It is an honor to serve as the North Carolina Society’s Sr. State President for 2022-2024. I look forward to serving with State President Bethany Westbrook and promoting both her State President’s Project and C. A. R.!
As an introduction, I’d like to share some background information about myself. I have lived in Delaware and Tennessee but spent most of my life in North Carolina. My sister still lives in my hometown of Kinston and my dad, who is now 92 years young, lives in Greenville. I earned a B.A. in History from East Carolina University and an M.A. in Archival Management from N.C. State University. My work career included positions at Duke Homestead State Historic Site and Tobacco History Museum, the N.C. Museum of History, the Johnston County Heritage Center, and Ava Gardner Museum. I was a substitute teacher for 4 years with Johnston County Schools.
I enjoy traveling and I do a lot of volunteer work with my church and community. I’ve been a member of DAR for 40 years (as of October 2022) and have held state and national offices in C.A.R. for the past 10 years or more. I love horses, reading, and consider myself a serious “lifelong learner.” When I have time I work with different non-profit animal rescue groups to transport animals (mostly dogs) from shelters to their next stop on the way to a forever home. Mary Lee and I have a rescue cat named Amber, so this activity gives me my “dog fix!”
This year we will “find fun in the past, build joy for the future” and the State President’s Project, All-Terrain Veterans, will give us an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others. I’m looking forward to an outstanding year!
Valerie J. Howell