Valeau will speak at Helping Hearts banquet

Dr. Edward J. Valeau, a Patterson native who has worked for more than 35 years in higher and secondary education, will be honored at the Tri-City Helping Hearts Foundation Gospel Banquet at 4 p.m. April 29 at the St. Mary Senior Citizens Center, 4041 Chennault St., Morgan City.

The foundation is a nonprofit organization established to serve citizens of Morgan City, Berwick, Amelia and Patterson. The primary purpose is to help people who need financial help with the burial expenses for a loved one. Banquet proceeds will go for that purpose.

For ticket information, call Herman Hartman, 985-384-3095, or contact any foundation member.

Valeau was born in the home at 615 First St., Patterson, and delivered by Dr. Jacquet, who may have been the first black physician in St. Mary Parish. Valeau graduated
from Hattie A. Watts, then a segregated high school, in 1963.

With the help of teacher Dolores Henderson, he enrolled in Southern University and went on to teach at McKinley Junior High in Baton Rouge.

Valeau earned a master’s degree from California State in Hayward and his doctorate from the University of California at Berkeley.

He is an American Council on Education fellow, a Fulbright scholar, winner of a Harry Buttimer Award for outstanding leadership as a CEO in California community colleges, a California State University Monterey Bay Fellow and a Rotary Paul Harris fellow.

He is also the recipient of a commendation from the Louisiana governor and Legislature for his work on Hurricane Katrina relief via California community colleges.
Valeau has published several books, including “A Practical Guide to Becoming a Community College President” and “Shaping A Humane World Through Global High Education: Pre Challenges and Post Opportunities During A Pandemic.”

He co-edited “A Handbook for Comparative Studies on Community College & Global Counterparts,” which received a 2008 honorable mention for Best Book Award from the Comparative and International Education Society. Valeau and his co-editor won the society’s Best Book Award in 2010 for “Community College Models, Globalization and High Education Reform.”

He is currently working on a photo book, “Our World of Work in Photographs,” a compilation of photos from over 25 years across 72 countries.
Valeau has served as a coach for CEOs and community college presidents.

He is also the founding director of the Association of California Community Colleges Mentor Program.
Valeau is married to Vera Valeau, an honor graduate of Southern University and a secondary education teacher for more than 30 years.