Val Atkinson hails from Princeton, North Carolina; attended K-12 and college in the Tidewater area of Virginia (Portsmouth and Norfolk). He retired after serving 20 years in the United States Army, he also retired from North Carolina State Government. Val began his literary and teaching career in 1984 as an Adjunct Professor at Webster University in Saint Louis, Missouri. He taught courses at Durham Technical Community College in Durham, NC, and Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh, NC. He concluded his teaching career as an Adjunct Political Science Professor at North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina.
Val began his writing career as an OP-ED columnist with several black weekly newspapers in North Carolina. He authored his first book, “SOUTHERN RACIAL POLITICS” in 2007. His first book was followed by three other books — “DISTRACTIONS”, “THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE”, and this book, “THE 2ND EDITION OF DISTRACTIONS”.
Val began his radio talk show career in 1990 and retired after 33 years in 2022. Val was the host of “Connections”. Connections is a weekly radio talk show and airs on WFXC / WFXK, Foxy 107.1 – 104.3 FM. He also hosted a talk show on WNCU (90.7 FM) entitled “Jones Street”. Val is currently the co-host of the podcast “The Deal with Ed Clark”. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, a Master’s Degree in Management & Supervision, and a second Master’s Degree in Public Administration. Val has also been accepted to pursue his terminal degree (Ph.D.) at the University of Phoenix.