Valerie is an experienced educator, senior executive, consultant and board member, with more than 20 years of experience in higher education.  Over her career, Valerie has worked with multifaceted higher education institutions including West Coast University, Colorado Technical University, Lake Forest College and many others. Valerie has extensive compliance, risk management, regulatory affairs/operations, education, Title IX, and government relations experience.  Valerie launched her career in education as a Teaching Assistant at a small liberal arts college in Illinois.  She also served as an Assistant Professor to better understand the hopes and challenges facing a non-traditional online student.  Valerie had the privilege to be a part of the Program Integrity and Improvement Negotiated Rulemaking Committee with the US Department of Education working on such complex issues as state authorization for distance education programs, cash management and third party servicers and eligibility for Plus loans.  Valerie received her Bachelor of Arts from Lake Forest College and her Juris Doctor from the DePaul University College of Law.