MEET VANESSA

Vanessa has mentored and coached dozens of students over the years and received Willamette University College of Law’s “Outstanding Mentor” Award

New Leadership Delivering Results for Our Community

Vanessa Nordyke is a third-generation Salem lawyer and a Senior Assistant Attorney General at the Oregon Department of Justice. Vanessa’s dedication to Salem goes back to her teens, with work on issues like homelessness, veterans, mental health and more. Vanessa has served on a quartet of City of Salem boards: the City of Salem Youth Advisory Commission, Social Services Advisory Board, Community Police Review Board, and the Citizen Budget Committee. She co-founded the Marion County Veterans Treatment Court. She co-captained a mock trial team of Latinx students through the Salem-Keizer Coalition for Equality.

In 2018, Vanessa made history as the youngest ever-elected President of the Oregon State Bar, a unified bar of approximately 19,000 lawyers and judges statewide. As President, Vanessa spearheaded a statewide mental health initiative for the Oregon legal community. Her passion for destigmatizing mental illness led Vanessa to develop and conduct mental health trainings all over the state. After completing her OSB presidency, Vanessa resumed her focus on Salem by joining the YMCA Board of Directors and KMUZ Community Radio’s Advisory Council.

Vanessa is a proud graduate of South Salem High School, Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and University of Oregon School of Law. She is the recipient of Oregon DOJ's Excellence in Justice Award, the Marion County Bar Association’s Government Lawyer of the Year, Outstanding Mentor Award from Willamette University College of Law, and the University of Oregon School of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award.

Vanessa is a proud dogmom and loves karaoke, traveling, cooking, and the great outdoors.

Giving Back

My volunteer work since 2009

Member, KMUZ Community Radio Advisory Council, 2019 - Present
Member, YMCA Board of Directors 2019 - Present
President, Willamette Valley American Inn of Court 2019-2020
President, Oregon State Bar, 2018
Member, City of Salem Citizens Budget Committee 2017 – Present
Member, Oregon State Bar Board of Governors 2015 – 2028
Member, Salem/Keizer Coalition for Equality
Mock Trial Team 2013 – 2014
Board Member, Rotary Club of Salem 2013 – 2014
Team Leader, Willamette Valley American Inn of Court 2013 – 2018
Chair, Oregon State Bar Judicial Administration Committee 2012 – 2013
Chair, Mary Leonard Law Society Essay Contest 2012
Member, City of Salem Social Services Advisory Board 2012 – 2015
Member, City of Salem Community Police Review Board 2013 – 2014
Member, Marion County Veterans Docket Steering Committee (aka Veterans Treatment Court) 2011- 2013

Outstanding Mentor, Willamette University College of Law 2012
Co-Chair, Campaign for Equal Justice Marion County Luncheon 2012
Nominee, Sandra Day O’Connor Award for Professional Service 2011
Recipient, Oregon Department of Justice Excellence in Justice Award 2010
Delegate, Oregon State Bar House of Delegates 2010 – 2014
President, Mary Leonard Law Society 2010 – 2011
Co-Chair, Third Annual Soiree Against Hunger 2011
Committee Member, Marion County Sheriff’s Office Community Advisory Committee 2010 – 2013
Mentor, Willamette University College of Law Mentoring Program 2010
Table Captain, Campaign for Equal Justice Luncheon 2010
Graduate, Marion County Sheriff Office’s Citizen’s Academy 2010
Volunteer, Imprint Program 2010
Apparel Sale Coordinator for Governor’s Food Drive, Oregon Department of Justice 2009

Vanessa Nordyke

Vanessa has mentored and coached dozens of students over the years and received Willamette University College of Law’s “Outstanding Mentor” Award

MEET VANESSA

New Leadership Delivering Results for Our Community

Giving Back

My volunteer work since 2009

JOIN THE CAMPAIGN!

REGISTER TO VOTE!