Dedicated to her community and her state, she has served in the Kansas House of Representatives since 2001. Valdenia represents the 34th House District, which includes northeastern portions of Wyandotte County. As a state representative, Dr. Winn has demonstrated commitment to working families, Kansas schoolchildren and small businesses. She believes lawmakers have a responsibility to increase the state minimum wage to equal federal law. She has also been highly focused on expanding opportunities for schoolchildren and will continue to support sufficient financing of Kansas public schools. Additionally, Dr. Winn helped bring STARBONDS funding for economic development projects in Wyandotte County.

She also serves as a schoolboard member for Kansas City Kansas Public Schools.

In Wyandotte County, she serves on the Downtown Shareholders Board, the Strugglers Hill/Roots Neighborhood Association and the Northeast Cooperative Council. She also sponsors an after-school computer learning lab for K-12 students.

Dr. Winn has a bachelor's degree in secondary education, a master's in history, and a Ph.D in history from the University of Kansas.

She and her husband, Keith Vincent Persley, reside in KCK.