Valerie Cooley

Background

About Valerie Cooley

Public problem-solving requires research and communication skills, flexible and analytical thinking, and a strong commitment to serve the public good. Through teaching, evaluation, and consulting I strive to build the capacity of individuals and organizations to effectively address the pressing social issues facing our communities. The combination of my front-line experience as a social worker in the justice system, rigorous academic training in policy analysis and program evaluation, and collaborative partnerships consulting with nonprofits provides a comprehensive perspective on the design, implementation, and evaluation of social policy and program interventions. I especially enjoy contextualizing problem-solving approaches through evidence-based policy and program design, grant proposal development, policy analysis, and evaluation planning. I love to write, with a particular aptitude for synthesizing and translating academic research into clear and concise formats for practitioner audiences. In addition to my time in academia, my professional experience includes partnering with a variety of organizations encompassing nonprofits, social ventures, university centers or departments, state government, and faith-based organizations.