Honoree Spotlight: Valarie J. Lawson

Valarie J. Lawson

Rhode Island Senate President

Valarie J. Lawson represents District 14 (East Providence) in the Rhode Island Senate and was elected President of the Senate in April 2025. She previously served as Majority Leader and Majority Whip.

First elected to the Senate in November 2018, Sen. Lawson has been an active voice on a range of issues, including education and public health. In 2023, she helped secure significant state funding for public schools, including for multilingual learners, special education students, and high-poverty districts. And she supported a package of new laws to address the state's housing crisis.

In 2022, Sen. Lawson helped create a program to provide an extra $0.50 of SNAP benefits for every $1.00 spent on fruits and vegetables to help families afford healthier food. She earned both a Bachelor'​s Degree and a Master's Degree from Rhode Island College. She taught in East Providence public schools for 32 years and is the former President of the East Providence Education Association. In 2023, she was elected President of the National Education Association Rhode Island.