Rhonda Newton

Rhonda joined Darkness to Light in September 2020 as the team’s Director of Curriculum Design. In this role, she was responsible for advancing the scale and impact of Darkness to Light’s prevention work by increasing the current course catalog of adult-focused training. She assessed new technologies, researched adult learning trends, and worked with a variety of stakeholders across departments to analyze requirements needed to meet learning objectives and behavior change targets. She assumed the role of CEO in June 2023 and has coupled her curriculum expertise with her operational savvy to safeguard the organization’s interests, managing financial assets, controls and budget, while building diverse partnerships to extend the impact of child sexual abuse prevention work.  

Rhonda brings with her over a decade of experience as an educator, curriculum specialist, and instructional designer at both the K-12 and university level. She has her B.A. in French and Spanish, an M.Ed. in Learning and Technology, and her Ph.D. research is centered around game-based learning and prosocial skill development.  

Rhonda is a passionate individual with a personal mission to create safe, welcoming spaces for all individuals, whether that is virtually or in real life.  

What did you want to be when you were little?
I wanted to be a teacher. Turned out I did become one and I loved every minute of that journey.

Something that may surprise you…
I write fantasy fiction and romance short stories in my free time.