2020 Distinguished Service to Wesleyan College

Susan Woodward Walker, Class of 1970

By the time Susan graduated from Wesleyan in 1970, she had an impressive record of accomplishments as a student. She had co-chaired the New York Seminar for three years; played soccer and other sports; and served as a Junior Marshal, junior advisor, and senior dorm assistant, among many other activities. As a first-in-class biology major, Susan also had been named to Splinters, Phi Kappa Phi, Mortar Board, and Who’s Who. In her senior year she was tapped to chair the student division of the Wesleyan College Capital Gifts Campaign, an experience that set her on a course of service to her alma mater over the next fifty years.  

As a young alumna, Susan was elected to the Wesleyan College Alumnae Association Board of Managers from 1976 through 1979 where she served as alumnae weekend chair, planning and coordinating weekend activities with the alumnae office and reunion class chairs. Susan also served the Class of 1970 as class liaison and co-chaired class reunions.  From 2001-2003, she was vice chair, then chair of the Loyalty Fund, a position in which she inspired alumnae to support Wesleyan’s annual fund. Her experience during those years prepared her for her role as vice president for development for the board of managers, where she was a liaison between the board and the College’s office of annual giving, helping to coordinate and enlist class liaisons and other alumnae volunteers in securing financial support for Wesleyan.

In 2006, Susan began the first of a nine-year commitment to the WCAA Board of Managers when she agreed to serve as president-elect, becoming president in 2009, and continuing as past president from 2012 through 2015. Her tenure on the board of managers was marked by a singular dedication to the task.  She worked to make sure that the alumnae association’s efforts were always compatible with the needs of the College and kept the focus on admissions and fundraising. She developed and continues to champion the Wesleyan First Book Award, which is given to outstanding high school sophomores at schools throughout the region, making each recipient eligible for a significant scholarship if she matriculates at Wesleyan. Susan earned an award from Wesleyan’s admission office for her work in recruitment, which also includes having hosted numerous events for Wesleyan in the Nashville-area, as well as personally presenting the Wesleyan First Book Award at Nashville-area high schools.  

Susan joined the Wesleyan College Board of Trustees in 2013 where she now chairs the development committee and is a member of the enrollment and marketing committee, always using her talents to advance the College in growing financial support and student enrollment. She currently co-chairs the committee organizing the fiftieth reunion of the Class of 1970. She has matched her advocacy with her personal commitment to support the College as a member of the Society for the 21st Century, the Stanback Society, and as a Friend of Pierce Chapel. Wesleyan is fortunate indeed that Susan has chosen to continue a family tradition of service to Wesleyan begun by her mother, Wesleyan’s legendary “Miss Julia” Munroe Woodward ’34, and her aunts, Mary Gray Munroe Cobey ’34 and Margaret Munroe Thrower ’35. Otey Walker, Susan’s husband, shares her enthusiasm for all things Wesleyan and has been an active partner with her in their mutual support of the College.