Welcome Valarie Edwards!

You’ve seen her hunt ghosts at the Windsor Hotel in Americus for the “Ghost Tour of Georgia”. She’s rolled up her sleeves to make fruitcake with the monks at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers for the “Made in Georgia Tour”. She has explored Westville in Lumpkin for our “Historic Tour of Georgia”. This weekend, you can see her visit Andalusia, the home of author Flannery O’Connor in Milledgeville for the “Book Tour of Georgia”. But who is Valarie Edwards?

Red is her favorite color, she’s saving up to buy a Shih Tzu, she was born wearing heels, and considers chocolate and wine the only true food groups. Valarie was born in New York City. And like a true New Yorker, she speaks a little Spanish, less Italian and even less Yiddish. She has lived in Hong Kong and the Phillippines, but considers the San Francisco-Bay Area her hometown.

A 1997 graduate of Golden Gate University’s School of Arts And Letters, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. In 1999, she received her Master of Journalism from the University of California, Berkeley. She has been a Reporter for Georgia Public Broadcasting Radio since 2007 and in 2009, joined her television colleagues for “Lawmakers”, our coverage of the Georgia General Assembly. Her hard work under the gold dome resulted in a 1st Place award from CapitolBeat (National Association of Statehouse Reporters) for her coverage of the Home Mortgage Crisis.

In May 2009, she officially joined the Georgia Traveler team and hit the road, exploring the Empire State of the South. We’re excited that Valarie has joined the team and hope that you’ll welcome her if you should see her in your community.

Welcome our newest Georgia Traveler, Valarie Edwards!