New Director of Leadership

Dr. Valerie Shangreaux has always gravitated toward thinking in terms of the “big picture.”

Big picture thinking ­ or looking at community as a whole – is part of what made the leadership director position with the Blandin Foundation so attractive.

“I like the Foundation¹s strength-based approach to leadership and community,” she said. “It’s an approach that says, ‘Let’s look at people’s strengths and let’s look at what¹s already working.”

Tapping into the strengths of others is familiar territory for Valerie, who has worked as an educator, an advocate for others, and an architect of leadership alliances.

Before coming to Grand Rapids on Sept. 10 to take the helm of leadership programming with the Foundation, she spent the last 17 years working at Oklahoma State University. There, she first worked as an instructor in home economics with emphasis on family relations then more recently as program manager of the Oklahoma Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

Her work at Oklahoma State underscored the importance of quality leadership development.

“What we (experts in the leadership field) know is that communities that are resilient or communities that are thriving do so because of their leadership,” said Valerie. “People residing within communities that are not resilient have more difficulty being resilient themselves.”

Her skill set and background will bring many strengths to the Foundation’s leadership programming.

“We conducted a national search and interviewed numerous candidates for the leadership director position,” said Blandin Foundation President Jim Hoolihan. “We were most impressed with Valerie¹s professionalism, her experience in the leadership field and her understanding of rural issues. All the qualities we were searching for came together in Valerie.”

Valerie has unique perspective in diversity in leadership, both through her work with minorities and on a personal level. She was born and raised in Pine Ridge, SD on the Oglala Sioux Indian Reservation.

“Diversity is vital to leadership,” she said. “Leadership must be diverse and leaders must work with diverse populations within the community.”

While she brings much to the Foundation and its work in leadership, she hopes to leave something as well ­- something that can only be achieved with others.

“I hope to help take us from good to great, but it’s a team effort,” she said. “For me, it’s about coming in and being a part of a team that takes us from good to great. When I leave, I hope that people don’t say, ‘There goes a great leader,’ but rather, ‘There goes a great team player.’”

Valerie will be conversing with alums online over the next few months. 

About Valerie Shangreaux:

Education: Valerie received a B.S. degree from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln in Home Economics. Her M.A. degree is from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln in Educational Psychology. Valerie’s Ph.D. in Educational Psychology was earned from Oklahoma State University.

Work Experience: Valerie most recently worked as the program manager for the Oklahoma Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. She worked with this program in various roles for a total of 13 years. Previously, she taught Home Economics in the area of Family Relations for seven years at Oklahoma State and spent 10 years directing Youth in Education programs at the Lincoln Nebraska Indian Center. In addition, Valerie worked as a consultant for the Heartland Center for Leadership Development.

Family: Valerie has been married for 25 years to Jose Sanchez. They have a combined family of seven children and two grandchildren. The couple’s youngest son, Cedre, 14, made the move with his parents to Grand Rapids. The couple’s other children are grown.

Exciting Prospects of the New Job: Valerie is looking forward to going through the core leadership program with a Grand Rapids/Itasca County cohort next February. She also is excited about learning the culture of the Blandin Foundation and becoming a participating member of the Grand Rapids area community.