Biography

Valerie Biden Owens is the first woman in U.S. history to have run a presidential campaign – that of her brother, Joseph R. Biden, Jr. She also led his seven straight U.S. Senate victories and has been a principal surrogate on the campaign trail.

Valerie is Chair of the Biden Institute at the University of Delaware, a partner at Owens Patrick Leadership Seminars and a senior advisor to Diversified Search Group. Valerie sits on the Advisory Board of the Beau Biden Foundation for the Protection of Children. For 20 years, when Valerie was not managing or advising President Biden’s campaigns, she served as Executive Vice President of Joe Slade White & Co., a media consulting firm. She has worked extensively with Women’s Campaign International, training women how to organize and develop communication and political skills.

Valerie was a Resident Fellow at the Institute of Politics at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. She was honored as a “Woman Inspiring Change” by the Harvard Law School’s International Women’s Day. She served as the U.S. Senior Advisor to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA71). In 2021, Valerie was named by Forbes Magazine as one of the 50 >50 women leading the way in impact through social entrepreneurship, law, advocacy and education. Valerie has served for the 35 years on the board of the Ministry of Caring in Delaware. 

​Valerie is a graduate of the University of Delaware, which recently bestowed upon her an honorary doctorate. She is married to Jack Owens, an attorney and businessman. They have three children.