Leena Waite

Leena Waite enjoys a career in both nonprofit work and music, seeking different ways of making a difference. She is the Member & Program Coordinator of The Nonprofit Centers Network (NCN), which helps nonprofits improve their effectiveness and efficiency. Before arriving at NCN, Leena was the Director of Programming at America’s Grow-a-Row, a non-profit that grows and gleans fresh produce for hunger agencies and food desert areas across New Jersey. She also served as the Director of Children’s Ministries for the Presbyterian Church of Chatham Township.

As a violinist, Leena has been a Teaching Artist for The Philadelphia Orchestra’s Education and Community Partnership Program, section violinist for the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, and principal section leader for the Lyrica Chamber Orchestra. She has recorded alongside numerous artists including: NYC chamber pop band alice, Grammy-nominated trombonist Alan Ferber, violinist Jenny Scheinman, her brother Adam Gilbert, and has appeared in live performance on Good Morning America. She is a frequent contributor to the music program at Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church.

Leena holds a BFA and Jazz Minor in Violin Performance from Carnegie Mellon University, a Masters of Music and Masters in Improvisation from the University of Michigan, and a Masters of Arts in Ministry from Drew Theological School. She loves to bike, hike, run, swim, ski and cook, especially with family and friends.