Valeria Lee

Submitted by ryanteaguebeckwith on November 18, 2008 - 9:31am.
Tags:

Office District Status
Advocate Statewide Advocate
Party In Office Since Term Ends
Democrat
Level of Government  
Advocates  
Date of Birth Birthplace Now Lives In
, , Winston-Salem, NC

Synopsis

Valeria Lee is a leader in North Carolina's nonprofit community. The former president of the Golden LEAF Foundation, she has served as program officer for the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation in Winston-Salem. She is vice chairwoman of the N.C. Rural Economic Development Center and a former board member of the N.C. Partnership for Children. In 2008, she was appointed to Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue's transition team after criticism that it was not diverse. 

Endorsements

Biography

Marital Status
Spouse
Children
Two grown sons, Marc and Malik

Valeria Lee is a leader in North Carolina's nonprofit community.

Early Life and Education

Valerie L. Lee is a native of Halifax County.

She graduated from Eastman High School in Enfield.

She earned a bachelor of science in business from N.C. Central University in 1961.

She earned a master's of education from N.C. State University in 1969.

She also earned a master of arts in radio, television and film management from Ohio University in 1983.

Professional Career

Lee was the founder and general manager of WVSP, a public radio station in Warrenton.  

Advocacy Career

Lee spent 15 years as program officer for the Winston-Salem based Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, one of the state's largest philanthropic organizations.

She is vice chairwoman and a founding member of the N.C. Rural Economic Development Center, a state-funded group that promotes rural economic activity.

In 2000, she was chosen as the first president of the Golden LEAF Foundation by its board of directors.

Using $4.6 billion from a settlement with tobacco companies in 1999, the foundation provides economic assistance to traditional tobacco-growing regions of North Carolina seeking to diversify their local economies.

She is a former board member of the N.C. Partnership for Children, a former chairowoman of the N.C. Center for Public Television's board of trustees and a member of the UNC Board of Governors.

Political Career

Lee has worked on several local, state and national political campaigns. 

In 1996, she was one of six candidates for the Democratic nomination for Secretary of State. After a primary runoff, she lost to eventual winner Elaine Marshall.

In 2008, she was appointed to Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue's transition team after criticism that it was not diverse.

Research and reporting by Ryan Teague Beckwith. 

Occupation





Community Involvement:
Not specified.

Contact Info



Education

bachelor of science
N.C. Central University
Graduated: 1961		 master of education
N.C. State University
Graduated: 1969		 master of arts
Ohio University
Graduated: 1983

Military

Not specified.

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