New College Announces Andrew Walker as New Foundation President
New College of Florida has announced that Andrew Walker will take over as president of the New College Foundation on December 1, 2008. Walker previously held the position of International Director of Trustee Programs for The Nature Conservancy in Arlington, VA, for which he also served 12 years as executive director of Conservancy chapters in New York and Tennessee. Walker succeeds New College alum John Cranor, who stepped aside in July following a five-year term as the College’s Foundation head, and interim President Jim Harman, who has overseen operations for the past several months.
“We are fortunate to attract to our campus team someone of Andy’s experience, accomplishment and vision,” said New College President Mike Michalson in announcing Walker’s appointment. “He has an exemplary record not only in fund raising, but in working well with boards and other constituencies. As someone who possesses keen insight into the special qualities of the residential liberal arts college experience, Andy promises to be an outstanding spokesman for the New College ‘story.’”
Walker has a vast background in fund raising and board development as well as staff training. He brings a wide range of contacts on the west coast of Florida and in the Sarasota area. A phi beta kappa, summa cum laude graduate in both physics and English literature from Washington and Jefferson College, Walker also holds an M.A. degree in journalism and mass communications from the University of Georgia, where he worked on the transfer of agricultural technology to less-developed countries. Walker also worked for the Agricultural Research and Foreign Agricultural Services in Washington D. C. before joining The Nature Conservancy.
As Foundation President, Walker said he looks forward to sharing New College’s rich history and outstanding academic programs with members of the Sarasota community and individuals interested in liberal arts education. “I’m honored to be joining the Foundation at a time when New College continues to earn high accolades as one of the country’s premier undergraduate institutions,” he commented. “The Foundation board and staff, the alumnae/i and the Southwest Florida community have done a wonderful job of helping foster the College’s academic excellence, and I look forward to contributing as the Foundation’s new president.”
Walker and his family lived in Sarasota full-time from 1999-2006. He has a son who is a 2005 graduate of Pine View, now a senior at Vassar College. He met his wife, Christina, while working on a conservation project in Costa Rica. She is director of conservation leadership for The Nature Conservancy’s South American division.