Biography

Shannon Valentine was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates on January 10, 2006. She serves on the Transportation Committee, the Courts of Justice Committee and the Judicial Review Panel. Delegate Valentine’s legislative priorities have focused on the issues of economic development, health care, public safety, energy and the environment, education, open government, and human rights.

In May of 2009, Delegate Valentine received an Honorary Doctorate of Law Degree from the Virginia University of Lynchburg, as well as The Humanitarian Award from the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities for her personal commitment to promoting respect and understanding among people of diverse racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds. Earlier in 2009, she was named the 2009 Legislator of the Year by PISA for her work in public safety, and has been distinguished as a Top 20 delegate four years in a row by the Virginia League of Conservation Voters. 

In the area of Health Care, Delegate Valentine has been awarded the Individual Distinction Award from the Medical Society of Virginia Alliance, presented to the individual who best promotes health education and quality of care through legislation. She was elected to serve on the Medical Society of Virginia’s Foundation Board, and was appointed by Governor Kaine to serve on the Virginia Interagency Coordinating Council for her work done on behalf of children with Autism.

In June 2008, Delegate Valentine was elected to the statewide Board of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia, promoting civility and integrity in government, and is an honorary member of Citizens for Adult Literacy and Learning.

Delegate Valentine is a member of the Lynchburg Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Amherst County Chamber of Commerce.

EDUCATION

Graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Virginia in Economics (1981)

Graduated from Education for Ministry, a four-year theology course through Sewanee University's School of Theology (2000)

Graduated from Just Faith, a course in Catholic Social Justice (2002)

Graduated from the Sorenson Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia (2005)

PAST COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS EXPERIENCE

For more than 15 years, Shannon worked to improve inner city housing through her efforts with the Lynchburg Neighborhood Development Foundation (LNDF) and Habitat for Humanity. Prior to her election, Shannon served as Neighborhood Coordinator for the LNDF, an organization that develops and finances housing so that all citizens are able to live in a safe, decent home. She spent most of her time in the neighborhoods, working directly with families identifying needs and coordinating services. She was a member of the Lynchburg Housing Coalition, a coalition of housing organizations that came together to revitalize inner city neighborhoods through home repair, renovations and new construction.

Between 1982 and 1985, Shannon's professional career included advertising, production and business news at The Meridian Star and WLBM-TV, an NBC affiliate, both in Meridian, Mississippi.  Between 1986 and 1990, she worked at Equifax, a billion-dollar information company, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.  At the time, Equifax was the parent corporation of nine operating companies with more than 1100 locations in the United States and Canada.  She served as Director of Media Relations, Director of Public Relations and Associate Vice President of Corporate Communications for Equifax and its nine operating companies.  Under her leadership, a new corporate identity program was launched to bring all companies under the Equifax name.  In 1990, Shannon and her husband, Mike, moved to Lynchburg.  Mike a cardiologist, joined what is now the Cardiovascular Group of Central Virginia, and Shannon began working with Habitat for Humanity.

PAST CIVIC COMMITMENTS

• Habitat for Humanity and Board--President
• Women's Resource Center Board--President
• Holy Cross Regional School Board--Co-Chair of Long Range Planning
• Voter Registration--Chair
• YMCA of Central Virginia Board Member
• Virginia School of the Arts Board Member
• Saint Paul's Tutorial Program

She is married to Dr. Mike Valentine and is the proud mother of Catherine, 16, Jack, 14, and Brooke, 11.