Jennifer Valorose is a committed research partner who designs and carries out tailored research projects to support communities and organizations in collecting and using data to improve lives. She joined Wilder in 2008.

Her expertise is in early childhood, youth development, public health, and leadership development. Her work in early childhood spans two decades and includes partnerships across the many state agencies and nonprofit organizations serving Minnesota’s youngest children. In addition, she is the current evaluation partner for the Minnesota Cancer Alliance and Comprehensive Cancer Control Program. While not Indigenous, Jennifer has strong partnerships within the Indigenous community and has been honored to work with urban American Indian organizations and Tribes throughout Minnesota for many years, including most recently the Bright Beginnings program at Minneapolis American Indian Center that supports mothers and babies at risk of entering the child protection system, and a community needs assessment at Grand Portage.

Jennifer has a Master of Public Policy degree in nonprofit management and environmental policy from the University of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Affairs and a bachelor’s degree from the College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University in Saint Joseph, Minnesota.

Jennifer serves on the Macalester College Institutional Review Board as a community member-at-large, as well as several parent groups supporting her children’s schools and the local school district. Originally from Colorado, Jennifer enjoys year-round outdoor activities, including downhill skiing, hiking, canoeing, and camping, with or without her two kids. She also enjoys traveling and has been to five continents.