Pictured L-R: Bland Proctor, Chair of Victoria College's Board of Trustees; Dr. Jennifer Kent, VC President; Ron Walker; Carter Walker Dugan; and Bruce Walker
Ron Walker, a longtime Victoria College trustee, resigned from the board after 41 years of service to the college.
Walker, a local attorney, joined the Victoria College Board of Trustees in 1985. During his tenure, he served as Board Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary and was a member of the Facilities Committee and Personnel Committee. He also played a role in the passage of several crucial bond measures that supported the college’s growth and development.
“Victoria College has been incredibly fortunate to have Ron Walker’s leadership, compassion, and unwavering commitment to our students and our community,” said Dr. Jennifer Kent, President of Victoria College. “For more than four decades, Ron has been deeply committed to helping our students succeed and ensuring they have the opportunities and support they need to reach their goals. His dedication to student success has helped shape the college we are today, and his legacy will continue to impact generations of students, employees, and communities.”
During his tenure, Walker championed the mission of community colleges across the state, regularly visiting Austin to advocate for community college priorities. He was appointed by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to lead the Community and Technical College Leadership Council from 2018 to 2021, and he served on the Community College Association of Texas Trustees Board of Directors for nearly a decade.
Walker also co-chaired the Commission on Expanding Access to Higher Education, formed in 2008, which paved the way for a four-year destination university in Victoria.
“Ron Walker has always led with compassion and a deep belief in the mission of Victoria College and community colleges everywhere,” said Bland Proctor, Chair of VC’s Board of Trustees. “His decades of dedicated service, including his prior leadership as Board Chair, have left a lasting mark on our institution and the students and communities we serve.”
Walker is an attorney and partner with the law firm Walker Keeling Hatley LLP. His community service includes serving on several nonprofit boards as well as president of the Victoria Economic Development Corporation, director of the Victoria County Public Facilities Corporation, and a member of the City of Victoria Planning Commission.
Victoria College recently named the road behind the Student Success Center connecting Ben Jordan and Ben Wilson streets Walker Drive in honor of Walker and his late wife, Kay, who served as a University of Houston System Regent.
“My tenure on the board has been an honor and a joy,” said Walker. “Working with the fellow board members, the administration, and faculty to serve the students and the community could not have been more rewarding. While higher education may be downplayed by some, obtaining a degree or certification enhances the life of the student and benefits the community. Thank you to the community for allowing me to serve. That honor in my life will never fade.”