Valerie Halverson Pace
State Manager, Corporate Community
Relations and Public Affairs
IBM Corporation

Valerie Pace received her B.A. degree from the University of Iowa and her Ph.D. in American Studies from the University of Minnesota. Upon graduation, she taught urban studies at Augsburg College, Minneapolis. She then joined the Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs, Inc. and served as director of the Metro Urban Studies Term and became executive director of HECUA in 1976.

In 1979, she joined IBM. After marketing to manufacturing customers, she became location manager for IBM's sales and services operations in Duluth, Minnesota. In 1985, she joined the newly formed IBM Educational Systems as state education advisor for Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota. In 1988, Valerie joined the IBM corporate staff in Armonk, New York, as administrative assistant to the IBM Director of Education and Management Development.

In 1990, Valerie became State Manager of IBM Corporate Community Relations and Public Affairs for Minnesota. Her responsibilities include community and government relations. The mission of her function is to leverage IBM people and technology in effective partnerships to bring solutions to the systemic problems that impact society and our quality of life. Valerie's special emphasis is on the issues of education and diversity and the application of quality management and technology for systems improvement.

Valerie serves on the boards of the Minnesota Council on Foundations and the Greater Rochester Area University Center. She recently participated in the Citizen's League Higher Education Study Committee and the University of Minnesota Commission on Out-of-School Time. She is active in the Minnesota-Uruguay Partners of the Americas and Rotary International. In 2000, Valerie was awarded the Athena Award by the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce.