Meet Valerie

I’m a literary scholar who spent 25 years leading marketing and branding campaigns for Fortune 500 companies. Along the way, I learned that the most powerful writing isn’t just polished — it’s deeply human. I combine branding strategy with literary craft to help students tell their stories with clarity, authenticity, and impact — the kind that makes admissions officers take notice. 

In addition to being a sought-after marketing professional and writer...

• I have a degree in Comparative Literature,
• I was an editor of a multi-lingual literary journal,
• I am earning an MFA in Creative Nonfiction, and
• I am currently working on several writing projects: a memoir, a work of historical fiction, and a theater production.

Here's the response my application essay received when I was accepted into graduate school:

"Congratulations. Your writing shows an uncommon honesty, a willingness to explore difficult material (a big advantage as a writer), and a warm, compassionate voice."