The Inauguration of Kerry Walk, Ph.D.

On July 1, 2015, Kerry Walk, Ph.D., officially began her term as the 8th president of Marymount Manhattan College.


Dr. Walk is a dynamic leader who comes to MMC with over twenty years’ experience in higher education, most recently serving as Interim President of Otis College of Art and Design, in Los Angeles, where she was appointed Provost in 2011.  A champion of student learning and success, Dr. Walk has held appointments at Harvard University, Princeton University, and Pitzer College that have given her exceptional academic leadership experience.  

From her first visit to campus, Dr. Walk recognized the unique and contemporary offerings at MMC – a personalized education in one of the largest, most resource-rich cities in the world.  Supported by faculty whose commitment to student learning is unparalleled, Dr. Walk is poised to embrace her new role and begin working with all members of the MMC community.

“Marymount Manhattan College provides a liberal arts education unlike any other, and it is a true honor to be chosen as the next president of this great institution,” said Dr. Walk. “In many ways, MMC reflects the strengths of the city it calls home.  Like New York, the college provides a launching point for limitless professional opportunities while having notable strengths in the creative and performing arts, communication and media, and business and entrepreneurship.  I look forward to collaborating with MMC’s exceptionally committed faculty and all stakeholders to advance the College mission of preparing students from diverse backgrounds for meaningful lives and careers.”

Please visit the About Us section of our website for a welcome message from President Walk to all members of the MMC family, and to learn more about President Walk’s background and experiences.

Dr. Walk is returning to the East coast, where she has spent most of her professional life.  As a faculty member and assistant director in Harvard’s legendary Expository Writing Program, Dr. Walk was invited by Princeton University to revamp the Princeton Writing Program as director, developing it into an acclaimed program of interdisciplinary seminars in critical writing and thinking.  She also established a cutting-edge program of graduate courses in scientific communication.  Following her appointment at Princeton, Dr. Walk served as an associate dean of faculty at Pitzer College, one of The Claremont Colleges, located in the Los Angeles area, before being recruited by Otis to serve as its chief academic officer.

“Dr. Kerry Walk possesses the vision, experience, and intellect to lead Marymount Manhattan College into the future,” said Hope Knight ’85, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees.  “We are all delighted to welcome Kerry into the MMC family and start this new and exciting chapter together. She is a bright light in the academic community, and a highly collaborative leader who has the ability to tackle the tough challenges facing higher education today.”

An award-winning teacher, Dr. Walk earned her B.A. in English from Wellesley College, where she graduated cum laude, and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in English Literature from the University of California, Berkeley.  Her scholarly work has focused on best practices in writing pedagogy, student writing development, and educational assessment. 


Meet MMC’s 8th President: 
An Introductory Video Series with Kerry Walk, Ph.D.

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