Derek Vance Jeopardy Profile: Age, Job, Family, Stats

Find out all the Jeopardy! results for Derek Vance, including games played, scores and competitors.

Derek Vance Jeopardy Contestant Profile

Derek Vance is a community foundation program officer and nonprofit leader from Poca, West Virginia, who has built a career focused on workforce development, philanthropy, community outreach, and grantmaking across his home state. Originally from the small town of Poca, he graduated from Poca High School in 2008, where he was recognized as an outstanding student and received an A+ student award from U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd. He later established himself in West Virginia’s nonprofit sector, serving in fundraising and development roles before moving into leadership positions overseeing workforce and community initiatives.

Professionally, Vance has held several senior outreach and management positions. He spent more than seven years with the Region III Workforce Development Board of Kanawha County, based in Charleston, West Virginia, serving as Marketing & Outreach Manager, Outreach and Special Projects Manager, and Program Outreach Specialist. His work has focused on workforce development, employer engagement, community partnerships, marketing, and special projects designed to strengthen employment opportunities throughout the Kanawha County region.

More recently, Vance joined The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation (TGKVF) as a Community Foundation Program Officer, where he manages multiple grant portfolios and philanthropic initiatives. His responsibilities include overseeing Basic Needs, Emergency Aid, and Special Initiatives funding, directing resources toward underserved communities and emergency relief efforts. He also plays a leading role in the foundation’s Narrative Change Collaborative, including administration of the Narrative Power Grant, an initiative intended to reshape perceptions of West Virginia by supporting projects that challenge negative stereotypes and promote more accurate, community-driven stories about the state.

Before joining TGKVF, Vance served as Director of Development for The Education Alliance, further expanding his experience in nonprofit leadership, fundraising, and community engagement. Throughout his career he has remained committed to improving opportunities for West Virginians through philanthropy, education, workforce development, and strategic partnerships.

Outside his professional career, Vance achieved a personal milestone by becoming a contestant on Jeopardy!, representing his home state on the long-running quiz show. His appearance, scheduled to air on Friday, July 3, was celebrated by Poca High School, which recognized him as a “Proud Poca Dot” and highlighted his achievement as a source of community pride.

Contestant Image Credit: Jeopardy Official Website

Derek Vance Jeopardy Results