Walker resigns as Motlow president

WALKER

Dr. Art Walker has announced his resignation as Motlow College president after 18 years with the institution and a distinguished 44-year career. The resignation is effective June 30, 2006.

During what started as a blue-collar career in education, Walker worked his way from a Motlow College faculty member all the way up to president in October, 2002.

“Being a part of the Motlow teaching and learning community is the highlight of my career,” said Walker. “I am eternally grateful for the opportunities I have been afforded in the Tennessee Board of Regents system, most particularly at Motlow College.”

In his resignation letter, Walker described his experience at Motlow as “rewarding beyond words,” but indicated he would like to devote more time to his family and other personal interests.

During his tenure as president, Walker garnered the funding necessary for two major building projects ? including an estimated $3 million expansion of the local center in McMinnville.

The McMinnville expansion will increase the facility from 18,000 square feet to 38,000 square feet. Motlow officials are targeting this spring for a groundbreaking ceremony.

“It’s exciting, but it’s still fairly early in the project,” said local Motlow director Melody Edmonds. “We currently share library space with the Technology Center and this expansion will give us a chance to move the library back to our facility, which will also help the Technology Center. And we could possibly add some more programs.”

In addition to the McMinnville building project, Walker was also a driving force behind constructing a freestanding building for the Motlow branch in Smyrna. That building has a projected January 2006 completion date.

Walker joined the Motlow staff in 1988 as an instructor of psychology. In 1989, he was named director of the center in Fayetteville when it was located in an old Fred’s department store. There he was at the forefront of constructing a new Fayetteville center.

Before coming to Motlow, Walker spent 26 years in the U.S. Air Force. He advanced through the enlisted ranks to master sergeant before being commissioned in 1975. He retired at the rank of major in 1988, the same year he joined the college’s staff.

Motlow College is expected to launch a national search to find a new president.