Warner Pacific University welcomes Dr. Latrissa Lee Neiworth as our new Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA), Dean of Faculty, and Chief Academic Officer as of Tuesday, July 1, 2025. The University’s VPAA plays a critical role in the University’s academic direction by leading the faculty, developing partnerships, and providing oversight of academic policies and curriculum.
After a nationwide search that began earlier this year, Dr. Neiworth, a renowned educator, researcher, and leadership advocate with over 25 years of experience was selected to take on this role following input from faculty, staff, administrators, and others. She previously served at WPU as a Dean of Business and faculty member. In 2021, she was named one of the Top Visionaries in Education globally at the International Global Forum for Education and Learning. Her areas of expertise include organizational leadership, higher education, intercultural development, resilience, and adversity. She is also a Qualified Administrator (QA) of the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), which helps to assess individuals and groups interculturally.
“We are pleased to have such an experienced and dedicated professional as Dr. Neiworth rejoin our institution to lead our academics,” said Interim President Doug Wade of Warner Pacific University. “Her proven gifts in leadership, academic development, and educational partnerships will help advance our university’s tradition of providing a Christ-centered, high quality, liberal arts education to all of our students.”
Before moving back to WPU, Dr. Neiworth led the College of Professional Studies at Bushnell University in Eugene, Oregon, where she managed faculty, adjunct instructors, and professional staff, in some of the university’s largest majors – in Business, Leadership, Education, Computer Science Technology, Sports Management, and Liberal Arts including Digital Marketing, Digital Media and Graphic Design.
Dr. Neiworth also serves as a dissertation chair, methodologist, and committee member for numerous doctoral students’ dissertations in leadership, business, education, and technology as part of her doctoral affiliation with Pepperdine University in Los Angeles, CA.
An advocate for volunteerism, mentoring, internships, practical work-experience and practicums, Dr. Neiworth has been a volunteer in some capacity for various organizations, non-profits, and others throughout most of her professional career. She mentors undergraduate and graduate students, those amid career changes, and those entering doctoral research.
She was named last year by Oregon Governor Tina Kotek as a board member for the State of Oregon’s Oregon Serves Commission, helping to raise awareness to increase resources and programs that meet needs in education, environmental stewardship, emergency response, community capacity and resiliency, economic opportunity, workforce development, civic and community engagement, service learning, and senior and veteran services. She is also the Vice President of Region 7 including the states of Oregon, Washington, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and Alaska for the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE).
A lifelong Christian, Dr. Neiworth has been married more than 30 years and has two grown children.