Upper Iowa University News

	Upper Iowa University News

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UPPER IOWA UNIVERSITY NAMES NEW PRESIDENT

Fayette , Iowa — Upper Iowa University ’s board of trustees recently announced that Dr. Alan G. Walker will be the school’s twentieth president, effective July 1.

Walker is currently the vice provost of academic affairs for extended university programs at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo , Mich. , where he served since July 2000.

In addition to providing leadership, Walker foresees that one of his most significant roles will be that of facilitator. “Universities are all about relationships between faculty and students. One important role of presidents is to provide support and to nurture that environment, whether it is in a classroom on the main campus, at a branch campus, or through the use of technology,” said Walker

Walker holds degrees in Fire Science (AS), College of Southern Idaho , Trade and Industrial Technical Education (BS), University of Idaho , Adult/Vocational Education (MEd), University of Idaho , and Higher Education Policy and Administration (PhD), University of Kansas .

“I found Upper Iowa University attractive because it is an ascending institution and the kind of university where a president can have personal relationships at all levels of the academy, which, by the way, is exactly what I discovered students find attractive about UIU.”

“The Board of Trustees is very pleased that Dr. Walker has accepted the position as the 20th President of UIU. The entire university community will be the beneficiary of his experience and enthusiasm,” said Howard Fischer , president of the university’s board of trustees.

“I am very impressed with the support and dedication of the Board of Trustees, the senior leadership at the university, and by the caliber of faculty, staff and students”.

Walker will be joined in Fayette by his wife, Debbie and their daughter, Emily. “My family and I are excited about moving to Fayette and becoming part of the community. Our nation was built on communities like Fayette and schools like UIU,” said Walker . “There is a very rich heritage here.”

The school’s last president, Dr. Ralph McKay, retired August 2003 and Dr. Suzanne James, senior vice president of Extended University , shouldered the task of leading the university as interim president.

“Often, those who serve in an interim capacity in positions of leadership go unheralded. I have a lot of respect and admiration for Dr. James, who as interim president has given herself so completely in setting the stage; I am very grateful to her,” said Walker .

As vice provost at WMU, Walker was responsible for the daily operation of six branch campuses as well as distance education and noncredit programs offering more than 40 graduate and undergraduate degree programs. He has more than 20 years of progressively responsible administrative and leadership experience in postsecondary and higher education.

His experience at three comprehensive, Carnegie research extensive universities includes personnel management and staff development, project and cost accounting-based budgeting, specialized/program accreditation, competency-based curriculum development and evaluation (including the use of instructional software), grant acquisition and management, distance learning and outreach program delivery design, strategic short and long-range planning, and policy development.

Walker has held key leadership positions in international professional associations and has been an international consultant and guest lecturer. He has also been an adjunct faculty member at the University of Kansas , Louisiana State University-Eunice, Arkansas Technical University and at Western Michigan University , were he holds Associate Graduate Faculty status. He also served as a member of the Board of Visitors for the Emergency Management Institute at the Federal Emergency Management Agency from 1999 to 2002, and currently serves on an advisory board for the School of Public Health at the University of North Carolina , Chapel Hill .

Walker has authored and presented numerous trade journal articles and papers. During his distinguished career, he has also received many awards, recognitions, and honors to include the International Inaugural Visiting Fellowship to the Fire Service College in England in 1995 and membership in Phi Kappa Phi, an academic honor society.

Upper Iowa Univeristy
Public Relations
Cliff Ozmun, Assistant Director
563-425-5326
ozmunc@uiu.edu

Upper Iowa University
Public Relations
P.O. Box 1859
Fayette, IA 52142-1859