Valerie L. Anderson is the Executive Director of the Associate Alumnae of Douglass College (AADC), where she along with 37,000 alumnae are dedicated to fulfilling its mission. The AADC develops and promotes connections among Douglass alumnae by providing programs, services, networks and life-long learning opportunities that represent the interests and needs of our diverse alumnae. The AADC provides prudent stewardship of the Douglass Fund and other endowed funds held by the AADC for the benefit of Douglass; distributions from these funds contribute financial support to Douglass and her students. The AADC is an independent and self-supporting organization that is alumnae created, alumnae led, alumnae driven, and alumnae supported.
Valerie was born and raised in Plainfield, New Jersey and is the proud product of the Plainfield Public school system. She was very active in high school, serving in the Student Government and as a Class Officer. Valerie is an alumna of the Plainfield High School Class of 1977.
Valerie credits her parents, the Upward Bound program at the Neighborhood House, in Plainfield, the support received from the Douglass College Equal Opportunity Fund Program headed by then Director C. Maxene Vaughters-Summey and receiving a New Jersey State scholarship for the opportunity to attend Douglass College as a first-generation student. While at Douglass, Valerie was an active student leader serving two terms as the President of the Douglass Black Student Congress. She graduated from Douglass College in 1981 with a B.A. in Psychology and a certificate in Criminal Justice.
Valerie’s professional career began immediately after graduation working for Federal Express Corporation. Valerie progressed through positions of increasing responsibility during her 21 years of service, managing the operations of distribution and service centers supporting worldwide commerce, managing multi-million-dollar budgets and large workforces. While at FedEx, she led and represented the company in numerous community and philanthropic outreach efforts. Her work there was recognized with awards from the March of Dimes, Make A Wish Foundation, Special Olympics and the United Way. During her tenure at FedEx, she returned to school and received her Master of Business Administration (MBA). Valerie transitioned into the non-profit sector as the State Director of Field Services for the March of Dimes where she oversaw the operations of three Regional Chapters in New Jersey. Continuing in her commitment to non-profit leadership, Valerie joined the AADC as the first African American Executive Director where her skills in the organization and direction of projects, achieving business objectives, and strategic planning was instrumental in leading the AADC along with staff and key alumnae leaders to exceed the organizations greatest fundraising efforts to date, for the Campaign for Douglass, “Innovative Education, Women’s Leadership”.
Valerie is an inspiring and dynamic visionary leader, who is strategic, goal oriented and result driven. Over the decades she has been recognized for her professional and civic accomplishments and recent awards include the 2017 AADC Medal, the 2018 Sojourner Truth Phenomenal Woman Award from Rutgers Student Affairs, and 2018 New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Clubs Women of Achievement Award.
Outside of her professional life, Valerie is the mother to one daughter, Dr. Shealyn Blanchard and sister to five siblings. She is a dedicated member of Faith Christian Outreach Center Church in Plainfield where she serves as a Deacon and Ministry Leader of the Pastoral Care Ministry. Valerie is a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and Association for Fundraising Professionals. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, browsing flea markets, antique shops and her tropical fish. One of Valerie’s favorite quotes is “Its not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived.” (Helen Walton)