Valerie Whelan joined the Knight Campus in July 2018 as the sponsored projects manager after working at the University of Oregon in various positions since 2009.

In 2011, she began working with Sponsored Projects Services (SPS) as a post-award sponsored projects administrator (SPA). During her time as a SPA, she focused on post-award accounting and compliance, and led trainings related to grant management.

In 2016, Valerie transitioned to the role of contracts officer for SPS where she reviewed, negotiated, and drafted research contracts and managed the subaward processing for the University of Oregon. She has also served as an Interim Business Manager for a major institute on campus and supported faculty and researchers with the full life-cycle management of grants.

Prior to joining UO as an employee, Valerie obtained her juris doctorate degree at the University of Oregon School of Law and a bachelor of arts in psychology from the University of Kansas.