UW-Parkside Appoints Senior Vice Provost and Dean
KENOSHA, WI – Dr. Lesley Heins Walker has been appointed as Senior Vice Provost and Dean of the Faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.
Walker’s appointment coincides with an increasingly forward focus at UW-Parkside, emphasizing innovative academic programs, regional partnerships providing access to career and life-building experiences, and personalized support for success. “Dr. Walker has a distinguished record of building partnerships, creating innovative programming, and connecting our campus to the communities and the region we serve,” Chancellor Akey said.
Walker will lead the University’s academic college, with a focus on advancing academic areas of distinction and expanding high-demand programs. Akey said, “UW-Parkside is fortunate to be a part of a dynamic, growing region. We want to be even better partners in helping to shape a brighter future for southeast Wisconsin.”
Walker, a Minnesota native, graduated from Indiana University with a major in French and earned a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the University of Minnesota. She spent 17 years at Indiana University South Bend, where she was an award-winning teacher and scholar. During her time at IU South Bend, she served as chair of the World Language Studies Department, interim chair of the History and Women’s Studies Departments. Eventually, she became the associate dean in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
In 2015, Dr. Walker accepted the position of Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities at UW-Parkside. Under her leadership, the college has created innovative programming and fostered a culture of trust and transparency, while the “Rita” (The Rita Tallent Picken Regional Center for Arts and Humanities) has become a true cultural hub in the region.
“It will be a privilege to serve the diverse academic departments and centers at UW-Parkside,” Walker said. “I’m especially excited to help advance the excellent work being done in our pre-health programs, teacher education, and business. Parkside’s future is bright, and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to participate in shaping it.”
Located in the dynamic Milwaukee-Chicago corridor, UW-Parkside offers access to world-class internships, professional networks, and endless career-building opportunities, placing students at the center of it all. The university offers undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as certificates and pre-professional programs, designed with real-world and impactful learning experiences. Since its founding in 1968, UW-Parkside has been a trusted partner for the region’s higher educational needs, empowering students to thrive, advancing applied knowledge, and developing workplace talent for the future.
Media contact:
Derek Fye
Communications Manager
University of Wisconsin-Parkside
Fye@uwp.edu | (262) 771-5419