By Sana Cole
The Scene staff
Thomas Walker has spun his last record at Forest Park.
The vice president of student affairs has accepted a position as president of Central Community College’s Grand Island campus in Grand Island, Nebraska.
“This is probably the toughest decision I had to make in my professional life,” said Walker, 53. “One of my personal goals was to be a college president, but it had to be in the right place. I think (Central) is a great fit.”
Walker oversaw student services and discipline at Forest Park. He also led sessions on the culture and history of hip-hop, drawing on his experience as a college deejay.
Central is a multi-campus community college serving a 25-county area in central Nebraska, covering 14,000 square miles with a population of more than 300,000 people. It has three main campuses, as well as educational centers.
Forest Park Student Government Association Parliamentarian Derrick Varner said the campus will feel a significant loss when Walker leaves.
“As vice president, he’s always been approachable,” said Varner, also a computer lab assistant. “I consider him to be a mentor who has always had the best interest of the students in his plans. I just wish him well in all future endeavors.”
Walker’s announcement came a month after President Cindy Hess submitted her resignation. She’s leaving to become associate dean of communications at Tulsa Community College’s Southeast Campus in Tulsa, Okla.
Hess’s last day is May 13. Walker will stay through June 30.
“While Dr. Walker’s leadership will be missed both at Forest Park and college-wide, I am pleased that he has secured a campus presidency with an excellent community college,” Hess said in an emailed statement.
“I am extremely appreciative of his work here, and I know that he will continue his focus on student success.”
Roderick Nunn, St. Louis Community College’s vice chancellor for economic development and workforce solutions, is taking over Hess’s job as interim president.
Interim chancellor Dennis Michaelis said the administration will form a screening committee to look for a new vice president of student affairs.
“If the process doesn’t go quickly, we will appoint an interim,” he said.
Michaelis congratulated Walker on his move up the higher-education ladder.
“I’m sure he’ll do a good job,” he said.
Before joining the Forest Park administration, Walker was chief executive officer of Knowledge is Power Program schools in St. Louis.
Varner was SGA president when the college was searching for a new vice president, and he served on the selection committee. Varner thought Walker was a standout among the final four candidates and voted for him.
“I was very happy when he was selected,” Varner said. “He reached out to me after he was hired, and we had many personal conversations about the needs of the student body.”
Varner was impressed by Walker’s personal interaction with students. He said the vice president wasn’t afraid to “come down” to their level, and that he always tried to inspire them to be better.
Theater major Chris Bowman, 31, agreed.
“It’s going to be sad to see him go,” Bowman said. “We don’t see enough African-Americans in high learning positions. I actually do wish him well. That’s a plus to see him go on to be president.”
General transfer student Esabio Robinson, 33, worries that young black males on campus are losing a positive role model.
He called Walker’s resignation a “tragedy.”
“I think it’s sad because he actually cares about the students,” Robinson said. “He made me feel good about the campus … to see a black man in a position of power.”
Angela Johnson, the newly appointed SGA president, isn’t taking the news well, either.
“I’m mad,” said Johson, 51. “I like him, and I will miss him. He’s been a supporter of mine since the first day we met.”
Early education major Billie Thurmond, 40, said becoming a college president is a good move for Walker’s career, so she can’t blame him for leaving.
Walker has had a big impact on the educational experiences of sisters Leslie and Angela Johnson at Forest Park.
“I love Dr. Walker,” said Leslie Johnson, 54. “I work for him monitoring the Highlander (Lounge). I monitor it to make sure it stays together. This is his lounge, and he wanted to make sure students had a place to relax and unwind. I want to make sure they get that.
“My favorite thing about Walker is he wanted to make sure students are considering higher education. He’s a big supporter of students.”
Walker said he is particularly pleased with his role in Student Center renovations.
“(They) not only improved the student ‘hang-out’ space, but it improved the life of students,” he said. “They have the Highlander Lounge and the game room. They also have more computer access.”
Most students formerly went to the library to use computers. Now they’re available in E-219 and the “first-stop” admissions office.
Walker said he will miss students at Forest Park.
“I love the students here,” Walker said. “My only hope is that the college continues to focus on the students.”