Stories of Change

We are honored to announce the creation of the Jennifer Turner-Valle Research Fund for Multiple Sclerosis and the Jennifer Turner-Valle Endowed Fellowship in Multiple Sclerosis, established by Tim Valle in memory of his late wife, Dr. Jennifer Turner-Valle, a distinguished leader in optical engineering and business. The Fund will be created with a $75,000 commitment; the Fellowship will be established through a bequest of $1.5 million and will support early-stage research in multiple sclerosis (MS) and contribute to the development of future leaders in neuroimmunology. 

Dr. Turner-Valle earned a BS in engineering physics from the University of Colorado and a PhD in optical engineering from the University of Arizona. Some of the influential positions she held include lead optical designer for the Hubble Space Telescope and systems engineer for NASA's MESSENGER mission to Mercury. Dr. Turner-Valle also co-founded Optical Engineering Associates LLC, where she applied her technical and business expertise. Throughout her career, she remained dedicated to advancing science and improving lives, which led her to support multiple sclerosis research at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. 

The Fellowship will provide funding for fellowships in the Section of Neuroimmunology within the Department of Neurology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. The Fund will support MS research, education and professional development, helping to advance understanding and treatment of the disease. 

We are deeply grateful for Mr. Valle’s generosity and commitment to honoring Jennifer’s legacy and for Jim Stryker and Marti Laule in the Office of Advancement for helping secure this gift.