Valerie is Associate Professor at the School of Nursing at Southern Illinois University. She received her BA in English and Education from Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana; her BSN-Nursing from St. Louis University St. Louis, Missouri; her MSN-R Cardiopulmonary Nursing from St. Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri; and her PhD in American Studies - Religion and Ethics from St. Louis University, St. Louis Missouri.