MEET THE BOARD

Vita Nova Entertainment is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and governed by an elected board, composed of 5 voting members.

BOARD OFFICERS

  • As chair of the board, Danee Ruszczyk will be leading the strategic oversight of Vita Nova. Their role will be to ensure that Vita Nova’s short and long term goals align with the heart and mission of the non-profit, while ensuring effective governance and accountability within the organization. As an applied anthropologist and a high school history teacher, they have strength in navigating interpersonal skills while still achieving measurable results for intangible concepts.

    Their heart also belongs in the arts. Danee was in marching band, jazz band, choir, and musical theatre up until the middle of their BA in college. While the arts were harder to make space for throughout their secondary degree, they continuously had an ear out and supported any chance they could. With the heart of an artist and the mind of an academic, they are incredibly inspired and honored to be apart of a collective of souls wanting to make space for beauty and light.

    In their spare time, they love hiking, swimming, disc golfing or anything that revolves around going outside. They have four cats, love to read, and have a bad habit of extending the never ending TBR. Currently they live in Florida, but have plans to return to Chico in ‘26.

  • Her duties involve facilitating thorough communication between board members, organizing/delegating tasks and keeping detailed records of the organization’s governing documents. Detail oriented, with a passion for community Nalani is able to organize and make people feel at home in the world of performance art.

    She’s been a lover of the arts since she was in 6th grade and won her first singing competition. She did theater and choir all throughout her high school life. When she first moved to Chico in 2017, she enthusiastically auditioned for a show at California Regional Theater and since has worked with Theatre on the Ridge and Legacy Stage as well. The connections that she has made through the arts community in Chico has opened her eyes to how important performance art is to a community. It has fueled a passion in her to use the arts as a means to build a stronger, more diverse community of artists in Butte County.

    Nalani describes herself as a “Jackie-of-all-trades”, always taking on a new form of art and making it her own. Whether that is on the stage or in one of her many artistic mediums, such as crochet, embroidery, beading or painting. She has never met a craft she couldn’t learn. Since she was young, her curiosity has led her to try out many different, personal styles and hobbies. She is a stay-at-home Mother to a toddler and an amazing wife all while staying true to her devotion to expressing herself through art and community. Nalani enjoys spending time with her family, travelling and going out with friends to support the local artists around Butte County. 

  • Shelby is responsible for overseeing and reporting on Vita Nova's financial health and ensuring compliance with financial regulations and policies. She facilitates and encourages the board’s strategic thinking about the short and long term financial vitality of the organization to ensure its stability and mission alignment. She has experience with budgeting and financial processes and looks forward to using those skills in the pursuit of helping Vita Nova succeed in their goals of creating a space where artists can learn and grow, while also staying true to themselves.

    Shelby has been singing with her sister and friends her whole life and is excited to be more involved in the arts on a more professional level. She has admired the local musical community for many years and is inspired by how much talent and passion there is. There are so many unique voices in Butte County, with so many diverse stories to tell, and Shelby hopes to be able to help Vita Nova bring those stories to life.

    In her spare time, Shelby is most likely indulging in one of her many hobbies: baking, crocheting, reading one of the many novels she owns, or buying new ones (reading books and buying books are two different hobbies). On the occasions that she does leave her house, she can be found hiking, at the gym, or hanging out with her friends.

BOARD MEMBERS

Kenzie Knauth

Board Member
Communications & PR Committee

Alyssa Jade

Board Member
Communications & PR Committee