For the past 15 years, Valerie Lawson , an exercise physiologist and registered dietitian, has helped people of all ages make positive changes toward a healthier lifestyle.  Valerie joined YMCA of the USA in 2007  and is a program development Manager for the Healthy Living team.  Among her responsibilities, Valerie trains people in a vareity of skills ranging from lifesaving to interpersonal relationships. She serves as faculty (develops trainers) for several trainings at Y-USA including the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program, for which she has trained more than 300 Lifestyle Coaches who guide and assist participants in reducing their risk of developing diabetes, and has trained local Ys in developing strategies for families interested in the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity.  Most recently Valerie was the lead trainer for the Diabetes Technical Training and Assistance Center (DTTAC) and trained a dozen Master Trainers to train Lifestyle Coaches across the nation in delivering the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention led National Diabetes Prevention Program. Valerie is a skilled facilitator for group-based lifestyle intervention classes for both families and individuals.

In addition to her program development role with the Healthy Living department, Valerie leads Healthy Family Home, an initiative that provides families with simple and flexible ideas to incorporate healthy changes into their daily lives. Valerie develops healthy tips and recipes to serve as content for newsletters, websites and other resources for families.  She also provides strategic direction to Ys to help them incorporate Healthy Family Home into their regular programming.

Her past experience includes the design and management of fitness and wellness facilities for a faith based health care orgnaization. At the University of Illinois at Chicago, Valerie conducted research that focused on obese adults with mobility limitations, resulting in the  development of a program of personalized exercise and nutrition plans coupled with continued professional guidance. She is a mother of two, fitness instructor, personal trainer, and high school field hockey coach.