Valerie Davisson

By Constance Gibbs

Award-winning executive Valerie Davisson, MA ’89, attributes her professional success to her WashU education. She decided to pursue a master’s degree in human resources management at the WashU School of Continuing & Professional Studies (CAPS), then known as University College, in the hopes of advancing her career. At the time, Davisson was working full time at a medical staffing agency and couldn’t afford to leave her job to attend graduate school. WashU offered the flexibility she needed to work during the day and take classes at night.

Davisson’s degree helped her secure leadership positions at multiple corporations, including the home décor retailer At Home. When she joined the company in 2013, it was undergoing a major reorganization. She helped create a new organizational culture as part of a corporate rebrand that launched in 2015. By the time she retired a few years later, the retailer had achieved significant growth, including transitioning to a publicly traded company.

“My experience at WashU could not have been more important to me and my career,” Davisson says. “There’s no doubt that having a degree from WashU opened doors for me. There are so many opportunities I’ve had because of that degree, and without it I may not have been considered.”

“I want to help people who aspire to a WashU education but have to go through a different door to get here. Everything I do, through my dollars or my time, is focused on these outcomes. Because sometimes a little bit can make a huge difference for somebody to reach the next point in their life.”

Valerie Davisson, MA ’89

Davisson recently concluded her term as chair of WashU’s Alumni Board of Governors, an advisory board that works to build a stronger and more connected alumni community. One highlight of the role, she says, was serving as an ex-officio member of Washington University’s Board of Trustees, providing leadership during the public launch of With You: The WashU Campaign. It was another example of Davisson’s longstanding commitment to advancing the university’s mission. Over the years, she has helped raise awareness for WashU and increased its visibility and reputation through guest speaking engagements, panel discussions, and even a radio commercial.

Davisson also directs her philanthropic support to WashU to help other adult learners achieve their dreams. In 2019, she endowed the Robert Davisson Scholarship, named in honor of her late father, which supports CAPS students with financial need. She previously made gifts for an annual scholarship of the same name at the school.

“I want to help people who aspire to a WashU education but have to go through a different door to get here,” Davisson says. “Everything I do, through my dollars or my time, is focused on these outcomes. Because sometimes a little bit can make a huge difference for somebody to reach the next point in their life.”

New students meet with a CAPS staff member who helps them explore their options and guides them through every step of the application process. Once enrolled, students can engage with a range of programs and services from group tutoring to individualized coaching.

Many of these resources are made possible by the CAPS Annual Fund. To help make them available to more students, Davisson recently made a pledge to support the fund and established a giving challenge to encourage other donors to make a gift. Thanks to her leadership, the challenge inspired gifts from more than XX donors and helped the CAPS Annual Fund grow XX% since last year.

Davisson’s gift also will help expand the school’s career readiness programming. The school’s Spring 2026 Professional Development Series featured monthly sessions led by subject matter experts on topics such as networking, using LinkedIn more effectively, and creating personalized career plans. This series set the stage for what future programming could look like.

“After working hard and building my career, one of the greatest gifts is having the ability to give back,” Davisson says. “I’ve always viewed WashU as a precious gem. Being able to attend the university and become part of the community has been an extraordinary privilege. I hope my support makes the journey a little easier for those following a similar path.”

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