Valerie Alexander

2017 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI RECIPIENT

BA 1994, Professional Writing

Former Chief Marketing Officer, The Clinton Foundation

Valerie Alexander is a senior executive with more than two decades of experience working at the intersection of mobilizing social change and awareness, applying effective communication and marketing expertise, and establishing meaningful strategic partnerships. Valerie’s extensive work with the global community, NGO industry experts,  media, and private corporations, have been been at the epicenter of her work helping organizations develop long-term, meaningful strategic partnerships and to communicate those efforts to key stakeholder audiences.

In 2015, Valerie stepped down after serving 7 years as the Chief Marketing Officer for the Clinton Foundation, where she built and led the global marketing, digital, special events, and partnership efforts for one of the worlds most well-recognized organizations. From 2011-2014, she served as both the Chief Communications and Chief Marketing Officer for the Foundation, managing the communications and press efforts for the global charity, which conducts work in 70 countries, is comprised of 11 issue-based initiatives, and has a compliment of over 2100 staff and volunteers.

Under Valerie’s leadership, she oversaw efforts to highlight the Foundation’s global programs in the U.S. and abroad, conceptualized and produced materials to promote the organizations philanthropic work, directed messaging and narrative development, and produced special events and programming including marketing partnerships, concerts, films, and documentaries. As a representative of the Foundation, she traveled to several countries including in Asia, Latin America, South America, Africa, and Europe, and has represented the Foundation and worked closely with the organizations’ partners. Additionally, she worked with the Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock to develop a series of specialized educational programs and events.

In 2008, she served as a spokesperson and senior communications advisor for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. From 2006-2008, Valerie worked as an Executive Vice President of Public Affairs at Edelman, the largest PR firm in the world, where she built and developed consumer and corporate public affairs campaigns for many Fortune 100 companies. She began her career in the office of United States Senator Richard Durbin, ultimately serving as his Chicago Chief of Staff. She serves on the Board of Trustees for WTTW Public Television, one of the most-watched public television stations in the country, as well as on the Board of Directors for Camfed, an international non-profit organization dedicated to eradicating poverty in Africa through the education of girls and the empowerment of young women. She is a native of Chicago, where she currently lives with her husband and two children. She is a 1994 graduate of Purdue University.