Peggy Marie Valerie, a proud native of Lake Charles, Louisiana, came to Dillard University in June 1972 as an honor graduate of Marion High School and left in May 1976 with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting, and a foundation that would carry her through an extraordinary career.

Over the course of more than 40 years, Peggy rose through the ranks of some of the nation’s most prominent Fortune 500 companies, including the position of Plant Controller — a position of significant leadership and financial authority. Breaking barriers as a powerful Black woman in corporate America during the 1980s, when representation at that level was exceptionally rare, Peggy navigated and excelled in spaces that were not always designed with her in mind. She retired in November 2022 from AT&T, closing a remarkable chapter with grace.

When asked about the secret to her success, Peggy doesn’t hesitate. She points directly to her HBCU education and the confidence, rigor, and sense of purpose that Dillard instilled in her. That gratitude has never been passive — it has translated into a deep commitment to giving back and uplifting the next generation of students who are walking the same halls she once did.

Outside of her professional legacy, Peggy is the proud mother of three adult children and a 12-year-old who keeps life wonderfully full. In retirement, she is embracing one of her greatest loves — travel — and looks forward to exploring all the places a well-earned rest makes possible.