Title: Director of Programming
Phone: 412.471.6488 ext. 4
Email: jnielsen@gwpa.org
Here’s what I can help you with:
- Starting or joining a learning network
- Connecting you to resources and experts
- Connecting you to peer cohorts with whom you can learn and develop
- Sharing your knowledge and ideas with a network
- Bridging connections to peers regionally, state-wide, and nationally
What’s the best part of your job?
On a daily basis, I work with people who are intelligent, compassionate, and committed to effecting positive change. Knowing that so many people are working so hard to make our region/state/nation/world a better place, and having the opportunity to support that work, keeps me hopeful.
When did you start work at GWP?
March of 2014
Career background/education?
I have a BA from WVU in fine art (painting) with a minor in psychology. After my undergrad work, I spent some time teaching and working with grassroots non-profits in rural West Virginia before moving to Pittsburgh where I worked for the RAND Corporation for many years in outreach and communications. While at RAND, I obtained my MA in Adult and Community Education which led to my position developing learning programs with Grantmakers of Western PA.
What do you love about where you live?
There are many things that I love about Pittsburgh, but the thing I love the most is that it makes the lifestyle that my husband and I want attainable We are able to own a lovely 1900s home overlooking the Ohio River that's big enough to accommodate us (and all of our hobbies) all while still financially allowing us to travel and take advantage of our own region's great cultural amenities. It’s also easily accessible to my family in West Virginia and my husband's family in the DMV area.
What do you do outside of work?
I’m an avid artist and crafter. I make jewelry, paint, wood-work, leather-craft, and sew, so I always have a creative project (or 10) going. I have a small creative business where I sell my goods online and at fairs. My husband and I also like to travel, so we shoot for at least one vacation and tons of small road trips each year. And I have a little dog named YaYa who I am completely smitten with; so it's pretty-much guaranteed that if I'm not at work, I'm with her.
Favorite brand or flavor of ice cream?
The ever-elusive butter brickle ice cream. It was my favorite growing up, but it’s rarely made anymore. So if you happen to see it somewhere, send me an urgent message so that I can go buy it all immediately!