Nissa Newton, Executive Director
Nissa is excited to join WVS’ family of musicians. She has a musical background and was an oboe player in the US Army Band at Ft. McClellan, Alabama. She also plays piano and flute, enjoys singing, and composes ballads. She has taught piano, recorder, and Kindermusik for preschool and elementary age children. In high school, Nissa played Eugene Youth Symphony. Her most recent composition “Birdie Lullaby” was recorded in 2018 in honor of her cockatiel companion, Peanut, who was in her life for 29 years. Nissa understands the importance of community bands and orchestras.
After serving in the Army Band, Nissa joined the Oregon National Guard in the 82nd Calvary Squadron as an Administrative Specialist. During this time Nissa worked on completing her Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts at Oregon State University. Following military service, Nissa became a Montessori teacher, with certifications for preschool and lower elementary children. After teaching for several years, Nissa started working in nonprofit management and completed her master’s in business administration for California State University Monterey Bay. She recently completed her master’s in accounting and financial management from Keller Graduate School of Management.
Prior to moving back to Oregon in 2018, Nissa was the Executive Director for Community Action Partnership of Utah. There she learned the importance of advocacy, managing government grants, taught strategic planning classes, and put on poverty simulations. When her parents retired to Hawaii, Nissa and her family moved back home to Elmira, Oregon. In addition to the Executive Director position at WVS, Nissa is also the Executive Director for Lane County Dental Society.
Nissa currently resides in Elmira with her husband, one of her daughters, two dogs, a cat, and a bearded dragon. She enjoys playing the piano and oboe, reading, creating geometrical art, and working in her garden.
