The Actuarial Foundation appoints Valerie Thompson as Executive Director

Following a national search, Thompson is selected to lead The Actuarial Foundation as it implements a new strategic vision

The Actuarial Foundation, a nationwide charity dedicated to advancing math education, today announced the appointment of Valerie Thompson as its new executive director. Thompson’s appointment follows a national search and comes at a time when The Actuarial Foundation is pivoting in a new strategic direction.

“At The Actuarial Foundation, we are focused on unleashing the power of math education and creating a future where everyone experiences the confidence and opportunities afforded by math,” says Board Chair Sharon Robinson. “Valerie Thompson is the ideal person to lead the Foundation through our new chapter as we focus on the next generation of our exceptional math education programs.”

Thompson has three decades of experience in nonprofit leadership roles. She has served as The Actuarial Foundation’s Director of Development since 2020 and, more recently, as Interim Executive Director. Thompson’s prior experience includes leadership roles at the American Academy of Dermatology, the American Brain Tumor Association, the Emergency Fund for Needy People (now known as All Chicago), and Resources for Community Living.

“I am honored to take on this role at such an important moment in The Actuarial Foundation’s history,” says Thompson. “Not only is the Foundation celebrating its 30^th anniversary this year—we are also embarking on an ambitious strategic plan that will take our award-winning programs to the next level.”

Under the new strategic plan, the Actuarial Foundation will focus on four core programs.

• Math Motivators is a free math tutoring program that closes the achievement gap by pairing underserved students in grades 5-12 with professionals and college students with strong mathematics backgrounds.
• The Hardest Math Problem Student Contest is a national math competition for students in grades 6-8 that energizes students’ perceptions of math with fun, challenging story problems that combine math reasoning skills with writing.
• The Modeling the Future Challenge is one of the premiere national competitions for high school students where teams compete to solve pressing world problems based on their own mathematical models, real-world data analysis and risk management strategies.
• The STEM Stars Actuarial Scholars Program offers a scholarship along with a comprehensive array of support services for high school students interested in becoming actuaries. Through this unique program, we empower and equip students with tools that will make them stand out as industry professionals, and connections they can rely on in their future careers.

Through these programs, The Actuarial Foundation ignites a passion for math beginning in elementary school and continuing through high school and beyond.

About The Actuarial Foundation

The Actuarial Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, is a key philanthropic partner of the actuarial profession in the United States. Since 1994, the Foundation has led the way in creating quality math education initiatives for students, teachers, and families. Our mission is to unleash the power of math education and transform futures by leveraging the talents and resources of the actuarial community. Our vision is a future where everyone experiences confidence and opportunities available through math proficiency. For more information, please visit www.actuarialfoundation.org.

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