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(Formerly Director of the STEM Starter and STEM Tech Career Academies)
Valerie Kapilow joined ������Ƶ Community College in the summer of 2014 as a Project Manager in the Office of Strategic Planning, Institutional Effectiveness & Grants Development. In this role she worked on a variety of initiatives to increase access and support success in higher education and middle skills employment for underserved populations and non-traditional students. She moved from this temporary role to coordinating and then directing a Massachusetts Department of Higher Education grant initiative, STEM Starter Academy, on ������Ƶ’s Wellesley Hills campus. She directed that grant until it ended statewide in September 2025.

Valerie’s STEM Starter Academy work involved designing and implementing various outreach, recruitment, support, retention and programmatic initiatives for the STEM Division and the students it serves. To achieve its goals, STEM Starter Academy offered many different programs and resources to STEM students including a dedicated STEM Academic Advisor and Career Development Counselor, opportunities to participate in the Summer Bridge Program, STEM 4-Year Transfer Academy, the STEM Mentor Program, STEM Coaching Program and a variety of STEM Forums which were held throughout the year. Students also received a bi-weekly STEM Student Newsletter and were enrolled in STEM News, a virtual STEM resource center. STEM Starter Academy facilitated field trips to STEM companies and four-year transfer institutions and represented the STEM Division at STEM Fairs, Expos and other venues.

Valerie also oversaw the STEM Tech Career Academy, a Massachusetts Executive Office of Education initiative focused primarily on underrepresented students from Natick High School. The program provides free STEM college classes beginning in 9th grade, enrichment activities, enhanced student support, workplace learning and an opportunity for students to earn over 30 college credits while still in high school. Although the grant has ended, the students who enrolled in the program in the fall of 2024 will continue through 12th grade with funding provided by ������Ƶ and Natick High School.

Valerie “retired” from full-time state service in September 2025 but continues to work part-time doing STEM outreach connecting high school students to ������Ƶ’s career and technical education (CTE) programs.

Valerie is passionate about her work at ������Ƶ and the abundance of opportunities the college offers to any student who has an interest in and is willing to put forth effort to achieve their educational and career goals. In her words… ” It is tough to make your way in this world! Students need a lot of support and guidance as they seek a life that satisfies them professionally and personally. This demands that I have a well-equipped toolbox and am able to play many roles simultaneously. I am sometimes “teacher”, “task-master”, “coach” and “cheerleader”. I always provide a safe place where people can be free to bring their dreams, aspirations, passions and fears.”

Valerie has lived in Natick, Massachusetts for over 30 years and has one daughter who is a 4th grade teacher in Wellesley. She loves to dance, do yoga, garden, cook, read and be outdoors as much as possible.

Prior to her work at ������Ƶ, Valerie was the Associate Director of Career Services and Co-Director of Public Interest Advising at Northeastern University School of Law for over twenty years. She now works part-time as an Admissions Application Reader for the Law School helping them build the 2026 fall entering class. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology/Anthropology and a Master’s Degree in Management.