Spider Spotlight: A Q & A with Valerie Wallen, Director of Organizational Learning and Development

Valerie Wallen hopes to help employees improve at their jobs.

By Lia Tremblay
Writer/Editor, University Communications

You’ve just begun in a newly created position. What duties will it entail?
My title is director of organizational learning and development. The learning part is easy to understand; training is a significant part of the work I’ll be doing. The development part means that there are many tools besides training to help people improve. So in addition to teaching things like management practices and supervisory skills, I’ll use things like mentoring and coaching to help staff members be the best they can be.

What are some of your goals in this position?
First, to get out and meet people and find out what they’re hoping to do so that I can be a resource for them. I’d like to capture what their needs and expectations are so that I can use that to build a plan.

What led you to pursue this line of work?
It evolved over time. I began as a high school English teacher and did that for years. Later, I got into human resources work and got interested in problem solving and teamwork issues. I was really interested in helping people work better together, which led me to organizational development.

What is your educational background?
I studied English at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. After developing an interest in human resources, I studied employment law at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, but that wasn’t for me. I earned a master’s degree in organizational development from Fielding Graduate University.

What is the most rewarding part of what you do?
There is so much change happening in workplaces today, and in my job I get to help people with the unknowns and give them the tools to manage that change. That removes the fear and uncertainty so they can focus on their work.

What are your impressions thus far of the University?
I am delighted. In my line of work, you have to be able to engage people and help them to be comfortable with you. People here have been great and very receptive. I love Richmond, too.

Where are you from originally?
My father was in the Air Force, so we moved quite a bit. We spent time in New Mexico, Arizona and the Midwest. We even lived in France for a while, but I was too young to remember it now. My parents have settled in Indiana.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
My partner, Alicia, and I have three furry children— rescued dogs named Harold, Maude and Emmie—and we enjoy spending time with them. I also love to read; my reading list usually includes three or four books at a time. Some of my favorite genres are spiritual activism, biographies, fantasy and science fiction—because
science fiction expounds on the right to be different.