Raina Parsons Administrative Assistant and Event Coordinator
Vivian Bull Music Center 102
Overview
Raina Parsons is a passionate, organized, and deeply student-centered arts administrator who supports the department’s daily operations. A Linfield Music alumna herself, she brings a firsthand understanding of the student experience to her role. Calm and reliable, Raina listens, follows through, and if you’re a student, she genuinely has your back.
Background and experience
Raina earned her B.S. in business management with a minor in music from Linfield University, graduating with academic distinction and multiple scholarships and awards. Her professional experience spans arts organizations and festivals across the country, including Interlochen Center for the Arts, Chamber Music Northwest and Festival at Sandpoint, where she worked in artist relations, event coordination, hospitality and administration.
Role at Linfield
At Linfield, Raina provides administrative and financial support, coordinates concerts and events, supervises student employees, and plays a key role in recruitment and outreach. Raina values working in a department where she can know students as individuals and support them closely as they grow.
Why Linfield Music
Raina believes Linfield Music is a strong fit for motivated, self-directed students who are ready to take ownership of their education and shape their own paths. Raina is drawn to the people and spaces that shape the Linfield Music experience, including the leadership that prioritizes collaboration and building students up. She especially values the Vivian Bull Music Center’s beautiful natural light, plentiful practice rooms, and intimate performance hall, where the close connection between performers and audience helps students gain confidence quickly.
As a student, she felt respected, held to high standards and encouraged to take on leadership roles — experiences that shaped her strong sense of responsibility and initiative. She credits the department with connecting her to early professional opportunities, including her first role with Chamber Music Northwest, and with reinforcing the importance of proactivity and organization, skills she continues to rely on daily in her work.
Beyond the office
Outside of work, Raina is active in community choirs and enjoys attending live music throughout the Portland area. She also prioritizes time for reading, puzzles, crafting, crocheting and spending time outdoors. Originally from Washington, she has lived in Idaho, Michigan and Montana, but considers Oregon home.