Since 1999, Dr. Valerie Thompson has served as the second female president and CEO for the Urban League of Greater Oklahoma City in the affiliate’s 69 year history. She provides strong leadership and ambition for the Urban League, working to further its mission to assist African Americans, other minorities and the poor achieve social and economic equality.
Dr. Thompson is also a passionate advocate for issues that affect the underserved by serving on local and national boards such as the Governor’s Workforce and Education Council, ½ billion dollars City of OKC MAPS Metropolitan Area Public Schools Trust, the City of OKC MAPS 3 Seniors Health and Wellness Committee and the Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation Board. Dr. Thompson was also recognized as The Journal Record’s 2011 Oklahoma Most Admired CEO in the category of nonprofits under $10 million and the 2013 Oklahoma Nonprofit Excellence (ONE) Award finalist. Dr. Thompson was recently presented with the National Association of Social Workers, Oklahoma chapter 2015 Public Citizen of the Year award, 2015 National Urban League Woman of Power Award, and was recognized by the Journal Record’s as one of “50 Making a Difference” Woman of the Year honorees. In addition to her numerous accolades, Dr. Thompson also serves as a member of Rotary International, President of the Association of Executives for the National Urban League and as a member of the National Urban League Trustees.
Dr. Thompson received a doctorate in political science and a master’s of business administration from the University of Oklahoma. She also has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Oklahoma State University.
Dr. Thompson is also an adjunct professor at Oklahoma City University’s School of Social Work. Thompson’s research and professional interests remain on nonprofit strategic planning and program evaluation. Her latest publications were published in Action Learning and Action Research Journal titled Action research and development for intrinsic innovation in social service administration: Prototyping and proof of concept in small scale start-ups and in the International Handbook of Action Research titled Donor Influence in Community-Based Action Research: A Typology for Advancing Reflexive Decision- Making to Protect Essential Participatory Values.
Dr. Thompson and her husband, Warren, have one daughter, Maya Rae.