ATLANTA—Mary Beth Walker, dean of Georgia State University’s Andrew Young School of Policy Studies since 2010, has been chosen the university’s associate provost for strategic initiatives and innovation, effective July 1.
Before her tenure as dean, Dr. Walker held a variety of teaching and leadership roles in the Department of Economics and was interim dean for the school. She also co-chaired Georgia State’s strategic plan mid-course update during the 2015-16 academic year.
While dean, Dr. Walker and her faculty and staff increased the volume of federally funded research grants awarded to the school. She led the successful integration of the School of Social Work and the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology into the Andrew Young School and worked with faculty to maintain its top 25 ranking among U.S. News & World Report’s Best Graduate Schools in public affairs.
Under her deanship, the school created an Honors track for undergraduates. It developed 10 interdisciplinary clusters with other Georgia State colleges and two new interdisciplinary academic degree programs—the B.I.S. in Social Entrepreneurship and M.I.S. in Criminal Justice Administration—and revamped the Master of Public Policy program. It also established the new Urban Studies Institute.
“Leading the Andrew Young School has been incredibly rewarding, primarily because of the wonderful faculty and staff in the school,” Dr. Walker said. “We have accomplished a great deal together, and I believe that the school’s future opportunities are wide open.
“As I now look forward, it is exciting to be chosen to help guide the strategic trajectory of our university, which is recognized nationally not only for its model for student success, but for its No. 4 ranking in innovation by U.S. News & World Report.”
In the weeks that precede the July 1 transition, Georgia State President Mark Becker and Provost Risa Palm will determine the next steps for leadership in the Andrew Young School.
Dr. Walker completed her master's and doctor’s degrees in economics at Rice University. Her research interests focus on quantitative evaluation of education policy and tax policy, as well as labor market issues.