Valerie Thomas

Valerie Thomas is an experienced professional in grant writing and fundraising, currently serving as Director of Institutional Giving at Digital NEST since August 2023. Prior roles include Development Communications Manager and Senior Grants Officer at Monterey Bay Aquarium, where successful grant applications contributed over $3 million annually to the organization. Valerie also held positions as Director of Community Relations at Homeless Services Center and as a lecturer and grant writer in various academic institutions, including University of New Mexico and UC Santa Cruz Extension. Educational qualifications include a Master of Arts in Professional Writing from The University of New Mexico and a Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature from the University of Hawai‘i System.