Changes

Valerie Sherry has been a University Innovation Fellow at the University of Maryland since November 2013, where she is pursuing a Masters degree in Architecture at . Her thesis research involves designing informal networks for learning spaces and explores how spatial agency might promote discovery, learning, and play in the University public realm. Might there be strategies in which space may enhance or support educational inquiry and interaction? How might we expand our concept of learning spaces within community constructs so that urban learning spaces might be thought of Maryland. She has experience as a designernetwork of entry points to education and economic mobility for marginalized populations? Valerie works with university administrations, architectfellow students, builderas well as local, project manager, building scientist (energy modeler)regional, and entrepreneur global partners using a system’s thinking approach to design learning experiences and spaces that empower stakeholders to engage in the Architecture, Engineering lateral thinking and Construction (AEC) Industry. She is a CPHC (Certified Passive House Consultant), LEED AP and International Living Futures Institute memberimplementation of their ideas.

As an undergraduate at Brown University, Valerie has pursued personalized learning through a technical background liberal arts driven inquiry. During her undergraduate academic career she constructed her architectural studies major around complimentary courses in high performance building skinsart, engineering, urban economics, psychology, environmental science, social entrepreneurship and systems designmanagement science. Now that she is in design school, Valerie was a four year Division I collegiate athlete on the Brown University Women’s Lacrosse Team where she works in learned the Fabrication Lab and is learning the power importance of design thinking as both a valuable innovation process as well as a tool to communicate complex ideas to diverse audiences. She is eager to apply her design toolsteam centered attitude, technology drive and training towards leadership. As a member of the creation of meaningful spaces around campus Women’s Leadership Council and Women’s Launch Pad mentorship program she participated in order to promote information sharing, innovation engaging student and entrepreneurshipmentor interests.

Valerie hopes to empower colleagues at the University of Maryland to initiate change and implement ideas. She recently founded the interdisciplinary campus organization, Design Impact Lab, at the University of Maryland. She is passionate about bridging seemingly disparate groups and connecting people with diverse expertise in order to enhance communication and promote cross-fertilization between fields. Her recent appointment to At the University of Maryland, Valerie helped launch Social Design Lab, a student design community where student teams pursue their passions through social design projects with the curriculum committee support of interdisciplinary peers, and connected campus resources. Valerie also works as a Design Thinking Facilitator with UMD’s Academy for Innovation and Entrepreneurship helping to facilitate design thinking and lean Launchpad modules in current undergraduate courses. At the University of Maryland’s School Maryland she is active in her school community connecting students, faculty, administration, and regional partners. In Spring 2013 she launched an initiative, Design Tent where participants engage in opportunities where participants with diverse expertise play under the same tent providing opportunities to exchange mutual knowledge. Since then she has continued to design curriculum that allows participants to actively venture outside their comfort zone. As a member of Architecture will be her school’s curriculum committee she seeks to ensure that seeking student voice and input is a platform common ingredient when decisions regarding changes to discuss and help implement methods for improving design educationtheir educational environment are made.

Throughout her academic career, Valerie played Division I Lacrosse as an undergraduate has also studied at Brown University and graduated in 2009 with a BA in Architectural Studies. She was a member of the Women’s Leadership Council and Women’s Launch Pad mentorship program geared towards connecting student Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Universitat de Barcelona and mentor interestsYestermorrow Design/Build School. As a student at Brown, she facilitated a campaign In years leading to build smokeless stoves in the Dominican Republic to reduce respiratory illness and promote job creation in five rural villages. Her graduate school Valerie gained professional experience in the Dominican Republic led her to further investigate links between designas a designer, public healtharchitectural intern, engineeringconstruction manager, entrepreneurship and construction methodsbuilding scientist.She is a CPHC (Certified Passive House Consultant), LEED AP and International Living Futures Institute

She loves learning new things, coffee and in her spare time, she enjoys outdoor sports , and traveling.

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