Florida A&M University (FAMU) President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., has announced Gloria Walker, Ed.D., as the University’s next chief financial officer and vice president for Finance and Administration.
Walker, a certified public accountant, had served as vice president for business affairs and chief financial officer at the University of New Orleans since January 2020. She begins work on June 3.
Rebecca Brown, who has filled various senior roles during her 23-year tenure with the University, had served as interim CFO and vice president for Administration since last July.
“Let me begin by thanking Ms. Rebecca Brown for agreeing to serve as interim CFO and vice president, and for a job well done. Her successes and professionalism will allow a seamless transition in leadership,” said Robinson, adding that the incoming CFO is well-qualified for the role.
“Dr. Gloria Walker comes to the University with impressive credentials and a proven track record of financial leadership in higher education. FAMU is on the rise. As a key member of our Senior Leadership Team, Dr. Walker will help keep the University on this positive trajectory,” Robinson said.
Walker holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Houston, an MBA from the University of St. Thomas in Houston and a doctoral degree in higher education administration from Northeastern University, Boston.
She comes to FAMU with more than two decades of executive leadership in higher education. Prior to her tenure in New Orleans, Walker was vice president for finance and administration at Cowley College in Kansas. She was previously executive vice president and chief operating officer at Texas Southern University in Houston, where she helped that Historically Black College and University (HBCU) navigate financial turbulence. Walker also worked as executive vice chancellor for finance and administration and CFO at Houston Community College. Her first vice presidency was at what is now South Florida State College in Avon Park, Florida.
Walker said joining FAMU offers the opportunity to work at a higher education institution that is serious about “student excellence.”
“I have admired FAMU’s commitment to student success for a long time, and since I share that commitment, that makes it the best place for me to continue my career. FAMU has been on my bucket list for a while,” said Walker, who hopes to earn the trust and confidence of faculty, staff, and students to assist the University and its leadership team in achieving its goals, one of which is to become one of the U.S. News & World Report Top 100 National Public Universities in the country.
“We will be able to do that by continuing the University’s commitment to student success -students who are successful in reaching their goals,” she added. “I am about students being successful. If students are successful and have a great experience with the University, then the finances will grow, the University will attract more students and will increase its alumni and philanthropic giving.”
