RESPECT Appoints Paige Brenneman as New Executive Director

The Board of Directors of RESPECT, an educational theatre organization, dedicated to helping youth develop healthy relationships using theatre and community collaboration, announced the appointment of Paige Brenneman as its new Executive Director, effective 1/1/2026. Brenneman brings over eight years of experience with the organization, demonstrating extensive leadership in organizational development and management. She has a proven record in grant and donor development, human resource management and building community engagement. She has a degree in Nonprofit Management from the College of Public Affairs and Community Service through the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Dr. Patricia Newman, the Founder and founding Executive Director of RESPECT, will continue to provide support to RESPECT as their Founder and Clinical Director. She will provide clinical and educational support for program and staff development.

“I am excited to begin this next chapter with RESPECT”, said Brenneman. “The organization’s mission and values strongly align with my own, and I am deeply grateful for the growth I have experienced during my time here. Dr. Newman has built a strong and inspiring organization and has been a meaningful mentor to me and many others. I am thankful for the opportunity to continue working closely alongside her in this new leadership role and with the exceptional team that makes RESPECT’s work possible. I am honored to lead RESPECT and look forward to building new partnerships and expanding our reach to further our impact on the children and families in our community.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Paige Brenneman to lead our organization into its next chapter,” stated
Robin Spindler, Chairman of RESPECT’s Board of Directors, “Paige’s broad range of experiences with
RESPECT, her education and expertise in nonprofit management and vision for providing continued
resources for students of all ages, make her the ideal leader to guide us forward.”

Dr. Newman noted, “I could not be happier to have Paige move forward as RESPECT’s Executive Director.
Over the years she has demonstrated how capable she is in every aspect of organizational development
and management. She has exceptional strength in her ability to translate the organization’s mission,
vision and goals into practical realities, thus allowing us to provide vital information and resources to
thousands of students each year.”

Brenneman will oversee daily operations, strategic direction, fundraising, marketing and program
development and human relations.

About RESPECT:
RESPECT is a nonprofit organization, guided by the mission statement Building Healthy Relationships
Using Theatre and Community Collaboration. RESPECT uses various forms of theatre, to present
research based educational plays and workshops, to teach students the information, skills and resources
they need to develop safe and healthy relationships with others. RESPECT has 14 educational theatre

plays and a wide variety of workshops to teach safety related to bullying, dating violence, child abuse,
social media and negative peer pressure; the programs emphasize positive mental health choices and
available resources, as well as how manage big emotions and reach out for help for self and peers. Over
600,000 students have participated in RESPECT programs since 2000.