Valerie Davisson, MA ’89, currently works as an operating advisor to Orangewood Partners, where she provides consulting services in the area of human resources management. Throughout her career, Davisson has provided strategic management of human capital to several major corporations, including At Home, a leading retailer of home décor, Yum! Brands, Inc., which has over 50,000 restaurants in more than 150 countries and territories primarily operating the company’s restaurant brands – KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell, and Brinker International, which operates or franchises more than 1,600 restaurants in 29 countries and two territories under the names Chili’s® Grill & Bar and Maggiano’s Little Italy.
A career highlight for Davisson was watching At Home go public on the New York Stock Exchange in 2016. Under her leadership, the company was designated a 2017 Great Place to Work and grew to more than 200 stores in 40 states.
Davisson received her undergraduate degree from Southern Illinois University and earned her Master of Arts in human resource management from WashU’s School of Continuing & Professional Studies, formerly University College, while working full-time. She is a proud supporter of the college and is actively engaged in other philanthropic work, including serving on the board of Elizabeth Toon Charities. In addition, Davisson is an active member of the Society of Human Resource Management and the International Women’s Forum, dedicated to the empowerment of diverse female leaders.