Vanessa Spence, M.A., NPL

Vanessa Spence has a degree in biochemistry from Temple University, a master’s in strategic communication from the University of Delaware and completed UD's Biden School of Public Policy's Nonprofit Leadership Certificate.

Vanessa's career journey has been marked by significant transitions, industries, and missions. She eagerly joined the Delaware Hispanic Chamber of Commerce as it officially began its mission in January 2024, in Wilmington, DE.

She began her career in scientific research at the Women's Medical College of Philadelphia, now a part of the Jefferson Hospital Network. She left for a product research position at the Dupont Company where sales and communication skills lead to  a career history in middle management, marketing, and organizational skills. She worked for  companies such as The DuPont Company, Dade Behring (now Siemens Healthineers), Easter Seals, and the University of Delaware. However, her transition to nonprofit environments truly highlighted her desire for more rewarding work experiences.

Throughout her career, she has received numerous awards for creating new markets, generating additional revenue, and building upon new and existing projects at DuPont Company. In two brand-new positions at the University of Delaware, her organizational skills, digital marketing, and CRM experience turned to entrepreneurship and economic development with a keen interest in STEM innovations; where she helped drive higher contact engagement and also helped initiate digital formats for data collection and analytics.

She has two adult children and a daughter-in-law who are already in successful careers, far from Delaware, but who encourages her to reach higher and make that difference in the world. 

When at home with her recently retired husband, she may pause, which usually involves artistic endeavors, reading about new STEM-related innovations, or comfortably sitting on the beach in Chincoteague, Virginia.