May 23, 2016
H. Fred Walker named Edinboro University president
Contact: Kevin Hensil, khensil@passhe.edu
Harrisburg 鈥� The Board of Governors of Pennsylvania鈥檚 State System of Higher Education today
unanimously selected Dr. H. Fred Walker to be the next president of Edinboro University
of Pennsylvania, effective July 1.
Dr. Walker is dean of the College of Applied Science and Technology at Rochester Institute of Technology, a position he has held since 2008. He previously was a professor and chair of the Department of Technology at the University of Southern Maine. He also served for nearly a decade in the U.S. Navy.
Dr. Walker is dean of the College of Applied Science and Technology at Rochester Institute of Technology, a position he has held since 2008. He previously was a professor and chair of the Department of Technology at the University of Southern Maine. He also served for nearly a decade in the U.S. Navy.
鈥淒r. Walker is a proven leader, with more than 20 years of experience as a faculty
member and college administrator,鈥� said Board of Governors Chair Guido M. Pichini.
鈥淲ith his vast array of skills, his knowledge and his experience, we are confident
he will be an excellent leader for Edinboro University.鈥�
Dr. Walker serves as the chief executive officer of the College of Applied Science and Technology at RIT, which includes more than 150 faculty and staff and enrolls about 4,800 students. During his tenure, he has been responsible for a variety of major initiatives, including development and implementation of professional development and mentorship programs for faculty and staff and a comprehensive strategy to enhance diversity and inclusivity throughout the college for women, African American, Latino American and Native American faculty, staff and students. He also has direct responsibility for fundraising, curriculum development, accreditation, budgeting and financing and strategic planning.
鈥淒r. Walker has successfully handled a wide range of responsibilities throughout his impressive academic career,鈥� said State System Chancellor Frank T. Brogan. 鈥淭hat experience will prove invaluable as he takes on the opportunity of leading Edinboro University as president. He will be a valuable addition to our presidential leadership team. I look forward to working with him on behalf of the university and the State System.鈥�
Dr. Walker said he is 鈥渢ruly honored鈥� to serve Edinboro and the State System communities.
Dr. Walker serves as the chief executive officer of the College of Applied Science and Technology at RIT, which includes more than 150 faculty and staff and enrolls about 4,800 students. During his tenure, he has been responsible for a variety of major initiatives, including development and implementation of professional development and mentorship programs for faculty and staff and a comprehensive strategy to enhance diversity and inclusivity throughout the college for women, African American, Latino American and Native American faculty, staff and students. He also has direct responsibility for fundraising, curriculum development, accreditation, budgeting and financing and strategic planning.
鈥淒r. Walker has successfully handled a wide range of responsibilities throughout his impressive academic career,鈥� said State System Chancellor Frank T. Brogan. 鈥淭hat experience will prove invaluable as he takes on the opportunity of leading Edinboro University as president. He will be a valuable addition to our presidential leadership team. I look forward to working with him on behalf of the university and the State System.鈥�
Dr. Walker said he is 鈥渢ruly honored鈥� to serve Edinboro and the State System communities.
鈥淚n our time visiting EU it was clear to both Susan and I the many points of pride
and accomplishments of the EU community,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hese points of pride and accomplishments,
a sound strategic plan and a common sense of purpose are wonderful starting points
in our work together.
鈥淎s a community we will work together while maintaining a work-life balance and common
values. I am confident that our goodwill, collegiality, shared governance, strategic
decision making and perseverance will bring EU to a new level of distinction! Susan
I look forward to calling Edinboro our home!鈥�
The Board鈥檚 action today comes at the conclusion of a national search for a successor
to Dr. Julie E. Wollman, who left Edinboro earlier this year to become president of
Widener University in Chester.
鈥淎t this time in Edinboro University鈥檚 history, Dr. H. Fred Walker has the experience and background to lead our university forward into the future and meet the ever-challenging needs of higher education today and in the years to come,鈥� said Council Chair Dennis R. Frampton. 鈥淗e is very excited to become part of our family at the university, and on behalf of the Council of Trustees, we are likewise exited.鈥�
鈥淎t this time in Edinboro University鈥檚 history, Dr. H. Fred Walker has the experience and background to lead our university forward into the future and meet the ever-challenging needs of higher education today and in the years to come,鈥� said Council Chair Dennis R. Frampton. 鈥淗e is very excited to become part of our family at the university, and on behalf of the Council of Trustees, we are likewise exited.鈥�
Dr. Walker earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree in industrial technology from California State
University 鈥� Fresno. He has a Master of Business Administration from Cal State and
a Master of Engineering in systems engineering and a Ph.D. in industrial education
and technology, both from Iowa State University. He also earned a minor in rhetoric
and professional communication from Iowa State and has a certificate in fund raising
management from Indiana University, Purdue University (IUPUI).
Prior to his appointment as dean at RIT, Dr. Walker spent more than a decade at the
University of Southern Maine, where he began his academic career in 1995 as an assistant
professor. He was promoted to associate professor in 2001 and to professor in 2005.
He served as chair of the Department of Technology from 2002 to 2008. He holds numerous
professional certifications from the American Society for Quality and the Society
for Manufacturing Engineers.
Dr. Walker was a graduate teaching assistant at both the University of Northern Iowa
and Iowa State University. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1983 to 1992. While in
the Navy, he worked as a technician, work center supervisor and program manager and
database administrator.
Dr. Walker is a member of a variety of committees at RIT, including the executive
committee of the President鈥檚 Institute Governance Committee and the Institute-wide
Task Force for On-Time Graduation, which he chairs. He is a program evaluator for
the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET and has made numerous
presentations at professional conferences. He also has published more than a dozen
books and a large number of professional articles.
Throughout his academic career, he has provided advice on a range of issues including
technology transfer, workforce development and applied research to executive management
team members, engineers, technologists and shop-floor workers.
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania was founded in 1857 as a private training school
for teachers. It has grown into the northwestern Pennsylvania region鈥檚 largest and
most comprehensive institution of higher education, enrolling about 6,500 undergraduate
and graduate students and offering programs in more than 100 areas of academic study.
Pennsylvania鈥檚 State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher
education in the Commonwealth, with about 107,000 degree-seeking students and thousands
more who are enrolled in certificate and other career-development programs. Collectively,
the 14 universities that comprise the State System offer more than 2,300 degree and
certificate programs in more than 530 academic areas. Nearly 520,000 State System
university alumni live in Pennsylvania.
The State System universities are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg,
Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery
Rock and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania. The universities also operate
branch campuses in Oil City (Clarion), Freeport and Punxsutawney (IUP), and Clearfield
(Lock Haven), and offer classes and programs at several regional centers, including
the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg and in Center City in Philadelphia.