At Mississippi State University, being family-oriented isn’t just a core value—it’s often part of the journey. For Nell Valentine, Project Manager at the Social Science Research Center (SSRC), it’s been both. 

Valentine met her husband on campus when they were graduate students working on a survey project. What began as a collaboration turned into something much more. 

“His calm and supportive demeanor was valuable for the survey’s success that year and for our 22 years together,” she said. 

Today, both still work at MSU, and the university remains central to their family life. Their three children are all part of the Bulldog family—two are alumni, and their youngest enjoyed football and ROTC on campus. 

At SSRC, Valentine has built a career out of problem-solving, team-building, and turning data into impact. Over the years, she has served as a team leader and Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) on numerous grants. Currently, she co-leads the Preschool Development Grant Birth to 5 projects for the Mississippi Department of Human Services Division of Early Childhood Care and Development, supported by the Kellogg Foundation. 

Her work extends into university service as well—she serves on MSU’s Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects in Research, helping ensure ethical standards in projects involving people. 

Each day brings a mix of meetings, research, and collaboration. Whether she’s sitting down with funders and stakeholders or designing research tools like surveys, interviews, and focus groups, her goal remains the same: transforming insight into systems-level change for early childhood education and related services. 

“I enjoy solving puzzles, and system change is like a big jigsaw that forms a beautiful picture,” Valentine said. 

That puzzle-solving mindset finds a perfect home in the Systems Change Lab, where she helps align diverse stakeholders toward shared goals. Her research blends both qualitative and quantitative methods, but her real talent lies in turning numbers into stories that spark change. 

“Like any story, the most effective ones give you background, progression, stimulate visuals, and ensure the audience can comprehend and remember the message,” she said. 

Valentine’s approach to data storytelling is intentional and structured: start with a clear question or hypothesis, gather and analyze the data, and then bring the story to life through compelling visuals and actionable takeaways. In her hands, statistics become a narrative—and narratives become tools for better decision-making. 

Beyond campus, Valentine and her husband enjoy life on their farm and spending time outdoors.