New School of Education Dean Named

Dr. Cindy M. Walker has been named dean of the School of Education effective Monday, Aug. 1. She will succeed Dr. Olga Welch, who is retiring after serving as dean of education since 2005.

“Dr. Walker is a perfect fit for what we need in our School of Education,” said President Charles J. Dougherty. “I predict she will be a great success, building on the achievements of Dean Olga Welch.”

Walker, a professor of educational psychology in the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, has served as the school’s associate dean of research and engaged scholarship since 2012.

“I am very excited to embark on this new journey in my life at Duquesne University. Everyone that I met during my campus visit clearly embraced the social justice values that underlie the Spiritan mission,” said Walker. “While these values are what prompted me to apply for the position, the way in which everyone I met exemplified those values—coupled with the quality of the programs, students, staff and faculty in the School of Education—is what made me decide that Duquesne was where I wanted to be.”

Walker previously held positions at several academic institutions, including the University of Washington, Illinois State University and the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, where she was presented with the College of Education’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2013.

A specialist in statistics and quantitative research methods, Walker is co-author of the textbook Categorical Data Analysis for the Social Sciences and has published more than 25 articles in peer-reviewed journals. She has earned major grants for her work from both federal and state agencies, including the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Education. Walker has also served in various capacities for the American Psychological Association and the American Educational Research Association. She currently serves on the board of directors for the National Council of Measurement in Education, is a member of the editorial board for the journal Applied Measurement in Education and is an associate editor for Applied Psychological Measurement.

“Dr. Walker has impressed those with whom she has met with her energy and her commitment to sustaining Duquesne’s tradition of training educators and counselors to the very highest standards,” said Dr. Timothy Austin, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “I look forward to the skills and perspectives she will bring to our academic leadership team.”

Walker earned a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from Roosevelt University; a Master of Science in mathematics with a minor in mathematics education from Illinois State University; and a Doctor of Philosophy in educational psychology from the University of Illinois.