Valerie Piper '83 Named Alumni Distinguished Achievement Award Winner
September 13, 2023
Established in 2012, the Shorecrest Alumni Distinguished Achievement Award pays tribute to notable alumni who have used their Shorecrest experience to bring excellence to their professional achievements, to provide inspirational leadership to others, and to develop exceptional qualities. Shorecrest is proud to announce that Valerie Piper ‘83 has been named the 2022-2023 Shorecrest Alumni Distinguished Achievement Award Winner.
Long before becoming a well-respected executive in housing, community economic development and urban redevelopment, Valerie balanced academic achievements with an active extracurricular life at Shorecrest. She was involved in activities including Junior Exchange Club, National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, French Honor Society, The Chronicle, Homecoming Committee, Thespians and Performing Arts, Basketball and JV Cheerleading.
After graduating she earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Princeton University; and became interested in how buildings and infrastructure shape the world we live in, and how people from different places and backgrounds interact in those spaces. She went on to complete a master’s degree in government administration and urban development at the Fels Institute of Government at the University of Pennsylvania.
Valerie is currently the Housing Development Advisor for the D.C. Department of Housing and Community Development; and during her 30-year career she has held leadership positions at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); the Chicago Housing Authority; and the University of Pennsylvania. Her commitment to affordable housing and urban redevelopment has been unwavering; and her unique skills and consistent efforts have improved the quality of opportunities for many communities.
Her experiences have allowed her to play a pivotal role in crafting collaborations that bring resources and capacities together in new ways to advance equitable development goals. Examples of successful efforts include The Promise Zones Initiative, which coordinated resources and technical assistance from 13 federal agencies to accelerate local neighborhood revitalization work across the nation; and The Chicago Housing Authority Plan for Transformation, which laid the foundation for a $1.5 billion capital program to redevelop or rehabilitate 25,000 public housing units and secure 13,000 new housing choice vouchers.
Valerie has also been active with philanthropy and think tanks, run her own consulting practice, and served on governing and advisory boards for community development and finance organizations and networks.
“We are so proud of all of Valerie's personal and professional accomplishments since graduating from Shorecrest and are excited to honor her with the 2022-2023 Shorecrest Alumni Distinguished Achievement Award,” says Shorecrest Associate Director of Advancement for Community Engagement, Olivia Segalman. “As a Shorecrest alumna she truly exemplifies the School’s mission and is an inspiration to current and future Shorecrest students.”
