November 29, 2006
Troy, N.Y. — Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute today announced the appointment of William N. Walker as Vice President for Strategic Communications and External Relations. Walker, who has been Vice President for Public Affairs at Dartmouth College since 2001, will take over the position in February 2007.
“The new Institute portfolio of Strategic Communications and External Relations was created to advance public understanding of and advocacy for Rensselaer, bringing particular focus to our educational opportunities and research discoveries, and to ensure robust communication with all of our constituencies as we continue to enhance our standing in science, technology, and public policy globally,” said Rensselaer President Shirley Ann Jackson. “We are delighted to have someone of William Walker’s experience come in to lead this important and critical new division at Rensselaer.”
At Dartmouth, Walker is responsible for planning, implementing, and coordinating public relations programs for the Ivy League institution known for its undergraduate liberal arts program and three professional schools. He also oversees the programs in media relations, publications, periodicals, Web site development, conferences and special events, internal communications, community relations communications, and photography.
Walker completed a full divisional reorganization to reflect Dartmouth’s strategic planning priorities and management of targeted interactive communications programs, designed to reach various constituents with key themes and messages. He provides public relations counsel to the president, senior administration, and Dartmouth’s Board of Trustees. He also serves as a member of the President’s Cabinet.
Walker has been a leader in his profession, having served for six years on the Board of Trustees of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), and as chair of CASE’s Commission on Communications and Marketing for four years. He served on the Public Affairs Network of the Association of American Universities and is a member of the National Press Club. He has taught and lectured widely on public relations, journalism, communications and education administration, and speaks frequently to national and international audiences on a range of communications topics, including integrated marketing communications, technology in public relations, and issue management.
From 1994 to 2001, Walker served as Executive Director of University Relations at Rutgers University. At that time, he was responsible for planning, implementing, and coordinating public relations programs for New Jersey’s public land-grant research university, with 49,000 students and 8,500 employees in the university’s three-campus system.
From 1985 to 1994, Walker served as Director of University Relations at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va. He was responsible for media relations, publications, special events, and electronic communications for a highly selective public university enrolling approximately 5,200 undergraduate and 2,200 graduate students.
From 1978 to 1984, Walker served as Director of College Information at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. He was responsible for planning and implementing external and internal information, media relations programs, and advancement multimedia projects. In March 1984, he became the Director of Public Affairs and was responsible for planning and implementing public relations and publications programs for a highly selective coeducational liberal arts college enrolling approximately 2,100 undergraduate students.
Walker received his bachelor’s degree in journalism with concentrations in news-editorial and broadcasting from the University of Missouri in 1970.
After earning his bachelor’s degree, Walker joined the University of Missouri in Saint Louis and later was promoted to Associate Director of Public Information. He was responsible for planning and implementing external and internal information and media relations programs and advancement multimedia projects.
Walker will be joined by his wife, Sondra, currently associate director of Dartmouth’s Institute for Information Infrastructure Protection.
Contact: Jason Gorss
Phone: (518) 276-6098
E-mail: gorssj@rpi.edu