to connect OKC propelled me to start THN Insurance to find solutions to healthcare issues being experienced in my community. 

During the Moore 1999 tornado, my family and I experienced the Oklahoma Standard when we helped our neighbors seek safety at our neighborhood First Baptist Church. Most importantly, I witnessed what it meant to have community and have our community rebuild and restore. 

This encouraged me to be an agent of change– one who can connect our community. 

With my passion for promoting and preserving OKC’s diverse cultures, I founded the Asian District Cultural Association and Asian Chamber of Oklahoma. Along with my passion for our city’s Asian culture, I served the rest of our city on the MAPS4 Citizens Advisory Subcommittee on Connectivity and EMBARK BRT Stakeholder’s Advisory Committee and as Urban Design Commissioner.

My reason for running for OKC City Council: I have been given the opportunity to live this American Dream. I want to give back to my community and city which have given so much to my family and me. I am a survivor of one of the biggest devastations on our state, and witnessed how our community embraced each other to persevere through some of our toughest moments together. I want to be that beacon to reconnect our city through any challenges we may experience together, while continuing to protect and preserve our city’s valuable investments. I have been a witness to our Oklahoma Standard and truly believe that Oklahoma City is better as one and I want to be part of that connecting story of diversity and inclusion.

If elected, as the first Asian city councilman, I want to set a precedent for our younger generation to step out of their comfort zone to be the difference and make the difference we want to see for our community.

As your councilman, you will be connected to OKC.

Thuan Nguyen